Category: mental health

Homeless duties, human rights and suitability decisions – Nearly Legal

Posted May 22nd, 2017 in housing, human rights, international courts, London, mental health, news, Supreme Court by tracey

‘Poshteh v Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea [2017] UKSC 36. Ms Posheth had refused an offer of accommodation in discharge of duty because a round window in the property had reminded her of when she was imprisoned in Iran (though she did say it would have been suitable as temporary accommodation). She had had a panic attack on viewing the property. RBKC found the property was suitable and reasonable to accept on review, upheld on appeal and in the court of appeal.’

Full story

Nearly Legal, 21st May 2017

Source: www.nearlylegal.co.uk

Victims of slavery and human trafficking ‘abandoned’ as soon as they are identified – The Independent

Posted May 22nd, 2017 in asylum, charities, forced labour, immigration, mental health, news, trafficking in human beings, victims by tracey

‘Hundreds of slavery victims in the UK are being “abandoned” by the authorities as soon as they are identified, placing them at risk of falling straight back into the hands of traffickers, experts have warned.’

Full story

The Independent, 22nd May 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

A new understanding of ‘professionalism’ – Legal Voice

Posted May 12th, 2017 in child abuse, legal profession, mental health, news, personal injuries, sexual offences by sally

‘Many lawyers are in denial about the toll traumatic cases can take on them and their work. Time to drop the stiff upper lip, says Lee Moore.’

Full story

Legal Voice, 11th May 2017

Source: www.legalvoice.org.uk

Supreme and Strasbourg Courts square off on Art. 6 and housing – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted May 11th, 2017 in homelessness, housing, human rights, local government, mental health, news by tracey

‘Poshteh v Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea S [2017] UKSC 36, 10 May 2017. For the last 15 years, whether the right of the homeless to suitable council accommodation is an Art.6(1) ECHR civil right has been argued over in the courts. And the question arose again in today’s judgment of the Supreme Court.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 10th May 2017

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Supreme Court backs decision of reviewing officer over accommodation offer – Local Government Lawyer

Posted May 11th, 2017 in appeals, homelessness, housing, human rights, mental health, news, refugees, Supreme Court by tracey

‘The Supreme Court has upheld a reviewing officer’s decision that it was reasonable for a refugee to accept an offer of accommodation which she claimed reminded her of prison in Iran.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 10th May 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Nearly half of female prisoners have attempted suicide, figures reveal – The Independent

Posted May 9th, 2017 in mental health, news, prisons, reports, suicide, women by tracey

‘Almost half of female prisoners in England and Wales have attempted suicide, figures show, prompting urgent calls for the next government to address the growing mental health crisis in the penal system.’

Full story

The Independent, 8th May 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Priory’s care plan for anorexic teen Pippa McManus ‘inadequate’ – BBC News

Posted May 3rd, 2017 in hospitals, inquests, mental health, news, suicide, young persons by tracey

‘No adequate care plan was in place for an anorexic teenager who killed herself five days after being released from a psychiatric hospital, an inquest found.’

Full story

BBC News, 2nd May 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Antiques Roadshow expert died after hospital ‘neglect’ – BBC News

Posted April 28th, 2017 in hospitals, inquests, mental health, news, restraint by tracey

‘Neglect and gross failure by hospital staff to quickly attempt resuscitation contributed to the death of an Antiques Roadshow expert, an inquest has ruled.’

Full story

BBC News, 27th April 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Police used as ‘first resort’ for mental health care, watchdog warns – BBC News

Posted April 21st, 2017 in mental health, news, police by tracey

‘Police forces in England and Wales are increasingly being used as the “first resort” for dealing with people who have mental health problems, a watchdog has warned.’

