Mental Capacity Assessment Service

Supporting Confident Decisions, Safeguarding Well-Being

Ben Holden Ltd are specialists in managing the care of people with complex needs, including people with brain injuries, with decades of experience in its team.

We are here to help when you need clarity about someone’s capacity to make specific decisions – whether it’s choices concerning their ongoing care or decisions on finances.

Our team brings years of experience working with people with catastrophic injuries and learning disabilities, so can provide a trusted and accurate assessment of an individual’s mental capacity and their ability to make informed decisions, empowering them to have control over their lives.

Why choose us?

We understand mental capacity assessments are not always straightforward.

Unlike more generalised assessments, our approach carefully considers potential risks, such as executive dysfunction or difficulties adapting to unexpected events.

We take pride in conducting mental capacity assessments that are not only rigorous and comprehensive but also deeply personalised to ensure each individual’s best interests are met.

We value input from family, friends and professionals who know the person best and create a calm and supportive environment to encourage individuals to demonstrate their understanding and reasoning during the assessment.

We look beyond the surface, ensuring every assessment reflects the person’s true capacity.
Our approach follows the core principles and framework of the Mental Capacity Act – empowering and protecting individuals at every step.

If you’d like to make a referral or discuss our Mental Capacity Assessment Service, please get in touch:

Meet the team

Lizzie Potter

Service Lead

Christine Waites

Assessor

Lorna Smith

Assessor

Prior to joining Ben Holden Ltd., Lizzie had nearly 6 years experience as a Brain Injury Case Manager and worked as a Senior Case Manager providing supervision and mentorship to her fellow colleagues. Lizzie was proud to achieve the BABICM advanced registered practitioner in 2021.

Christine is a qualified Social Worker and former Registered Nurse (Learning disabilities) who has been an active and qualified professional since 1987. She has worked in Case Management since 2018 and in that time has supported a number of clients with complex traumatic brain injury and associated learning disabilities, mental health issues, autism, dementia and behaviours which could challenge.

Lorna qualified with an MA in Social Work in 2012 and is registered with BABICM as a case manager. Since 2022 Lorna has worked as a case manager supporting children and adults with serious physical injuries, psychological trauma and complex brain injuries.

Learn more about our staff here!

Before I had my case manager, Jo Forrest, my recovery and rehabilitation was chaotic and non-existent, my sister was my go-to which took her role as my sister away and put her in an admin/carer role.

Jo has been so patient and attentive to my needs from day one, she takes a holistic approach and this has improved my heath and quality of life in so many ways, I honestly don’t know where I’d be without her.

As a bonus, she has connections to some other really good professions and therefore is equipped for any challenge thrown her way.

When Jo started supporting me it was also the start of the Covid Pandemic. She took the time to explain physical anatomy which helped me understand the immediate and longer term impact of my injuries. We set attainable goals for me to rebuild all aspects of my life.

With professional understanding of procedures and expectations she liaised with my legal representative for insurance funding and others, securing the further support I needed, for example; intensive physio, counseling, driving confidence lessons, further surgery, occupational health equipment, a PA to support me and relieve the pressure on my family. I would always be happy to recommend Jo as a Case manager to others.

Before I was supported by Jo Forrest at Ben Holden Ltd, I was struggling with EVERYTHING caused by the RTA. I was incapacitated in a hospital bed in my dining room worried about the traumatic impact on my husband and family, not just following the accident, but the reality of my lack of independence, my ongoing care and my own physical rehabilitation.

Please pass on my thanks to all at Ben Holden for their help and patience with me over the past few years. Things are so much better for me now compared to when I came to you and you have all played a part in that, no matter how small, and I greatly appreciate it. Credit where it’s due in my eyes, and everyone at Ben Holden have been kind, courteous but perhaps more importantly understanding of my difficulties if/when I’ve been confused or remiss in remembering an invoice or some such. It is much appreciated.

Christa came to visit me numerous times in the Royal Free Hospital. Having assessed my needs, she organised repair of my wheelchair, hospital bed on my return home. Organised private physiotherapy and stay in care home. Once home, she came with me to private therapist in Harley Street.

Very kind, understanding and caring.

Before I started working with Ben I was struggling with the everyday tasks e.g. getting myself dressed, walking any distance, lifting, getting in and out of bed, bending. Within six months, Ben and his team enabled me to do all these things and return to work gradually, which resulted in me being able to do my pre-injury job.

My life began to significantly change. Ben treated me with the upmost dignity and respect. He coordinated a team of professionals experienced in working with neurological disorders, especially with people who had experienced an accidental severe traumatic brain injury or through illness. I felt confident that Ben would and did manage to select professionals who he somehow knew would manage my challenging eccentric behaviour and complex needs.

It was very reassuring to know that Ben was always at the end of the phone. He was there when I needed him most. He always responded quickly and kept everybody involved well-informed of what was happening with Progress Reports.

I could trust Ben and felt reassured by his knowledge and patience. He has a great and appropriate sense of humour. I would highly recommend Ben to others who would surely benefit from his expertise.

Ben was very helpful and promptly organised a good local physiotherapist for me. There I was given exercises specific to my problem, along with acupuncture and massage. This was invaluable, as nothing had been offered to id my recovery by my local hospital. In addition, Ben organised a six-month gym membership at my local leisure centre.

I always found Ben easy to talk to and he regularly called to check on my progress. I would not hesitate to recommend Ben Holden td, who gave me a very friendly and professional service.

My experience working with Ben was excellent. I felt very at ease, relaxed and confident with him. If I had any queries or needed extra support, he was always on the end of the telephone. Nothing was ever too much trouble.

I highly recommend Ben Holden, for his professionalism, friendliness and for the individual support I got. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ben and his team for all their work getting me where I am today, leading a normal life again, and being able to put my accident behind me.

Before Ben Holden started working with me on my injuries, I was struggling daily and unable to progress with my rehabilitation back into normal life. Since Ben Holden Ltd took on my case I have been able to focus on getting my life back together following my accident.

Working with Ben made me feel confident and in control again, his relaxed and easy style made me feel I could talk to him freely about my concerns. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending Ben Holden Ltd to anyone facing the prospect of life following a life changing accident.