At the recent PDF conference, Andrew Scott from the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) shared important updates on supervision and assurance visits. The OPG is committed to making these visits more effective and transparent. In the past year, the OPG completed 12,000 visits, and the Chancellor has approved 45 additional general visitors to strengthen oversight.
Digital Improvements
The OPG is introducing digital enhancements to streamline assurance visits. These changes will enable visitors to review annual deputy reports in advance and link assurance visit data directly to OPG systems. This integration will help ensure that information provided during visits aligns with the data held by the OPG.
The Assurance Visit Process
The process begins when you receive a letter from the OPG confirming that an assurance visit will take place. This letter will identify the clients selected for review. An OPG visitor is then allocated to oversee the visit and will contact you to request a detailed breakdown of:
- Assets, income, expenditure, and personal spending
- Family and other contacts
- Date of last client visit and welfare benefit assessment
- Any other relevant information
The visitor will also arrange in-person visits with clients or their representatives. Following this, they will schedule an office visit to review your processes, policies, and compliance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Professional Deputy Standards.
What to Expect During the Office Visit
The assurance visit typically lasts a few hours. The OPG visitor will want to see evidence of:
- Banking facilities and reconciliations
- Financial record keeping
- Safeguarding measures
- Internal and external audits
- Team structure and delegation of deputy decisions
- Training and supervision processes
- Best interest decisions and documentation
- Contact with P and knowledge of their day-to-day needs
- Capacity reassessment triggers
- Ad hoc applications (e.g. ACC)
- Welfare benefit reviews
- Investment processes and selection criteria
- Compliance with SRA standards
- Protection of P’s property
- Costs and billing procedures
Tip: Be prepared to name the five statutory principles of the MCA 2005 in order and provide examples of how they have been applied in practice.
After the Visit
The OPG visitor will compile a report for internal review. You will not see this report, but you will receive a letter confirming whether you meet deputy standards or outlining any required actions. If concerns arise, the OPG may adjust your supervision level.
Key Takeaway
These visits are designed to ensure deputies act in the best interests of clients and maintain high standards of compliance. Preparation is essential, having robust policies, accurate records, and clear evidence of decision making will help demonstrate your effectiveness.