Sex offender who poses risk is able to make own decisions about care – judge – The Independent

‘A convicted child sex offender who “poses a risk” has the mental capacity to make decisions about his care and support, a judge has decided after a hearing in a specialist court.’

Full Story

The Independent, 14th December 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Law Society calls for Mental Health Act reform to be prioritised after data shows disproportionate impact on Black British people – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Law Society has said that reforming the Mental Health Act “must be a priority for the government” after annual statistics on the Mental Health Act have revealed that Black British people are still disproportionately affected in terms of detention and treatment compared to white people.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 1st November 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Deputy High Court judge calls for non-means assessed legal aid for parents involved in deprivation of liberty proceedings – Local Government Lawyer

‘There is a compelling case for parents involved in deprivation of liberty proceedings to be treated the same as respondents in care proceedings when it comes to the provision of legal aid, a Deputy High Court Judge has said.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 24th October 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Judge approves unlawful placement for girl, 13, at risk of suicide – The Guardian

‘A 13-year-old girl at risk of suicide and in the care of Manchester city council has languished in hospital for more than three months due to a lack of suitable placements anywhere in the country.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 12th October 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Nearly 240 applications made for deprivation of liberty for children in first two months of new national court – Local Government Lawyer

‘There were 237 applications to deprive children of their liberty in the first two months of the new national deprivation of liberty (DoLs) court, the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (NFJO) has said.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 6th October 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Deprivations of liberty of 16-17 year olds and the streamline procedure – Local Government Lawyer

‘How should the Court of Protection approach applications to authorise the deprivation of liberty of a 16 or 17 year old? And when is the streamlined procedure appropriate? Alex Ruck Keene looks at the current position.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 8th July 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Professionals working with child in deprivation of liberty cases need to have clear and comprehensive understanding of operational procedures of other agencies, says High Court judge – Local Government Lawyer

‘A Family Division judge has strongly criticised the lack of therapeutic care within a restrictive environment for young people who need this.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 7th July 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

National Deprivation of Liberty Court handling applications covering children to be launched next month – Local Government Lawyer

Posted June 27th, 2022 in children, deprivation of liberty safeguards, families, family courts, news by tracey

‘The President of the Family Division has confirmed the launch of a National DoLs (Deprivation of Liberty) court on 4 July 2022 that will deal with applications seeking authorisation to deprive children of their liberty.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 22nd June 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Children subject of deprivation of liberty applications spending “significant” amount of time in suboptimal placements, research highlights – Local Government Lawyer

‘It is evident that children who are the subject of applications to the Family Court to authorise a deprivation of liberty, are spending significant periods of time in “suboptimal” placements without the therapeutic support they need to make significant long-term improvements, according to a review of published judgments by the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (NFJO).’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 4th April 2022

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Case Comment: In The Matter of T (A Child) [2021] UKSC 35 – UKSC Blog

‘In this post, Matthew Purchase QC of Matrix Chambers discusses the Supreme Court’s decision in the matter of T (A Child) [2021] UKSC 35. The Court was asked to consider two things: first, whether it was a permissible exercise of the High Court’s inherent jurisdiction to make an order authorising a local authority to deprive a child of his or her liberty in this category of case, and secondly if, contrary to T’s argument the High Court can have recourse to its inherent jurisdiction to make an order of the type in question, what the relevance is of the child’s consent to the proposed living arrangements.’

