Welcome to Paid Relevant Person’s Representative one of the core skills modules from our Care Matters course, supporting people’s well-being. This is the e-learning module, with on average ten hours of e-learning activities, research and assessment. You can complete the programme in your own time and at your own pace. We encourage you to join and interact with the e-learning group, but except where specified for assessment, this is not compulsory. Your module tutor will be available to answer questions through the message facility on this site and will also contribute to the e-learning group forum. Your tutor will tailor the course to your learning goals and, if you have chosen the tutor-assessed module, provide feedback on your work as you submit course assignments.

Like all our modules, Paid Relevant Person’s Representative is person-centred and based on research, policy, practice and the expertise of experience. Successful completion of the module and the on-line final assessment leads to the award of a module certificate. Successful completion of five or more modules leads to the Care Matters course certificate.

Course Overview

This course provides an introduction to the Paid Relevant Person’s Representative (PRPR) role in relation to adults who lack capacity to make decisions. It includes an overview of the legal context covering the Mental Capacity Act, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) and the key processes involved in championing the rights of an adult who has had their liberty restricted. You will practice and evaluate the skills of Non-Instructed Advocacy (NIA) and how to communicate well with someone who lacks capacity and establish their wishes and feelings. You will learn to recognise emotional challenges for yourself and the relevant person and discuss strategies to manage them.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the module, you should be able to:

1. Explain the role of a paid relevant person’s representative in relation to an adult who lacks capacity

2. Review the legal and human rights context including deprivation of liberty (DoLS) assessment and authorisation, the Court of Protection, Code of Practice and complaints procedures

3. Evaluate ways to communicate with a relevant person and establish their wishes and feelings

4. Summarise non-instructed advocacy techniques to protect rights and advocate with someone who lacks capacity to instruct

5. Describe emotional challenges for yourself and the relevant person and identify strategies to manage them.

Module Flow

Your course is divided into 8 units. Each unit will provide information and include activities such as presentations, discussions, reading and research. You need to complete one unit to move on to the next. Some units will have an assessment activity like a quiz. 

Module Units

1. Learning Centre
2. Module resources and introductory quiz
3. The role of the Paid Relevant Person’s Representative
4. The legal and human rights context to mental capacity
5. Communication with someone who lacks capacity
6. Non-Instructed Advocacy
7. Managing emotional challenges
8. Learning review and final assessment.

Module Reading

The Module Handbook contains all the essential information you need, along with reflective questions to help you learn. The module Resources page contains links to research, legal documents, websites and books. These are not required reading, they are resources for your reference, to access when you need them. If you are new to advocacy and human rights, we recommend you read some of the resources to fill any gaps in your knowledge, during the module and before you take the final assessment.

Learning Centre

We are careful to ensure that our learning centre and our Care Matters course meet the highest standards and this is reflected in our professional approach, comprehensive policies and practices and quality assurance guarantees. For details of our quality standards and a copy of our Learning Centre Handbook please see the first unit.

Start now

Just click on “We Learn We Change Learning Centre” below to go to the first unit which includes links to learning centre resources.

When you have completed all the activities the tick next to the unit title below will turn green and you can click on the next unit.

To start your course, please click on the first unit below.