Full story

BBC News, 20th April 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

A culture of fear? – Legal Futures

Posted April 12th, 2017 in disciplinary procedures, mental health, news, solicitors by sally

‘A newly published survey by the Law Society Junior Lawyer’s Division (JLD) has found that extreme stress affects a quarter of young lawyers. This highlights a worrying trend that we have been tracking for some time: young solicitors unable to cope and lacking proper support from their employers.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 12th April 2017

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Mentally ill mother who jumped off cliff with newborn did not get help from medics because she was ‘articulate’ and ‘middle class’, review finds – Daily Telegraph

Posted April 7th, 2017 in hospitals, mental health, news, pregnancy, social services, suicide by tracey

‘A mother who jumped off a cliff with her newborn daughter was failed by medics because she was “articulate” and “middle class”, a review has found.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 6th April 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

A Life of Spice – Legal Highs – Six Pump Court

Posted April 6th, 2017 in drug abuse, mental health, murder, news by sally

‘The so called legal high “Spice” has played a role in a number of recent murders.’

Full story (PDF)

Six Pump Court, 28th March 2017

Source: www.6pumpcourt.co.uk

Law Society launches mental capacity accreditation for Court of Protection – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 28th, 2017 in Court of Protection, Law Society, learning difficulties, legal representation, mental health, news by sally

‘The Law Society has launched a new mental capacity accreditation for legal representatives serving the Court of Protection.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 27th March 2017

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Prisons watchdog condemns lack of action on rising female suicides – The Guardian

Posted March 28th, 2017 in mental health, news, prisons, suicide, women by sally

‘The prisons and probation ombudsman has hit out at a “lack of concerted and sustained action” following a rise in the number of suicides among female prisoners.’

Full story

The Guardian, 28th March 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Marine A to be resentenced over fatal shooting of Taliban fighter – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 28th, 2017 in appeals, armed forces, courts martial, diminished responsibility, mental health, murder, news, sentencing, war by sally

‘Royal Marine who is in prison for the fatal shooting of a Taliban fighter in Afghanistan finds out today if he is to be freed or must serve more time behind bars.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 28th March 2017

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Mental Capacity and Deprivation of Liberty: Law Commission Report Summary – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

Posted March 22nd, 2017 in care homes, deprivation of liberty safeguards, hospitals, human rights, Law Commission, learning difficulties, legislation, local government, mental health, news, reports by sally

‘Thousands of vulnerable people with dementia and learning disabilities are being detained in hospitals and care homes without the appropriate checks, due to a law unfit for purpose according to the Law Commission.’

Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 13th March 2017

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Hannah was petrified,’ say parents of student who killed herself during rape inquiry – The Guardian

Posted March 22nd, 2017 in Crown Prosecution Service, mental health, news, rape, suicide, universities, victims by sally

‘Amanda and Paul Stubbs give first interview after prosecutors drop charges against daughter’s fellow student.’

Full story

The Guardian, 21st March 2017

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Marine Alexander Blackman conviction reduced to manslaughter – BBC News

Posted March 16th, 2017 in Afghanistan, appeals, armed forces, courts martial, diminished responsibility, homicide, mental health, murder, news, war by tracey

‘A Royal Marine jailed for shooting an injured Taliban fighter in Afghanistan has had his murder conviction reduced to manslaughter by an appeal court.’

Full story

BBC News, 15th March 2017

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Thomas Orchard custody death: Three officers found not guilty of killing man with schizophrenia in police custody – The Independent

Posted March 15th, 2017 in death in custody, homicide, mental health, news, police, restraint by tracey

‘A custody sergeant and two detention officers have been found not guilty of killing a man with mental health problems in police custody.’

Full story

The Independent, 14th March 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk

DWP ‘tells disability benefits assessors to discriminate against people with mental health conditions’ – The Independent

Posted March 15th, 2017 in benefits, disabled persons, mental health, news by tracey

‘The Department for Work and Pensions has told its disability benefits assessors to discriminate against people with mental health conditions compared to those with physical problems.’

Full story

The Independent, 14th March 2017

Source: www.independent.co.uk