
A group of Anthony Collins Solicitors (ACS) experts from across our various client sectors have gazed into their crystal ball and given us a view on how 2021 is looking.
Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS), due to replace the current Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) scheme, were due to be implemented in October 2020. Many people expressed concern that this date was unachievable, even before Covid-19 changed the landscape.
The Government remain optimistic that some provisions of the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019 will come into force before April 2022 but have not yet set out exactly which provisions these will be.
The Government plan to undertake a 12-week public consultation on the draft regulations and Code of Practice for LPS. There will then be a period of 6 months to prepare for the implementation.
I am sure this delay was expected by many, if not everyone, working in this area due to the pressures of Covid-19. These pressures are not only faced by the Government, but by those on the front line of health and social care, who are unlikely to have had the time to undergo training and make changes to their practices ready for LPS to be implemented.
It has already been 6 years since the House of Lords Select Committee published their scathing report and recommended that DoLS be replaced. It is therefore disappointing that the “not fit for purpose” DoLS system will remain in place for at least another 17 months. It is, however, welcome news that the LPS regulations and Code of Practice will be properly scrutinised over time, ensuring that people’s rights to liberty are properly protected.
If you would like to know more about DoLS or LPS, or if you have a relative who is subject to a DoLS and would like advice, please contact Rebekah Sambrooks or Kirsty MacMillan.
A group of Anthony Collins Solicitors (ACS) experts from across our various client sectors have gazed into their crystal ball and given us a view on how 2021 is looking.
Luton Borough Council was prosecuted by the HSE late last year following an incident at a high school in which an assistant headteacher was attacked by a pupil and left with life-changing injuries.
This ebriefing looks at the proposal to set out 'public procurement principles' in the proposed procurement legislation.
Happy New Year - our first newsletter of 2021! Throughout this year we will continue to bring you news and developments relating to the charities sector.
Local authorities should be wary of reserving contracts for local suppliers, as recommended by Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 11/20. Other contracting authorities may want to maximise their use of this
Most housing practitioners have perhaps been waiting for this news since the latest lockdown was announced by the Prime Minister on 4 January 2021.
Climate change and biodiversity is an area where significantly faster changes are needed on a global and local basis.
Chris Lloyd Smith, Adrian Leonard and Lisa Whitehouse discuss the planning opportunities available to owners of businesses and how to prepare for unforeseen events.
In their 3rd podcast of the series, Chris Lloyd-Smith and Maria Ramon discuss a number of problems with and difficulties that can arise in mediation and the mechanisms they use to overcome them.
Our previous round-up began by sharing the news that two vaccines had shown very promising test results. Here we are, not even a month later, and the first vaccines have already been administered!
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