Reforming the Law and Procedures in relation to the Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) System

持久授权书(LPA)计划提供了一个重要的框架，使丧失行为能力的成年人能够做出替代决策，这对管理未来的护理和财务可能是至关重要的。该计划为个人提供了保证，即他们的利益、观点和决定将在失去能力的情况下得到保护。该项目旨在评估为什么某些社区，特别是BAME(黑人和少数族裔)和SED(社会和经济弱势)群体未充分利用LPA系统。该项目的主要目的将是查明是否有任何障碍阻止这些社区利用该计划，以及可以采取哪些措施来改善获得该计划的机会。该项目的及时性具有很高的现实意义，因为公共卫士办公室(OPG)和司法部正在积极寻求改革这一领域的法律并使其现代化，而且该项目的结果有可能纳入改革进程。该项目为期四年，最初提供了进行文献审查以审查该领域现有出版物的机会，以及通过出版填补文献空白的机会。随后，该项目将更加公开地参与，以便使用定性方法获得经验数据。此外，还有一个综合安置机会，以便于获得数据以及发展技能和专业经验。为了突出使用该计划的现有障碍，这一项目为组织地方和国家参与项目提供必要的支持是恰当的，这些项目也将有助于传播研究成果。

The Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) scheme provides an important framework to enable substitute decision making for an adult that loses capacity and can be crucial in the management of future care and finances. The scheme offers individuals the reassurance that their interests, views and decisions will be protected in the event that they lose capacity. This project seeks to assess why the LPA system is underused by certain communities, particularly BAME (Black and Minority Ethnic) and SED (Socially and Economically Disadvantaged) groups. The main aim of the project will be to identify whether there are any barriers preventing these communities from making use of the scheme and what measures can be taken in order to improve access to the scheme. The timeliness of the project is of high relevance as the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) and the Ministry of Justice are actively seeking to reform and modernise the law in this area and there is potential for the findings of this project to be incorporated into the reform process. The project will span over four years, initially offering the opportunity to conduct a literature review to examine current publications within the field as well as the opportunity to fill gaps in the literature through publication. Subsequently, the project will become more publicly engaging in order to obtain empirical data using a qualitative approach. There is also an integrated placement opportunity with the OPG to allow for access to data as well as for the development of skills and professional experience. In an effort to highlight the existing barriers to the use of the scheme, it is fitting that this project provides the necessary support for the organisation of local and national engagement projects which will also assist in promulgating research.