September 2018 chronology

See September 2018 update for a thematic summary of these changes.

• 26/09/18 (1): Event. Edge Training: Consent and the Mental Capacity Act 2005 Conference - London, 29/10/18 — This one-day conference is designed to collate the key elements of consent and mental capacity law to enable delegates to understand their legal responsibilities. The conference will look at past case law by considering the biggest consent court case in recent history and the implications for staff. It will look at the present day legal requirements and consider the responsibility to seek valid informed consent. Lastly, the day will look to the future by outlining potential future developments in the Mental Capacity Act (Amendment) Bill, possible technology to investigate methods of communicating with those with limiting conditions, and legal advance care planning options under the Act. Speakers: James Badenoch QC, Steven Richards, Theresa Renwick, Dr Caterina Cinel, Aasya Mughal. Cost: £115 plus VAT (up to 10/10/18), £140 plus VAT (thereafter). See Edge website for further details and booking information.

• 18/09/18 (1): COP guidance (2016). Alex Ruck Keene, 'Bulk tenancy applications' (Court of Protection Handbook, 21/10/16) — This blog post notes that any application in relation to bulk tenancy applications will now be met with the following response: "The previous guidance, which was drawn up following an approach by the Association of Public Authority Deputies and other court users, has been withdrawn. That had indicated that the court was prepared to deal with all of the adults required to sign the tenancy agreement(s) in a single bulk application. Attention has been drawn to the fact that the Court of Protection Rules 2007 make no provision for bulk applications to be made. It is not possible, as the rules stand at present, to entertain an application made on that basis."

• 12/09/18 (1): Job advert. ASC Healthcare, Bolton - Mental Health Act Administrator (listed until 14/12/18). See Jobs

• 10/09/18 (2): Case summary. Ruth Atkinson-Wilks, 'Case Summary: RW v Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust [2018] EWCA Civ 1067' (Bevan Brittan, 10/9/18) — This document contains a well-structured summary of the judgment in PW v Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust [2018] EWCA Civ 1067.

• 10/09/18 (1): Event. COPPA: National Conference - Manchester, 19/9/18 — Speakers include: Senior Judge Hilder, Master James, Prof Wayne Martin (Essex Autonomy Project), Dr Paul Cooper, and a panel on financial abuse. Keynote speaker: Sir Andrew McFarlane. Price: £120. See COPPA website for further details and booking information.

• 05/09/18 (2): 39 Essex Chambers Special Report. 39 Essex Chambers, 'Special Report: Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill' (3/9/18) — This report on the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill 2017-19, edited by Victoria Butler-Cole, Neil Allen and Alex Ruck Keene, contains articles by: Neil Allen (Barrister, 39 Essex Chambers); Victoria Butler-Cole (Barrister, 39 Essex Chambers); Lorraine Currie (MCA/DoLS lead); Stephen Ward (Trust MHA and MCA lead); Gary Haigh (Local Authority Practice Development Manager);Martin Sexton (Local Authority MCA/DOLS team manager).

• 05/09/18 (1): Law Society LPS briefing paper. Law Society, 'Parliamentary brief: Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill 2018: HL committee stage' (3/9/18) — This briefing paper on the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill 2017-19 contains the following headings: (1) Introduction; (2) Executive summary; (3) Principles of a new safeguarding framework; (4) Putting the person at the centre of the Mental Capacity Act; (5) Underpinning principles in the MCA 2005 and UNCRPD; (6) Assessment processes; (7) Independent scrutiny and safeguards; (8) Review processes; (9) Removal of the power to place conditions on authorisations; (10) Challenging authorisations; (11) Application of the LPS to 16 and 17-year olds. The Law Society's website summarises it as follows: "The Law Society believes that the proposed statutory scheme in the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill would weaken important safeguards provided under the existing Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards scheme. Any statutory scheme which permits the state to deprive someone of their liberty for the purpose of providing care and treatment must be robust and comprehensible. As it stands, we do not believe that the proposed Bill has sufficient safeguards and is not fit for purpose in its current form. It requires serious re-consideration and extensive revision. This briefing sets out the Law Society's views and makes recommendations for changes to make the Bill fit for purpose."

• 03/09/18 (2): Legal Aid guidance document. Legal Aid Agency, 'Costs Assessment Guidance: for use with the 2018 Standard Civil Contracts' (v1, 3/9/18) — The LAA have published this guidance together with a tracked changes version. Superseded by: Legal Aid Agency, 'Costs Assessment Guidance: for use with the 2018 Standard Civil Contracts' (v4, February 2021).

• 03/09/18 (1): New mental health Legal Aid form. CW 1&2 (MH) (v13, September 2018). See Legal Aid forms

• 02/09/18 (1): Deputyship case. PBC v JMA [2018] EWCOP 19 — "PBC is the son of JMA, and was appointed as her sole attorney for property and affairs by a Lasting Power of Attorney ... He seeks the authority of the Court to make from JMA’s estate various gifts together exceeding £7 million. The purpose of such gifting, openly stated from the outset of the application, is to achieve - as long as JMA lives at least a further 3 years - reduction of inheritance tax liabilities. The parties have reached an agreement between themselves. Together, they ask the Court to make orders to give effect to their agreement. The matter was listed for hearing because the Court sought assistance in order to reach a conclusion as to whether or not the terms of that agreement are in the best interests of JMA."