Department for Education relaxes statutory timescales in four sets of regulations relating to SEN system – Local Government Lawyer

‘Various statutory deadlines in four sets of regulations dealing with special educational needs and disabilities, principally those that relate to EHC [Education, Health and Care] needs assessment and plan processes, will be modified with effect from tomorrow (1 May).’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 30th April 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

‘Justice not charity’ – the blind marchers who made history – BBC News

‘A century ago blind and partially sighted people marched on London to lobby the government to improve their living and working conditions. The 1920 Blind March has become a milestone in the history of the disability rights movement. But as recreating a large gathering is not possible in current circumstances, blind people are using their daily personal exercise to mark the anniversary.’

Full Story

BBC News, 30th April 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Coronavirus: Lack of sign language interpreters leads to legal case against government – BBC News

‘Deaf campaigners have started legal proceedings against the government over a lack of sign language interpreters at its daily coronavirus briefings.’

Full Story

BBC News, 28th April 2020

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The Care Act, Article 8 And Local Authority Duties: What Can A Recent Case Tell Us About A Local Authority’s Duty? – Coronavirus: Guidance for Lawyers and Businesses

‘The recent judgment in R(Idolo) v London Borough of Bromley [2020] EWHC 860 (Admin) provides an important discussion of the positive duties of the state under Article 8 ECHR – and specifically, the issue of when an Article 8 breach may arise in the absence of any failure of a local authority to carry out statutory duties. Arianne Kelly discusses the case and its practical implications following the amendments that the Coronavirus Act made to the Care Act.’

Full Story

Coronavirus: Guidance for Lawyers and Businesses, 27th April 2020

Source: lawinthetimeofcorona.wordpress.com

Re Z – transparency and participation in the Court of Protection – Transparency Project

‘A judgment published this week on BAILII, Re Z, also, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust v Z (by her litigation friend, the Official Solicitor) [2020] EWCOP 20, is notable on two counts. First, that the case is described by the judge, Knowles J, as being held in public, although it was in fact a remote online hearing. Second, that “Z”, the 22 year old woman at the centre of the case had asked to be able to join the hearing but this had not been arranged.’

Full Story

Transparency Project, 25th April 2020

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

Not signed, not sealed, not delivered – Nearly Legal

‘A first instance county court judgment on a possession claim, but with a range of interesting issues. The Ratcliffes were the landlords, Ms Patterson was the tenant and Mr Porter a guarantor, who played no part in proceedings. The tenancy was an assured shorthold tenancy with the most recent fixed term beginning in June 2018. Rent arrears accrued (on which more later) and the Ratcliffes brought a claim for possession under grounds 8, 10 and 11 Schedule 2 Housing Act 1988.’

Full Story

Nearly Legal, 26th April 2020

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Remote hearings and inclusive justice – Transparency Project

‘How effectively are people with a cognitive impairment, mental health condition and/or neuro-diverse condition able to participate in proceedings in the justice system, particularly when they engage with that system via video or telephone link?’

Full Story

Transparency Project, 24th April 2020

Source: www.transparencyproject.org.uk

EHRC warning on use of video hearings in criminal cases – Legal Futures

‘The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHCR) has called on the government to take action to reduce the risk of disabled people being wrongly convicted because of video hearings in criminal cases.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 24th April 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Resuscitation and the value of a disabled person’s life: Triaging and Covid19 – Cloisters

‘What is your life worth? If you get Covid19, what criteria do you want clinicians to apply when triaging your case? Choices on withholding treatment have become starkly real in the Covid19 emergency. Such choices should be made on a basis respecting the dignity of the individual patient and not based on stereotypes relating to age or disability. The emergent guidance is not clear on these issues.’

Full Story

Cloisters, 22nd April 2020

Source: www.cloisters.com

Court hearings via video ‘risk unfairness for disabled people’ – The Guardian

‘Remote video trials could disadvantage people with learning disabilities, the equalities watchdog has warned, as courts switch to online hearings during the coronavirus crisis.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 22nd April 2020

Source: www.theguardian.com

Vulnerability and the PSED: No arid debates. No straitjackets. No disciplinary stick – Local Government Lawyer

Posted April 20th, 2020 in appeals, disabled persons, equality, homelessness, housing, local government, news by tracey

‘The Court of Appeal has upheld the decisions of two councils where reviewing officers had considered the Public Sector Equality Duty without making clear findings as to whether the applicant in each case was disabled, and concluded that those applicants were not vulnerable. Michael Paget, Zoë Whittington, Catherine Rowlands and Rowan Clapp report.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 17th April 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Full-time carer crowd funds investigation into legal challenge over failure to increase Carer’s Allowance during coronavirus pandemic – Local Government Lawyer

Posted April 17th, 2020 in benefits, carers, coronavirus, disabled persons, families, news by sally

‘A mother who cares full-time for her severely disabled daughter is crowdfunding an investigation into the potential for a legal challenge over the government’s decision not to increase the Carer’s Allowance in line with other benefits in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 14th April 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Government faces legal action over failure to produce guidance on prioritisation of NHS treatment if demand outstrips supply – Local Government Lawyer

‘Disability campaigners have threatened the Secretary of State for Health & Social Care and NHS England with a potential judicial review challenge over the failure to publish guidance on how NHS treatment for COVID-19 will be prioritised if demand outstrips supply.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 14th April 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Government changes how outdoor exercise guidance applies to people with specific health needs – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Government has changed its leaving home guidance to permit people with specific health needs to exercise outside more than once a day and to travel to do so where necessary, following the threat of a judicial review challenge.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 14th April 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Not a disciplinary stick – PSED and homeless reviews – Nearly Legal

Posted April 14th, 2020 in appeals, disabled persons, equality, homelessness, housing, local government, news by sally

‘We saw the approach of the Court of Appeal to the operation of the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) in possession proceedings in Luton Community Housing v Durdana. Now, in these joined appeals, the Court of Appeal turns its attention to PSED in homeless decisions and reviews.’

Full Story

Nearly Legal, 12th April 2020

Source: nearlylegal.co.uk

Disabled man stuck in bedroom on eighth-floor flat for 20 months loses judicial review challenge – Local Government Lawyer

‘A man in his early sixties with a complex medical history and disabilities who spent almost 20 months without being able to leave his bedroom in an eighth-floor council flat has failed in a judicial review claim against a council for compensation and declaratory relief.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 8th April 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

High Court judge quashes refusal by council of disabled facilities grant – Local Government Lawyer

‘Councils cannot treat disabled facilities grant (DFG) applications from council tenants differently to those from others, the High Court has ruled.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 3rd April 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

NICE amends Covid-19 critical care guideline after judicial review threat – Local Government Lawyer

‘The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (‘NICE’) has changed the COVID-19 guideline for clinical care after being threatened with a judicial review challenge.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 1st April 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Families of disabled children threaten legal challenge over government limit on outdoor exercise – Local Government Lawyer

‘A pre-action protocol letter has been sent to the Government calling on it to reconsider the policy that all citizens are only permitted to leave the house for exercise once per day.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 1st April 2020

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Crown prosecutor with PTSD was not discrimination victim – Legal Futures

‘An experienced Crown prosecutor who resigned after developing post-traumatic stress order (PTSD) from being threatened at a magistrates’ court was not discriminated against, an employment tribunal has ruled.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 26th March 2020

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk