September 2018 update
Website
- Magic Book. The Magic Book is a database of contact details. The main idea is to add the hospitals and other places you visit (not just your own place of work). To create/edit contacts, there is no need to log in and the process is very quick and simple. See Magic Book
- Mental Health Law Online CPD scheme: 12 points for £60. Obtain 12 CPD points online by answering monthly questionnaires. The scheme is an ideal way to obtain your necessary hours, or to evidence your continued competence. It also helps to support the continued development of this website, and your subscriptions (and re-subscriptions) are appreciated. For full details and to subscribe, see CPD scheme.
- Cases. On 30/9/18 Mental Health Law Online contained 1915 categorised cases
- Chronology. See September 2018 chronology for this month's changes to the website in date order.
Case law
- 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."
Legal Aid
- 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 Superseded by: Legal Aid Agency, 'Costs Assessment Guidance: for use with the 2018 Standard Civil Contracts' (v4, February 2021).
- New mental health Legal Aid form. CW 1&2 (MH) (v13, September 2018). See Legal Aid forms
Court of Protection
- 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."
- 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).
- 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."
- 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.
Job advert
- Job advert. ASC Healthcare, Bolton - Mental Health Act Administrator (listed until 14/12/18). See Jobs
Event
- 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.
- 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.
National Statistics: Legal aid statistics: April to June 2018 https://t.co/VDLJkIzjUo pic.twitter.com/wUCEJ2eOSX
— Legal Aid Handbook (@legalaidhbk) September 27, 2018
National Statistics: User guide to legal aid statistics in England and Wales https://t.co/005A8JMvF6 pic.twitter.com/gArzFatuMz
— Legal Aid Handbook (@legalaidhbk) September 27, 2018
This morning we've published new figures on the use of guardianship orders, which are up 12% from last year. We're concerned by the rise, and look forward to reform of the relevant legislation next year.https://t.co/0dTIR3dbvH pic.twitter.com/PloVmaXUr3
— Mental Welfare Scot (@MentalWelfare) September 27, 2018
Form: CW1: financial eligibility for legal aid clients https://t.co/CdIJZOk2FG pic.twitter.com/tGI9UGIE3B
— Legal Aid Handbook (@legalaidhbk) September 27, 2018
Form: EC-CLAIM 1: escape fee case claim form https://t.co/e7FN1Dxz8C pic.twitter.com/nVASwfAOdP
— Legal Aid Handbook (@legalaidhbk) September 27, 2018
Form: Mental health: CLR, enhanced rates and review of refusal https://t.co/oc7ZqfHWmz pic.twitter.com/1w7OnpH4X3
— Legal Aid Handbook (@legalaidhbk) September 27, 2018
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 responsibiliti… https://t.co/wse4JX76m7
— Mental Health Law (@MHLonline) September 26, 2018
Court of Protection: The London Borough of Enfield v Matrix Deputies Ltd & Anor [2018] EWCOP 22 (24 September 2018) https://t.co/WkUbYKGDqB
— Mental Health Law (@MHLonline) September 25, 2018
Grace period to use previous versions of paper forms for 2018 Standard Civil Contract work#legalaid https://t.co/I9HVWXyg5A pic.twitter.com/NeyASKFua7
— Legal Aid Agency (@LegalAidAgency) September 20, 2018
Hugely useful link to all amendments to Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill thanks to @Capacitylaw in the 39 Essex MCA report https://t.co/stW3TvuaoB
— Lucy Series (@TheSmallPlaces) September 18, 2018
Useful commentary here from @rosiehardinguk on the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill https://t.co/Os2iEWBwmO
— Lucy Series (@TheSmallPlaces) September 18, 2018
Statements from Care England and Dimensions on the Mental Capacity Amendment Bill https://t.co/FYGlK2bM0m https://t.co/dNv7Otzcpj
— Lucy Series (@TheSmallPlaces) September 18, 2018
“Carer caught masturbating in dementia-sufferer's room claimed he had an itch” https://t.co/HnX1qZEiWP
— Mental Health Law (@MHLonline) September 19, 2018
August was another busy month for the PoA team. Here's a quick snap shot ... pic.twitter.com/pLaYho40Z5
— Public Guardian (@OPGScotland) September 19, 2018
Transgender Prisoners https://t.co/Z2rbouA6ni
— CrimeLine (@CrimeLineLaw) September 19, 2018
Court of Protection: SH, Re [2018] EWCOP 21 (17 September 2018) https://t.co/L88IbT6ZvQ
— Mental Health Law (@MHLonline) September 19, 2018
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 gui… https://t.co/hu62m1hczu
— Mental Health Law (@MHLonline) September 17, 2018
CQC, 'Sexual safety on mental health wards' (11/9/18) https://t.co/ZXyAkyB6tp