Full Story

UKSC Blog, 30th March 2022

Source: ukscblog.com

High Court can still authorise deprivation of liberty of child in unregistered home in “imperative conditions of necessity”: Court of Appeal – Local Government Lawyer

‘The statutory scheme established by Section 22C of the Children Act 1989 does not allow unregistered placements, but does not expressly prohibit them, and in cases where conditions of imperative necessity require a child to be placed in such a setting, common law steps in and allows the High Court to exercise its inherent jurisdiction to authorise a deprivation of liberty, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 13th December 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Judge hands down ruling on children under 16, deprivations of liberty and inherent jurisdiction after amendment of statutory scheme for placements – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 14th, 2021 in children, deprivation of liberty safeguards, jurisdiction, local government, news by tracey

‘It remains open to the High Court to authorise, under its inherent jurisdiction, the deprivation of liberty of a child under the age of 16 where the placement in which the restrictions that are the subject of that authorisation will be applied is prohibited by the terms of the amended statutory scheme introduced by the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021, a High Court judge has ruled.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 13th September 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Judge raps NHS England and mental health trusts over failure to provide medium secure bed for 15-year-old girl – Local Government Lawyer

‘A Family Division judge has strongly criticised NHS England and two NHS mental health trusts over the failure to accommodate a 15-year-old girl “M” with complex needs through a medium secure tier 4 bed.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 4th August 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Inherent jurisdiction can be used for deprivation of liberty of children amid “scandalous” shortage of approved secure accommodation: Supreme Court – Local Government Lawyer

‘The inherent jurisdiction of the High Court can be used to authorise the deprivation of liberty of children in alternative restrictive placements by a local authority in cases where an approved secure children’s home is unavailable, the Supreme Court has held.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 30th July 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

New Judgment: In the matter of T (A Child) [2021] UKSC 35 – UKSC Blog

The Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed this appeal concerning two main issues: (i) First, is it a permissible exercise of the High Court’s inherent jurisdiction to make an order authorising a local authority to deprive a child of his or her liberty in this category of case? (ii) Secondly, if contrary to T’s argument the High Court can have recourse to its inherent jurisdiction to make an order of the type in question, what is the relevance of the child’s consent to the proposed living arrangements?

Full Story

UKSC Blog, 30th July 2021

Source: ukscblog.com

Court of Protection judge considers how supervisory bodies should evidence their scrutiny of requests for authorisation of deprivation of liberty – Local Government Lawyer

‘An error in someone’s name on a form did not invalidate a standard authorisation, the Court of Protection has decided.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 10th June 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Deprivation of liberty and writs of habeas corpus – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Court of Protection has found that if a local authority does not apply for an order under the inherent jurisdiction, a parent can challenge the deprivation of liberty of their child in a specialist school by bringing a writ of habeas corpus. Joshua Swirsky analyses the ruling.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 1st April 2021

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Damages of £143,000 for unlawful deprivation of liberty of incapacitous care home resident upheld – Garden Court Chambers

‘The comparators for damages for unlawful deprivation of liberty of persons lacking mental capacity are few. In Essex County Council v RF & others [2015] EWCOP 1, DJ Mort made a distinction between procedural and substantive breaches and where he found the local authority ‘totally inadequate and their failings significant’, assessed monthly damages between £3000 – £4000 over a period of at least 13 months. In the case of Emile, DJ Beckley awarded damages against the London Borough of Haringey for a period of almost 8 years’ unlawful deprivation of liberty in the sum of £143,000.00. The local authority was granted permission, out of time, to appeal. The decision of HHJ Saggerson was handed down on 18 December 2020.’

Full Story

Garden Court Chambers, 26th February 2021

Source: www.gardencourtchambers.co.uk

Court of Protection Newsletter – Spire Barristers

‘Welcome to the latest issue of Spire Barristers’ Public Law Newsletter covering news from around the web, practice updates and case reviews in Court of Protection and Public Law matters.’

Full Story

Spire Barristers, 10th February 2021

Source: spirebarristers.co.uk

Judge issues second ruling sharply criticising lack of suitable regulated placement for vulnerable 16-year-old woman with complex needs – Local Government Lawyer

‘A High Court judge has sent a second judgment in less than a month – this time “more in exasperated hope than expectation” – to the Children’s Commissioner for England, the Secretary of State for Education, the Minister for Children and others over the lack of regulated accommodation for vulnerable children.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 24th November 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk