After section 12A of the 1968 Act, insert—
(1)Subsection (4) applies where—
(a)a local authority is required by section 12A(1)(a) to carry out an assessment of the needs of a person (the “supported person”) for community care services,
(b)it appears to the authority that the supported person falls within subsection (2), and
(c)the conditions in subsection (3) are satisfied.
(2)A supported person falls within this subsection if—
(a)because of mental disorder, the supported person would benefit from receiving assistance from another person in relation to the carrying out of the assessment,
(b)because of difficulties in communicating due to physical disability, the supported person would benefit from receiving assistance from another person to communicate in relation to the carrying out of the assessment.
(3)The conditions are—
(a)there is no guardian, continuing attorney or welfare attorney with powers as respects the provision of assistance in relation to the carrying out of the assessment, and
(b)an intervention order has not been granted as respects the provision of assistance in relation to the carrying out of the assessment.
(4)The authority must take reasonable steps—
(a)to identify persons who are able to assist the supported person, and
(b)if the supported person agrees, to involve them in assisting the supported person in relation to the carrying out of the assessment or, as the case may be, communicating in relation to the carrying out of the assessment.
(5)In this section—
“the 2000 Act” means the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 (asp 4),
“continuing attorney”—
means a continuing attorney within the meaning of section 15 of the 2000 Act, and
includes a person granted, under a contract, grant or appointment governed by the law of any country, powers (however expressed) relating to the granter’s property or financial affairs and having continuing effect despite the granter’s incapacity,
“guardian”—
means a guardian appointed under the 2000 Act, and
includes a guardian (however called) appointed under the law of any country to, or entitled under the law of any country to act for, an adult during the adult’s incapacity, if the guardianship is recognised under the law of Scotland,
“intervention order” is to be construed in accordance with section 53 of the 2000 Act,
“mental disorder” has the meaning given by section 328 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 13),
“welfare attorney”—
means a welfare attorney within the meaning of section 16 of the 2000 Act, and
includes a person granted, under a contract, grant or appointment governed by the law of any country, powers (however expressed) relating to the granter’s personal welfare and having effect during the granter’s incapacity.”.