— Mental Health Law (@MHLonline) September 16, 2018
The Parole Board is pleased to see the publication of the Victims Strategy, a cross-government strategy focussed on ensuring victims receive the support they need throughout their experience of the criminal justice system. https://t.co/9R5lX3fsOY
— The Parole Board (@Parole_Board) September 14, 2018
No plans to reform insanity defence laws pic.twitter.com/wayfQXRA6m
— CrimeLine (@CrimeLineLaw) September 11, 2018
“Nurse struck off for 'having sex with vulnerable mental health patient'” https://t.co/13A1lueRh5
— Mental Health Law (@MHLonline) September 14, 2018
“Poole carer who shouted abuse at dementia sufferer sentenced” - BBC News https://t.co/7k4rFvPqXh
— Mental Health Law (@MHLonline) September 14, 2018
ICYMI - Important and revealing report from @VictimsComm on lack of provision for Victims of Mentally Disordered Offenders. Read the family stories - We need to do better.https://t.co/iInVURpB1l
— hundredfamilies (@hundredfamilies) September 12, 2018
New blog from @TorButlerCole explains what the courts in England and Wales have said the law requires regarding involving patients in #DNACPR decisions https://t.co/evWe50AlE1
— Compassion in Dying (@AGoodDeath) August 15, 2018
Local authority criticised for weak response to care home visiting ban which deprived elderly woman of her libertyhttps://t.co/bZOQCNJ6r0
— Community Care (@CommunityCare) September 12, 2018
The Bill also creates a statutory aggravating factor. This means that when a person is convicted of a range of offences including sexual assault, ABH, GBH and manslaughter, the judge must consider the fact that the offence was committed against an emergency worker as an
— CrimeLine (@CrimeLineLaw) September 13, 2018
The Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Bill will create a new offence of assault against an emergency worker in the exercise of their functions with a penalty that is increased from 6 months to 12 months.
— CrimeLine (@CrimeLineLaw) September 13, 2018
Self-harm by adult men in prison: a rapid evidence assessment https://t.co/oE3hDVDv7U
— CrimeLine (@CrimeLineLaw) September 13, 2018
Take our survey on social media surveillance of service usershttps://t.co/i4w3JbcOBV
— Community Care (@CommunityCare) September 13, 2018
Government stands by plan to extend care home role in deprivation of liberty cases despite heavy criticism.https://t.co/0SQpStXwcp
— Community Care (@CommunityCare) September 13, 2018
Sentencing guidelines for manslaughter https://t.co/rz6JNxX1Js @25BedfordRow
— CrimeLine (@CrimeLineLaw) September 14, 2018
This is the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018: it is quite short, so answers to the various questions people may have are easily found within — https://t.co/QT2XaEayO2
— Michael Brown (@MentalHealthCop) September 14, 2018
CPS consultation crimes against older people policy guidance now open (until 10 October) https://t.co/GBqmb5LnOy
— Alex Ruck Keene (@Capacitylaw) September 13, 2018
here be the graph pic.twitter.com/a40Zk5ZXwp
— Lucy Series (@TheSmallPlaces) September 12, 2018
Job advert. ASC Healthcare, Bolton - Mental Health Act Administrator (listed until 14/12/18). See Jobs https://t.co/d0Y4Gtlvyu
— Mental Health Law (@MHLonline) September 12, 2018
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… https://t.co/1bXsrDKSjI
— Mental Health Law (@MHLonline) September 10, 2018
Event. COPPA: National Conference - Manchester, 19/9/18 — Speakers include: Master James, Wayne Martin (Essex Autonomy Project), Mark Neary, and a panel on financial abuse. Keynote speaker: Sir Andrew McFarlane. Price: £120. See COPPA website for further… https://t.co/SZ8f7Bq7HT
— Mental Health Law (@MHLonline) September 10, 2018
“Spike in reports of sexual assault across mental health trusts” https://t.co/sh4S4KHcJ3
— Mental Health Law (@MHLonline) September 8, 2018
NB The amendment only relates to adults, not children - it is tied to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 which does not apply to children aged 16 and under. If adopted it will have no effect on mediation being offered in disputes involving babies and young children. https://t.co/kGK3jdBjSz
— Tor Butler-Cole (@TorButlerCole) September 7, 2018
News story: Civil news: 2018 contract interim arrangements end 7 September https://t.co/6s6Vep097i pic.twitter.com/RyUI9s7ifH
— Legal Aid Handbook (@legalaidhbk) September 7, 2018
A transgender inmate sexually assaulted four fellow inmates just days after being remanded into an all-female jail. Convicted paedophile Karen White, who was born Stephen Wood had been charged with repeatedly raping a woman in 2016 and was undergoing gender reassignment.
— CrimeLine (@CrimeLineLaw) September 7, 2018
“Care minister 'committed' to green paper this Autumn but don't mention the 'B-word'” https://t.co/Pr6FFM1QwV
— Mental Health Law (@MHLonline) September 7, 2018
“Government hints at further delay to social care paper” https://t.co/aOxjS0SYj3
— Mental Health Law (@MHLonline) September 7, 2018
A post on capacity and the Mental Health Tribunal https://t.co/E4SnXtzOJX #civil
— Sophy Miles (@sophymiles1) September 5, 2018
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. https://t.co/WPeMGxvpKs— Mental Health Law (@MHLonline) September 4, 2018
New mental health Legal Aid form. CW 1&2 (MH) (v13, September 2018). See Legal Aid forms https://t.co/QaE8z8VOWI
— Mental Health Law (@MHLonline) September 4, 2018
“Community Treatment Orders and Conditional Discharge in the Court of Appeal” https://t.co/5FiArTLJRo
— Mental Health Law (@MHLonline) September 3, 2018
Guidance: Escape cases electronic handbook https://t.co/V9q4Ila4BF pic.twitter.com/jzNjJLhKF3
— Legal Aid Handbook (@legalaidhbk) September 3, 2018
New 2018 Contract Costs Assessment Guidance published https://t.co/WxKImKsHmd
— Legal Aid Handbook (@legalaidhbk) September 3, 2018
Mental Capacity Report: Special Report - Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill https://t.co/UzKXW9J2rW
— Mental Capacity Law (@39CapacityLaw) September 3, 2018
https://t.co/3qrSgpqoVu
A post about repatriation, "muddled thinking" and costs.— Sophy Miles (@sophymiles1) September 3, 2018
Court of Protection: London Borough of Lambeth v MCS & Anor [2018] EWCOP 14 (31 August 2018) https://t.co/6VzuduIrwM
— Mental Health Law (@MHLonline) September 3, 2018
Court of Protection: London Borough of Lambeth v MCS & Anor [2018] EWCOP 20 (31 August 2018) https://t.co/bpH3sllAUw
— Mental Health Law (@MHLonline) September 3, 2018
Late on Friday night, 2 hours before new contracts were supposed to start, @LegalAidAgency says organisations that still haven’t received their 2018
contracts will still be able to operate after midnight tonight - under an emergency contract lasting for 7 days only https://t.co/ml7HHYXNNP— Legal Aid Handbook (@legalaidhbk) August 31, 2018
My musings on the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill - Watered Down Safeguards https://t.co/mSmjmNnBzW
— Neil Allen (@NeilAllen39) September 2, 2018
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 togeth… https://t.co/cH9w4qQhf4— Mental Health Law (@MHLonline) September 2, 2018
“Why are so many teenage girls appearing in gender clinics? - Trans parenting” https://t.co/iOMOE05Waw
— Mental Health Law (@MHLonline) September 2, 2018