P of A

I had P of A for my Mum, and as far as I remember it meant I was able to sign on her behalf, including banking.
If there had been a legal obligation I would have thought there would be a penalty included for failure to act.

GP, SS and hospital consultant are all in agreement that father is in urgent need of 24 hour care. SS have provided superb support.
Daughter is the only child, only living relative and sole attorney.
I was wondering if SS could take over automatically in the absence of daughter's involvement and it was only after Eglantine's post that I realised that courts might be involved. That's the first time I'd read of guardianship and intervention orders.
I'll follow that up today.

Somewhere at the back of my mind I have a feeling there may be costs involved if the Court of Protection steps in. I may be (probably am) wrong. As an only child I can completely empathise and sympathise with Daughter having been in a similar situation and having come very, very close to walking away. Can father’s GP help? Would a letter from daughter’s GP to SS give a temporary reprieve and get them to be more pro-active?

The legal system grinds exceedingly slow and father may well have died by the time things actually move forward. (I sometimes suspect that may be the aim, but that can’t be true. Can it?!)

Is there only one 'attorney'?

Sorry, only know what the guidance was in the pack when I did my POA.

Having looked very quickly it seems that in Scotland there are guardianship and intervention orders which I assume might be granted by the court to the relevant authorities. This seems to be the case when the person holding PoA is 'unable or unwilling' to carry out the duties involved.
It would seem then that the daughter can walk away, effectively handing over care decisions to the SW department.

Thanks eglantine. Do you know if the same applies in Scotland?
Will check on Court of Protection.

If the attourney is I longer able or wiling to act the Court of Protection takes responsibility, as it would if there was no POA.

I’m interested too. Is this a case where the person holding the POA has their own issues, maybe stress or physical health problems? I had assumed a legal obligation but maybe not.

That is a very interesting question. In the main those with PofA have agreed and been given the power to take decisions if/when the need arises; I do not know whether it is also a legal obligation. Let me know if you find out the answer please.