Office of the Public Guardian
The Public Guardian has a number of statutory functions in the Mental Capacity Act (2005), which includes making arrangements to set up an approved scheme for security (or surety) bonds.
Howden Group UK Ltd has been recently been awarded the contract to manage OPGs approved scheme for security bonds. The contract was awarded competitively and fairly to the provider who could provide the best value for money for clients.
From 1 October 2016, OPG and the Court of Protection will only direct deputies to Howden Group UK Ltd for any new security bonds. If you hold an existing bond with our any of our previous approved suppliers, such as Deputy Bond Services (DBS), you do not have to transfer these to Howden UK Ltd. These suppliers will continue to honour and manage all bonds that have been taken out with them after their contract with OPG has ended.
Professional deputies may have an arrangement in place with the Court of Protection where the court issues bonds on their behalf. This allows the deputyship order to be in place quickly. If professional deputies wish to continue this arrangement after 1 October 2016, they will need to register from details of their deputies with Howden UK Group Ltd at www.HowdenDeputyBonds.co.uk. The registration website will be live on Thursday, 22 September.
Our surety bonds practice note explains what OPG expects from a bond provider, so that its surety bonds are suitable for deputies