The Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies - Ireland (CCAB-I), of which Chartered Accountants Ireland is a member, has today issued Technical Alert 04 2023 Help sheet on the appointment of a Decision-Making Representative under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015. This help sheet signposts certain features of the Decision Support Service (DSS) as it may relate to the work of our members in their role as a professional accountant.
The DSS is a new statutory service established under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 and by the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022 collectively referred to in this document as the 2015 Act. The DSS is part of the Mental Health Commission but has a new and separate role. The legislation has replaced wardship for adults and introduced a new protection regime and legal framework of supported decision-making for vulnerable adults. An individual can be appointed to one of a number of roles under the 2015 Act to assist a vulnerable person.