THE NEW TEAM

St Ive’s Chambers has recently formed a specialist team of barristers dealing with all areas of mental capacity law and practice in response to the new legal framework and the introduction of the Court of Protection in Birmingham. The team is one of only a handful in the UK who are able to offer a full service in all areas of law relating to the protection of vulnerable adults, mental capacity and mental health.

MEMBERS OF THE TEAM

The team is headed by Michael Keehan QC and consists of barristers at all levels of seniority.

WHO CAN REFER?

Areas of work include advice, consultancy and representation for–

• local authorities
• social landlords
• health care professionals
• Office of the Public Guardian
• Official Solicitor
• CAFCASS
• private individuals

WHAT AREAS OF WORK ARE COVERED?

The team can offer advice and representation relating to –

• Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the relevant Codes of Practice.
• Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards 2007.
• Mental Health Act 1983 and 2007 (including Mental Health Review Tribunal work).
• Assessments of incapacity and Best Interests decision making for incapacitated persons.
• Detention / Restraint.
• Lasting Powers of Attorney.
• Advance decisions and statements.
• The role of the Public Guardian.
• Applications, practice and procedure in the Court of Protection.
• Judicial review of local authority discharge of community care functions.
• Independent Mental Capacity Advocates (IMCAs).
• Forced marriage.

Several members of the team are also able to offer Direct Access under the Bar Council scheme???

CONFERENCE

St Ive’s Chambers will be holding a major full day conference entitled New developments in mental capacity law and the impact of deprivation of liberty safeguards on Friday 4th December 2009 at Birmingham Botanical Gardens (5.5 CPD points, £95 per delegate) to launch the new Mental Capacity Team.

For further details please click here.

Clerk Enquiries : clerks@stiveschambers.co.uk

Members : Mental Capacity Law Group