“Shocking” lack of urgency to trace children missing from education, Children’s Commissioner warns – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel De Souza, has warned that more than 11,500 children in England went missing from education over the course of one year, having “fallen off the radar” of their local authorities.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 25th September 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Nursing home held not to be a public authority for the purposes of an Article 2 claim – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted September 24th, 2024 in care homes, human rights, mental health, negligence, news by tracey

‘In Sammut v Next Steps Mental Healthcare Ltd and Greater Manchester Mental Health Foundation Trust [2024] EWHC 2265(KB), HHJ Bird sitting as a judge of the High Court gave summary judgment in favour of the first defendant in a claim against a care home brought on behalf of the estate of a mental health patient for breach of ECHR Article 2. HHJ Bird held that the care home was not engaged in public functions for the purposes of section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998 and was not a public authority. Further, the alleged breach of Article 2 was in reality no more than an allegation of clinical negligence outwith the scope of Article 2.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 24th September 2024

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

Outsourcing and the Human Rights Act 1998 – the consequences – Mental Capacity Law and Policy

‘Without straying into politics, Sammut v Next Steps Mental Healthcare Ltd [2024] EWHC 2265 (KB) is a case which demonstrates the consequences of the fact that much state-funded care – including coercive mental health care – is now delivered privately. It concerns a man, Paul Sammut, who had what was described as a chronic, enduring and treatment resistant schizophrenia. For large parts of his adult life, he was detained under s.3 Mental Health Act 1983.’

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Mental Capacity Law and Policy, 16th September 2024

Source: www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk

Four key takeaways from Huw Edwards’ sentencing – BBC News

‘Former BBC News presenter Huw Edwards has been given a suspended prison term after he admitted making indecent images of children. Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard he received more than 40 images over several months from convicted sex offender Alex Williams. Here are four things we learned from the sentencing hearing.’

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BBC News, 16th September 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Huw Edwards spared jail as disgraced BBC presenter sentenced for indecent images of children – The Independent

‘Former BBC presenter Huw Edwards has been handed a suspended sentence after accessing indecent images of children as young as seven.’

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The Independent, 16th September 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Property and Affairs Report – September 2024 – 39 Essex Chambers

‘In the Property and Affairs Report: a guest post updating deputies and attorneys on important responsibilities.’

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39 Essex Chambers, 1st September 2024

Source: www.39essex.com

Health, Welfare and Deprivation of Liberty Report – 39 Essex Chambers

‘In the Health, Welfare and Deprivation of Liberty Report: the Court of Appeal on belief and capacity, and both sexual and medical complexities before the courts.’

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39 Essex Chambers , 1st September 2024

Source: www.39essex.com

Coroner says ‘no causal link’ between The Jeremy Kyle Show and death of guest – The Independent

Posted September 11th, 2024 in coroners, duty of care, families, inquests, media, mental health, news, suicide by tracey

‘A coroner has ruled that The Jeremy Kyle Show’s treatment of Steve Dymond was not a “contributory factor” to his death.’

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The Independent, 10th September 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Family’s anger as killer bids for open prison – BBC News

Posted September 9th, 2024 in bereavement, families, homicide, imprisonment, mental health, news, parole by tracey

‘The family of a Leeds woman who was beaten to death by a man with a psychotic illness have said they are angry at the possibility he could be moved to an open prison.’

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BBC News, 9th September 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

What is the mental health public inquiry and what could it change? – BBC News

Posted September 9th, 2024 in hospitals, inquiries, mental health, news by tracey

‘Mental health patients are among the most vulnerable in society, but services in England have been under huge strain for at least a decade, with sometimes fatal consequences. A public inquiry backed by the government will focus on deaths in Essex as a starting point, but what is it and what does it hope to achieve?. Solicitors representing a growing number of families who have lost loved ones say the Lampard Inquiry, which starts on 9 September, is as important as those around the Post Office and infected blood scandals.’

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BBC News, 9th September 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

One-word Ofsted grades scrapped in England’s schools – BBC News

‘One or two-word Ofsted inspection grades for England’s schools are being scrapped immediately.’

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BBC News, 2nd September 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Mother and son call for review of ‘harsh’ UK witness protection programme – The Guardian

‘A mother and son whose lives have been completely reshaped by living under witness protection have called for a wholesale review of the system, warning that instead of keeping people safe it can be “hostile” to innocents.’

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The Guardian, 27th August 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Firm “did not know solicitor was disabled” when it withdrew job offer – Legal Futures

‘A legal business did not know a solicitor was disabled and had bipolar disorder when it decided to withdraw his job offer, an employment tribunal has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 20th August 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Police officers used ‘unnecessary force’ on woman – BBC News

Posted August 19th, 2024 in human rights, mental health, news, nuisance, police, professional conduct, restraint, women by tracey

‘Two police officers committed gross misconduct by using “unnecessary force” on a vulnerable woman in Bristol, a panel has found.’

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BBC News, 17th August 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Claimant wins High Court challenge to council over failure to secure suitable accommodation, conduct lawful assessment of children – Local Government Lawyer

‘The London Borough of Bexley failed to secure suitable accommodation for claimant ZRR in breach of section 190 of the Housing Act 1996 and failed to conduct a lawful needs assessment of her children under section 17 of the Children Act 1989, the High Court has found.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 15th August 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Key questions that remain about Nottingham killer’s care – BBC News

Posted August 15th, 2024 in community care, homicide, medical treatment, mental health, news by sally

‘The critical report into the mental healthcare given to Valdo Calocane – a paranoid schizophrenic who fatally stabbed three people in Nottingham last year – is damning.’

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BBC News, 14th August 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Nottingham attacks: series of errors led to Valdo Calocane being discharged, review finds – The Guardian

Posted August 13th, 2024 in homicide, hospital orders, mental health, news, sentencing by tracey

‘A “series of errors and misjudgments” in Valdo Calocane’s mental health care led to him being discharged, despite repeatedly not taking medication and showing signs of aggression, months before he killed three people in Nottingham, a report says.’

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The Guardian, 13th August 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Doctor warned Valdo Calocane could kill, three years before Nottingham stabbings – The Guardian

‘Family share medical records of Calocane’s mental illness with BBC that they say show missed opportunities to prevent attacks.’

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The Guardian, 12th August 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Alerter by Tim Green KC & Georgina Pein – How to engage A2 ECHR in Healthcare Inquests – Henderson Chambers

Posted August 8th, 2024 in chambers articles, families, human rights, inquests, mental health, news, suicide by sally

‘This article provides practitioners with an overview of the law relating to inquests which engage Article 2 ECHR in the context of deaths arising from shortcomings in healthcare. It is intended to provide a pithy summary on the legal complexities in domestic and European case law and it offers some general advice on how best to engage Article 2 arguments.’

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Henderson Chamber, 17th July 2024

Source: www.hendersonchambers.co.uk

Watchdog bans Gemma Collins advert promoting headset to treat depression – The Guardian

‘An Instagram post by Gemma Collins in which she promoted wearing a headset to fight depression instead of seeking professional medical advice and treatment has been banned by the UK advertising watchdog.’

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The Guardian, 7th August 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com