Meet our team / Rebekah Sambrooks
Rebekah Sambrooks
Solicitor
Rebekah is currently on maternity leave
My role
I specialise in court of protection health and welfare cases. These are cases when the court is asked to make decisions on behalf of a person who lacks capacity. These decisions include; where someone should live, what care they should receive and who they should have contact with.
I represent people who are deprived of their liberty in a care home or hospital wish to challenge the authorisation that keeps them there.
I also represent family members in court of protection proceedings that concern their loved ones.
I also specialise in mental health law. I advise patients who are detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 both in a hospital and in the community. I represent clients at mental health tribunals and hospital managers hearings. I also attend other meetings, such as Care Programme Approach (CPA) meetings and s117 meetings, with patients to ensure that their voices are heard when discussions are had about their care and treatment.
I travel throughout the Midlands with my base being in Birmingham. Legal aid is often available for my clients.
My experience
I joined Anthony Collins Solicitors in November 2015 and qualified as a solicitor in November 2020. I am a Law Society accredited mental health practitioner and a Legal Aid agency supervisor in this area.
My specialisms
- Mental Health Law (Mental Health Act 1983)
- Court of protection
- Health and welfare matters (Mental Capacity Act 2005)
- Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) (Mental Capacity Act 2005)
Blog
My latest articles
Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019 DHSC impact assessment
A summary of the DHSC Impact Assessment of the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019.
Liberty Protection Safeguards – new aim of April 2022
It was announced by the Government on 16 July 2020 that the implementation of Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) has been delayed until April 2022. No date has been set, with April 2022 being described as the “aim for full implementation”.
Terminally ill care home residents and COVID-19 restrictions
Family not in breach of COVID-19 regulations by collecting their terminally ill mother from a care home as it was considered that they were providing assistance to a vulnerable person.
People who lack capacity and COVID-19
On 9 April 2020, the DHSC issued guidance for hospitals, care homes and supervisory bodies regarding the MCA and DoLS during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and the Coronavirus Act 2020
The Coronavirus Act does not change the need to comply with the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) or the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) regime.
Coronavirus and the Mental Health Act 1983
Last week, the Lord Chancellor approved the issue of the Pilot Practice Direction, which affects the Health, Education and Social Care Chamber of the First Tier Tribunal (mental health).
A warning to Best Interests Assessors
An experienced Best Interests Assessor (BIA) has received a 12-month suspension order after plagiarising DoLS forms.
More focus on human rights needed when using the Mental Health Act
“Monitoring the Mental Health Act in 2018/19” published by the CQC, has found that although improvements have been made, healthcare services need to do more to comply with their human rights duties.
Stopping the inappropriate detention of young people with learning disabilities or autism
The Government have announced that there will be urgent reviews leading to the discharge of wrongly detained young people.
Rebekah Sambrooks appointed to the Mental Health Panel of accredited practitioners
At Anthony Collins Solicitors, we firmly believe in continuing to develop our knowledge and encouraging progression within the firm. The latest success comes from Rebekah Sambrooks, a legal assistant in […]