Civil Justice Council working group consult on procedure for determining mental capacity in civil proceedings – Local Government Lawyer

‘A Civil Justice Council (CJC) working group has launched a consultation on the procedure for determining mental capacity in civil proceedings.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 18th December 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Tier 4 CAMHS, detainability under the Mental Health Act 1983 and (righteous) judicial frustration – Local Government Lawyer

Posted December 11th, 2023 in children, detention, local government, mental health, news by tracey

‘Alex Ruck Keene KC (Hon) analyses a recent High Court ruling on whether a 15-year-old should continue to be deprived of her liberty in a hospital.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 8th December 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘The law needs to catch up on student mental health’ Published 8 hours ago – BBC News

Posted December 11th, 2023 in bereavement, duty of care, families, mental health, news, suicide, universities by tracey

‘A court case this week could change the way universities are expected to look after their students – including their mental health.’

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BBC News, 11th December 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Deputy High Court judge orders London borough to provide accommodation pending completion of review of homelessness decision – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 30th, 2023 in homelessness, housing, judicial review, local government, mental health, news by sally

‘The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea acted unfairly in rejecting a request for accommodation by a man with mental health problems pending the outcome of his statutory review request of the defendant council’s earlier decision that he was not homeless, the High Court has found.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 30th November 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Refusal of tribunal to adjourn for aftercare evidence was “kicking the can down the road”, Upper Tribunal finds – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 28th, 2023 in adjournment, detention, evidence, mental health, news, tribunals by tracey

‘The Upper Tribunal has allowed an appeal on all three grounds against a decision by the First Tier Tribunal to refuse an application for an adjournment to obtain evidence regarding aftercare.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 27th November 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Family of headteacher Ruth Perry refused legal aid for inquest into her death – The Guardian

Posted November 27th, 2023 in bereavement, costs, families, inquests, legal aid, mental health, news, ombudsmen, suicide, teachers by tracey

‘The family of the headteacher Ruth Perry, whose death after a critical Ofsted inspection will be the subject of a high-profile inquest this week, have been refused legal aid to fund their representation just days before the hearing is due to start.’

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The Guardian, 26th November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Women in mental health crisis still being jailed in prisons deemed ‘unfit for purpose’, major review warns – The Independent

Posted November 24th, 2023 in bills, imprisonment, mental health, Ministry of Justice, news, prisons, statistics, women by tracey

‘Women dealing with severe mental illness are still being jailed despite prisons being “ill-equipped” to offer suitable care, a major review has warned.’

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The Independent, 23rd November 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Mental health considerations in dishonesty cases, time limits and costs – 3PB

Posted November 23rd, 2023 in appeals, costs, doctors, mental health, news, time limits by sally

‘This judgment deals with an appeal brought by a doctor against her erasure from the GMC register. The judgment discusses the significance of the doctor’s mental health difficulties in the context of findings of dishonesty, the law on time limits, and it provides a helpful demonstration of how CPR 52.19 (applications to limit recoverable costs) may be applied in statutory appeals of this nature.’

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3PB, 26th October 2023

Source: www.3pb.co.uk

Safeguarding vulnerable clients: Guidance on best practice in England and Wales – Mills & Reeve

‘A recent case heard by the Scottish Solicitors’ Discipline Tribunal has highlighted the complexities around how solicitors interact with vulnerable clients, particularly in matters involving conflicts of interest, mental capacity, and undue influence. This case offers an opportunity for some cross-border analysis between England and Wales and consideration of what best practice looks like in such a situation.’

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Mills & Reeve, 20th November 2023

Source: www.mills-reeve.com

Revealed: 16 years in prison for stealing a bike and no hope of release – as 7 trapped in jail kill themselves – The Independent

‘Seven inmates trapped in prison under indefinite jail terms have taken their own lives since the government refused to resentence them, The Independent can reveal. The prisons watchdog has launched investigations into a string of self-inflicted deaths amid a “worrying rise” in incidents among imprisonment for public protection (IPP) prisoners – with campaigners warning the “hopelessness” associated with the controversial sentences is having tragic consequences.’

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The Independent, 19th November 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

High court to consider whether universities owe students legal duty of care – The Guardian

‘The high court is to consider for the first time whether universities owe a legal duty of care to their students, which campaigners argue would save lives and bring England and Wales in line with other countries.’

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The Guardian, 20th November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Priory hospital fined £140k after woman dies on ‘utter shambles’ mental health ward – The Independent

Posted November 15th, 2023 in fines, health & safety, hospitals, mental health, news, suicide by sally

‘A prestigious mental health hospital has been fined £140,000 after a young woman killed herself on one of its wards, days after it was described as an “utter shambles”.’

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The Independent, 14th November 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Court of Appeal allows appeal by father over interim care order – Local Government Lawyer

Posted November 9th, 2023 in appeals, care orders, children, drug abuse, families, local government, mental health, news by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has allowed a father’s appeal against interim care orders made in respect of his three children.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 8th November 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Priory Group charged with criminal offences over death of patient – The Guardian

‘The Priory healthcare group has been charged with two criminal offences over the death of a 23-year-old man who was hit by a train after absconding from a mental health hospital.’

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The Guardian, 6th November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Coventry council used Airbnbs to house ‘‘vulnerable’’ teenage boy accused of rape – The Guardian

Posted November 3rd, 2023 in housing, local government, mental health, news, rape, sexual offences, young offenders by tracey

‘Judge accuses local authority of a ‘lackadaisical’ attitude to the 16-year-old’s care after regulated providers refused to give him a place.’

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The Guardian, 2nd November 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ombudsman finds severe maladministration for Clarion in “tragic” noise case following death of resident who took his own life – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Housing Ombudsman has found severe maladministration for Clarion after its “lack of consideration” of a resident’s vulnerability when handling his complaints about noise led to him suffering over a nine-month period.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 2nd November 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High Court judge backs council decision on vaccination of child, rejects objections of mother – Local Government Lawyer

‘The High Court has ruled that a mother cannot prevent the local authority caring for her child having him vaccinated.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 26th October 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Suicide and violence in prisons rise by nearly 25%, as self-harm hits all-time high among women prisoners – The Independent

Posted October 27th, 2023 in mental health, news, prisons, self-harm, statistics, suicide, violence, women by sally

‘Suicide and serious violence have risen by nearly a quarter in men’s prisons in England and Wales, with self-harm skyrocketing to an all-time high in the women’s estate, as the government scrambles to ease the strain on jails overcrowded to breaking point.’

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The Independent, 26th October 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Andrea Cardinale: Killer of Italian couple in Stockton sentenced – BBC News

Posted October 25th, 2023 in homicide, hospital orders, mental health, news, sentencing by sally

‘A man who bludgeoned his friends to death after claiming they had cursed him has been sentenced to an indefinite hospital order.’

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BBC News, 25th October 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Is refusal of food indicative of lack of capacity? – Local Government Lawyer

‘Ella Pudney discusses a recent Court of Protection case on the determination of capacity for the refusal of food in prison.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 20th October 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk