RadcliffesLeBrasseur acts for numerous Mental Health NHS Trusts and private sector psychiatric providers across the country. Our team advises on the operation of the Mental Health Act, the impact of latest cases and government reforms and on all aspects relating to the treatment and detention of the mentally ill and people with learning disabilities.
The mental health legislation establishes important powers which affect the liberty of the individual. Our team is skilled in advising on the complex issues which can arise, providing advice, often at very short notice.
We are one of the few firms specialising in advising the providers of mental healthcare, and are acknowledged as such by the directories of the legal profession. We have developed a national reputation as experts in this field.
An enterprising approach
Our aim is to provide straightforward, practical advice, not legal barriers.
We are often able to take an innovative stance. For example in the context of health sector contracts we were the first firm to put together a contract on behalf of an NHS Mental Health Trust with a local authority whereby their community housing was contracted to the NHS Trust thus providing seamless care.
Policy Review
Effective policies are a crucial part of the delivery of mental healthcare. The RadcliffesLeBrasseur service includes a facility to review (or draft) your policies to ensure compliance with the Mental Health Act, Human Rights Act, Data Protection Act and other legislation.
In Particular, many policies will need reviewing to take account of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 when this comes into force in the future.
Inquest Service
Our lawyers have particular expertise in connection with inquests, providing the preliminary advice and advocacy services at the inquest itself. These can be particularly traumatic for staff in the mental health setting and need expert care and advice. They can often be the start of a claim for compensation and we therefore believe inquests are an important procedure and that prior preparation is essential. Our inquest Service includes advance meetings to support the individuals involved; we find healthcare staff welcome this support at what is often a particularly stressful time.
24 hour service
As legal advice on Mental Health issues is often required urgently, RadcliffesLeBrasseur' healthcare team has established a 24-hour help line service and provides support round the clock to help avoid costly mistakes that can occur if people are left to face difficult situations without back-up:
- A patient is on the balcony threatening to jump. What should we do?
- This patient's Mental Health Act papers cannot be found and it would seem that he was never detained under section in the first place. What should we do now?
- The authority for detention expired yesterday. Should we release the patient today, at the weekend?
- The patient's husband is in reception refusing to leave unless we let him see her medical records. She refuses, but he is upsetting the staff and patients. Can we show the records to him?
- The patient lacks capacity to consent to medical treatment but requires emergency surgery. Can we proceed?
If you would like to have this facility available for your staff, please contact andrew.parsons@rlb-law.com. Making arrangements for the facility is free - there is only the cost if it is used to provide the vital legal input often needed outside office hours.
An enterprising team
The RadcliffesLeBrasseur Health Group is a dynamic team whose members care about health issues. They have specific expertise in this field and as a result of their daily experience of dealing with these matters are able to advise more quickly than less specialist firms.
Training
A significant amount of the Group's time is spent giving educational lectures and seminars to help clients keep abreast of developments in mental health law. A wide range of publications on sector issues are also produced and are available to clients, including the popular monthly Mental Health Law Briefing Notes.
Briefings
Latest developments in mental health law are documented through our monthly Mental Health Law Briefing Notes. The briefings have been widely acclaimed as providing an important resource in this area. For details on how to obtain them please contact
info@rlb-law.com
Plaudits
Our mental health team has been acknowledged as experts in this field, and Andrew Parsons as a leading practitioner acting for mental health providers.