Yarl’s Wood: Undercover tour of detention centre with dreadful reputation for its treatment of asylum seekers – The Independent

‘The Detention Centre in Bedfordshire – privately run, but publicly funded – has a dreadful reputation for its treatment of asylum seekers. Cole Moreton found a way inside to see if its notoriety is deserved.’

Full story

The Independent, 16th November 2014

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Judge hits out at system that encourages solicitors to charge barristers referral fees – Legal Futures

‘Mr Justice Green, chairman of the Advocacy Training Council, has condemned the lack of a “level playing field” for publicly funded advocates, which is leading to the practice of “selling litigation rights”.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 13th November 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Speech by The Hon. Mr Justice Green: Advocacy in Peril? – Judiciary of England and Wales

‘Key note address “Advocacy in Peril?” for the International Advocacy Teaching Conference, Nottingham Trent University on 28 June 2014 by The Honourable Mr Justice Green, Chairman, Advocacy Training Council.’

Full speech

Judiciary of England and Wales, 5th November 2014

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Bar Standards Board left with £100,000 bill after QASA costs ruling – Legal Futures

Posted November 4th, 2014 in appeals, barristers, costs, news, public interest, quality assurance, trials by sally

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) is facing a bill for over £100,000 after the Court of Appeal ruled that there was no need for it to be separately represented at the hearing of the judicial review against the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA).’

Full story

Legal Futures, 4th November 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Independent review of Ofsted ‘urgently required’ – BBC News

Posted October 31st, 2014 in education, local government, news, quality assurance, teachers by sally

‘Ofsted is in urgent need of independent review in light of concerns about its objectivity and reliability, local government leaders have said.’

Full story

BBC News, 31st October 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Will scrapping the CPD requirement reduce the quality of lawyers? – The Futures of Law

‘The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has pledged to scrap its requirement for solicitors to complete 16 hours of continuing professional development (CPD), describing its existing system as little more than a “box ticking” exercise. The SRA believes revoking the current system will provide greater flexibility, but Nicholas Lakeland, partner and head of the employment and pensions team at Silverman Sherliker LLP, fears it may well lead to a real reduction in training.’

Full story

The Future of Law, 22nd October 2014

Source: www.blogs.lexisnexis.co.uk

Hospital safety standards shocking, say inspectors – BBC News

Posted October 17th, 2014 in budgets, health & safety, hospitals, news, quality assurance, standards, statistics by tracey

‘Safety standards in hospitals in England are “shocking”, inspectors say. The warning by the Care Quality Commission came as it released the results for the first 82 hospital inspected under a new regime. The system has been designed to be tougher and was overhauled following the Stafford Hospital scandal.’

Full story

BBC News, 16th October 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Patchy dementia care puts patients at risk of unnecessary suffering, says CQC – The Guardian

Posted October 13th, 2014 in care homes, elderly, health, hospitals, mental health, news, quality assurance, standards by sally

‘Nine out of 10 care homes and hospitals in England have aspects of care for people with dementia that are variable or poor, making those with the condition likely to receive substandard treatment at some point, according to an important review by the NHS regulator.’

Full story

The Guardian, 13th October 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Court of Appeal dismisses legal challenge to quality assurance scheme for advocates (QASA) – Bar Standards Board

‘An appeal against the High Court’s decision to dismiss a judicial review of the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA) has today been rejected, on all grounds, by the Court of Appeal.’

Full story

Bar Standards Board, 7th October 2014

Source: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

Court of Appeal rejects all grounds of challenge to QASA – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Court of Appeal has today [7 October] rejected a challenge to the lawfulness of the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA).’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 7th October 2014

Source: www.localgovernemtnlawyer.co.uk

Up to 200 ‘dangerous’ GP surgeries face closure under inspection regime – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 30th, 2014 in doctors, health, news, quality assurance by tracey

‘Up to 200 GP surgeries face closure or being placed in special measures for providing potentially dangerous care to thousands of patients, the chief inspector of family doctors has warned.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 30th September 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Leicester illegal circumcision doctor guilty of misconduct – BBC News

‘A psychiatrist who circumcised 41 boys at a “non-sterile” clinic in a terraced house has been found guilty of misconduct. Dr Hassan Abdulla was not registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) when he operated at the Al-Khalill Clinic in Leicester.’

Full story

BBC News, 11th September 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Government agrees to set up Food Crime Unit following Elliott Review – Local Government Lawyer

Posted September 8th, 2014 in consumer protection, food, fraud, health & safety, news, quality assurance by sally

‘A new Food Crime Unit is to be set up after the Government accepted all of the recommendations of the Elliott report on food integrity and assurance of food supply networks.’

Full story

Local Government Lawyer, 4th September 2014

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

QASA challenge could cost criminal barristers £215,000 – Legal Futures

Posted August 11th, 2014 in appeals, barristers, costs, news, protective costs orders, quality assurance by sally

‘The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) and circuits could face a £65,000 bill – nearly twice what they had hoped for – if their Court of Appeal bid to derail the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA) fails, it has emerged.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 11th August 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Bar Standards Board to “research need for accreditation schemes” – Legal Futures

‘The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has promised to research “the need for other quality assurance schemes and/or accreditation schemes” so the public can have confidence in barristers.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 4th August 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Criminal bar takes QASA challenge to appeal court – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted July 17th, 2014 in appeals, barristers, news, quality assurance by tracey

‘The criminal bar has begun the next stage of its challenge to the introduction of the controversial Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA).’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 16th July 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

The Jeffrey’s Review – a challenge to the Bar – Halsbury’s Law Exchange

‘On 7 May 2014 the report by Sir Bill Jeffrey on “Independent criminal advocacy in England and Wales”, the first of the triumvirate of reports into the state of the criminal justice system, was issued. It is a mixed bag. Many lawyers were hoping for more, specifically for ammunition in their battle with the MoJ, but that point is largely ducked. Whilst there is a lot that the (independent) bar can take comfort, and perhaps even pride in, make no mistake – however it is sugar-coated, this is not a homage to the Bar, or a plea to maintain the status quo.’


Full story

Halsbury’s Law Exchange, 9th May 2014

Source: www.halsburyslawexchange.co.uk

Call for QC reaccreditation as QASA challenge staggers on – Legal Futures

‘The possibility of introducing re-accreditation for QCs, meaning that silk would no longer be a permanent appointment, and a power to strip them of the rank in the event of misconduct, was floated last week.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 7th April 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Ofsted to set out changes to school inspection – BBC News

Posted March 21st, 2014 in education, news, quality assurance by sally

‘The head of Ofsted is set to outline changes to school inspections and defend the schools’ watchdog, in a speech to headteachers.’

Full story

BBC News, 21st March 2014

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

‘Unacceptable’ failings and overcrowding found in NHS hospitals – Daily Telegraph

Posted March 7th, 2014 in hospitals, news, quality assurance by tracey

‘Unacceptably poor outpatient care, overcrowding and delays in Accident & Emergency units have been highlighted in the first national report following a new NHS inspection regime. Inspectors who visited a cross-section of 18 hospitals across the country found patients were waiting far too long in casualty units, and for appointments to see consultants and undergo tests.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 6th March 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk