Covid: ‘Perfect storm’ causing employment tribunal backlog – BBC News

Posted October 22nd, 2020 in benefits, coronavirus, delay, employment tribunals, mental health, news, redundancy by sally

‘Concerns are being raised over a Covid-related backlog of tribunal cases involving people who believe they have lost their jobs unfairly.’

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BBC News, 22nd October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Covid: prisoner mental health at risk of ‘irreparable damage’ – The Guardian

Posted October 21st, 2020 in coronavirus, health, mental health, news, prisons, recidivists, rehabilitation by sally

‘Locking up prisoners in what amounts to solitary confinement under Covid restrictions risks causing “irreparable damage” to their mental health and does nothing to reduce reoffending, the chief inspector of prisons in England and Wales has said.’

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The Guardian, 20th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

FS v RS and JS – A Most Unusual Case about the bank of mum and dad… – Transparency Project

‘Described as “a most unusual case”, the Family Court at the Royal Courts of Justice recently dismissed a forty-one-year-old son’s claim that the “bank of mum and dad” was legally obligated to maintain him. Most court orders for the payment of maintenance of children provide for that obligation to end at the age of 18 or upon the child leaving school. The courts retain jurisdiction to make or vary orders for maintenance of children in limited circumstances, including where there is already a court order in force, to meet expenses in connection with education or training for a trade, profession or vocation, and where the child has expenses attributable to a disability. In FS v RS and JS [2020] EWFC 63, Sir James Munby considered whether the court had jurisdiction in relation to claims under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 and the Children Act 1989 and whether jurisdiction under the inherent jurisdiction could be exercised as the Applicant asserted. This is an overview of Munby J’s remarkable judgment in light of an unprecedented proposition upon the court’s traditionally paternal or parental character.’

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Transparency Project, 19th October 2020

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Teenager’s death after being given antipsychotic was ‘potentially avoidable’ – The Guardian

‘The death of a teenager who was given antipsychotic medication though he and his family warned that the drug might cause him serious harm could have been avoided, an independent review has concluded.’

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The Guardian, 20th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Prisoners locked up for 23 hours due to Covid rules is ‘dangerous’ – BBC News

Posted October 20th, 2020 in coronavirus, mental health, news, prisons by sally

‘Prisoners being locked in their cells for 23 hours a day under Covid restrictions is dangerous, the chief inspector of prisons has warned.’

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BBC News, 20th October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police 999 callouts to people suffering mental health crises soar – The Guardian

Posted October 19th, 2020 in mental health, news, police, statistics by sally

‘The police are being called to deal with soaring numbers of incidents involving people suffering from mental health crises, sparking fresh concern about lack of NHS help for the mentally ill.’

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The Guardian, 18th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Dementia patient restrained by security guards 18 times to be forcibly treated – Daily Telegraph

‘A dementia patient was restrained by security guards 18 times so he could be forcibly treated, as experts warn the case is “shocking and extreme”.’

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Daily Telegraph, 14th October 2020

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Met police restraint contributed to death of mentally ill man, jury finds – The Guardian

‘The police’s inappropriate use of restraints on a mentally ill man contributed to his death, an inquest jury has found.’

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The Guardian, 9th October 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Philip Tarver jailed for decapitating mum – BBC News

‘A man who decapitated his mother before putting her head in a freezer has been jailed.’

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BBC News, 8th October 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The Court of Protection, s.48 and interim orders – Local Government Lawyer

Posted October 2nd, 2020 in care homes, consent, Court of Protection, local government, mental health, news by tracey

‘Lee Parkhill analyses an important Court of Protection ruling on s. 48 of the Mental Capacity Act and interim orders.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 2nd October 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Disabled lawyers “benefit from homeworking during pandemic” – Legal Futures

‘The suspension of office working under lockdown has helped improve the mental and physical health of disabled lawyers, research has indicated.’

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Legal Futures, 2nd October 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Man, 41, loses ‘unprecedented’ legal bid for parents’ financial support – BBC News

Posted October 1st, 2020 in disabled persons, families, financial provision, mental health, news by sally

‘A 41-year-old man has failed in a legal bid to force his wealthy parents to continue financially supporting him.’

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BBC News, 30th September 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Report raises alarm over police detention of vulnerable suspects in England and Wales – The Guardian

‘Police officers detained and interviewed hundreds of thousands of vulnerable suspects last year in England and Wales in breach of mandatory safeguards, according to the body that sets standards for those who support vulnerable adults in police custody.’

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The Guardian, 28th September 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Vulnerable people left without access to solicitors during Covid – Legal Futures

‘Some of the most vulnerable people have been left isolated and without proper access to solicitors because of the official response to the Covid-19 crisis, according to a report from the Law Society.’

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Legal Futures, 25th September 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Gaia Pope death: Family wants answers to ‘vital questions’ – BBC News

Posted September 16th, 2020 in bereavement, coroners, delay, evidence, families, inquests, mental health, news, police, rape, sexual offences by michael

‘The family of a teenager found dead 11 days after going missing nearly three years ago said “vital questions” about her death remain unanswered.’

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BBC News, 16th September 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Transitioning back to chambers – Counsel

Posted September 8th, 2020 in barristers, barristers' clerks, coronavirus, mental health, news, pupillage by sally

‘As chambers begin to repopulate amid continuing uncertainties, wellbeing policies are more important now than ever. Dr Anna Colton and Lucy Burrows explain how to spot signs of anxiety and protect members, pupils and staff.’

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Counsel, September 2020

Source: www.counselmagazine.co.uk

Scientist jailed for sending fake poison to Theresa May – BBC News

‘A scientist has been jailed for sending fake poison to Theresa May in a letter criticising her policy on Russia.’

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BBC News, 3rd September 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Force feeding not in anorexia patient’s best interests – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted August 27th, 2020 in consent, Court of Protection, hospitals, medical treatment, mental health, news by sally

‘In this carefully nuanced judgment, the Court of Protection has ruled that although a patient with a chronic eating disorder would in all probability face death she did not gain weight, it would not be in her best interests to continue being subjected to forced feeding inpatient regimes.’

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UK Human Rights, 26th August 2020

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Mother wins appeal over request for French court to assume jurisdiction of care case – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal by a mother against an order secured during care proceedings by an unnamed local authority to request a French family court to assume jurisdiction of a case involving her son’s care under Article 15 of Council Regulation (EC) 2201/2003.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th August 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Is it an error of law to consider the requirements of s6 EQA in a sequential order? No, says the EAT in Khorochilova v Euro Rep Ltd UKEAT/0266/19/DA – 3PB

‘Following her summary dismissal for gross misconduct, the Claimant brought various claims against her former employer, including a claim of disability discrimination. A preliminary hearing was listed in July 2017 to determine whether she was disabled at the material time. The Claimant identified her disability as ‘Mixed Personality Disorder’, which she said, made her ‘somewhat obsessive’ and a bit of a ‘perfectionist’. She relied upon a report prepared by a Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Schuff, which had been prepared at some point in 2010. Dr Schuff declined to diagnose the Claimant as having a multiple personality disorder but described her as suffering with ‘problematic personality traits’. There was no reference to mixed personality disorder within the Claimant’s GP records until after she was dismissed.’

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3PB, 3rd August 2020

Source: www.3pb.co.uk