How the court decides best interests: part 1 What are my options?

I wanted to offer some practical insights on how the Court of Protection makes decisions about what is in a person’s (always referred to as P) best interests. Because it sounds simple, but it isn’t. And I’ve spoken to so many professionals and family members who are so clear that they are advocating for P’sContinue reading “How the court decides best interests: part 1 What are my options?”

The transformation of social care

I wanted to take some time to talk about the government’s announcement in relation to future social care funding. I am going to try very hard to put my political views to one side here, and just give you a breakdown of what was announced, and what this means for social care in England. TheContinue reading “The transformation of social care”

“Authorisation …would serve only to protect the local authority from acting unlawfully”

I was reading through the many case updates that arrived in my inbox the other morning and one really stood out to me: the case of Nottinghamshire v LH [2021] EWHC 2584. It is a judgement of the High Court under its inherent jurisdiction, and it relates to a child. So it wouldn’t normally catchContinue reading ““Authorisation …would serve only to protect the local authority from acting unlawfully””

Here’s the thing with DoLS… Reflections on the LGO’s recommendations to Kent County Council

I, like many of you, have been following the latest chapter in the DoLS saga with interest. I am referring, of course, to the Local Government Ombudsman’s report regarding Kent County Council’s delays in processing standard authorisations and Kent County Council’s, frankly very honest, response to those Ombudsman’s recommendations. The circumstances reported to the OmbudsmanContinue reading “Here’s the thing with DoLS… Reflections on the LGO’s recommendations to Kent County Council”

But first, some basics…

My role involves primarily dealing with 3 pieces of legislation: Mental Health Act 1983; Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Care Act 2014. I am going to attempt to summarise the key bits of these pieces of legislation insofar as they relate to core adult social care local authority work for you, in case you readContinue reading “But first, some basics…”