Deputies: make decisions for someone who lacks capacity
Supervision, support and visits
As a deputy, you’ll be supervised by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). They are authorised to contact you or visit you to check you’re meeting their standards for deputies. They can also give you advice and support.
If you fail to meet their standards, OPG might ask the court to stop you being a deputy.
How you’ll be supervised
New deputies get a ‘general’ level of supervision for their first year.
After that, if you’re a property and affairs deputy you’ll move to ‘minimal’ supervision if both:
- you’re managing less than £21,000
- you no longer need a general level of supervision
You’ll pay a lower fee and have to write a shorter annual deputy report than deputies with general supervision.
Supervision visits
You may be visited by a Court of Protection visitor to check if you:
- understand your duties
- have the right level of support from OPG
- are carrying out your duties properly
- are being investigated because of a complaint
The visitor will call you to arrange the visit and explain why they’re visiting.
Contact OPG
Tell OPG if you’re planning to make an important decision, for example you want to sell the property of the person you’re deputy for so they can move into a care home.
Office of the Public Guardian
customerservices@publicguardian.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 456 0300
Textphone: 0115 934 2778
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 9am to 5pm
Wednesday, 10am to 5pm
Find out about call charges
Office of the Public Guardian
PO Box 16185
Birmingham
B2 2WH