On Saturday 21st January, Paul Briggs, husband to Lindsey Briggs passed away further to a Court of Protection judgment in December that declared it was in his best interests for Clinical Assisted Nutrition and Hydration (CANH) and commonly referred to as a PEG tube to be withdrawn.

Lindsey contacted Empowerment Matters in December 2015 having been in touch with the Coma and Disorders of Consciousness Centre (CDOC) and asked Jakki to become Paul’s advocate. On behalf of the family, Jakki has spoken to several media sources including BBC  Breakfast, Radio 5 Live, The Jeremy Vine Show and Granada Reports about the role of advocacy, best interests decision making and the values that Paul held that ultimately led to the decision in December 2016 by Mr Justice Charles. The following is an excerpt from Granda Reports that has followed Paul’s story over the last few months and conveys what family would like others to be aware of.

The role of advocacy in PDOC

Judgment in the Court of Protection – Paul Briggs

The Court of Protection has authorised (for the first time) the withdrawal of CANH from a woman in MCS. The judge, Hayden J, emphasised the specifics of the case and that a ‘bright line’ delineation between VS and MCS is largely, perhaps even entirely, artificial. See the full judgement here.

New resource for practitioners to support effective challenge

Empowerment Matters worked with VoiceAbility to produce a new Practice Guide for challenging decisions or actions with or on behalf of individuals involved with social care and health services.

The first of its kind, this Guidance provides comprehensive information to support advocates and professionals to decide on the most appropriate route to take to challenge decisions based on the person’s views and situation.  This guide will help advocates to develop a ‘tool-kit’ of different approaches in order to get the best possible outcome for people.

The full Guidance can be downloaded here: Guidance on Challenging Decisions – July 2015

The Guidance provides detailed information on the spectrum of methods to resolve issues including:

• Taking an informal approach to challenge; when this is most appropriate and the skills required to be effective, including negotiating and influencing;
• Formal routes to challenge; under the Mental Capacity Act 2005; Mental Health Act 1983; and Care Act 2014 as well as formal complaints processes and judicial review.

The Guide will be helpful to advocates, family members and others who often take on the crucial role of supporting people to raise their own concerns, or challenging decisions on their behalf, were necessary.  It provides essential reference materials, case examples and references to relevant Articles with Acts and Statutory Guidance and aims to increase the knowledge and confidence of those challenging decisions in often very complex situations.

The Guide was commissioned by VoiceAbility, written by Empowerment Matters with legal advice from Irwin Mitchell LLP and substantial guidance and input from advocates at VoiceAbility.

The Law Commission has published its consultation paper, Mental Capacity and Deprivation of Liberty. The paper can be accessed here. http://www.lawcom.gov.uk/project/mental-capacity-and-deprivation-of-liberty/#related.The paper reviews the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (the DoLS) in England and Wales.

Chapter 9 focuses on Advocacy and the Relevant Person’s Representative. One of the provisional proposals presented in the paper is that the “provision of advocacy should be streamlined and consolidated across the Care Act and Mental Capacity Act (in its entirety), so that Independent Mental Capacity Advocates would be replaced by a system of Care Act advocacy and appropriate persons.

The consultation will run from 7^th July until 2^nd November 2015.

We are delighted to announce that we will hold a National IMCA Conference on Thursday 12th November 2015 in Derby. More information and how to book to follow shortly.

Empowerment Matters, in partnership with the Mental Health Foundation, have been asked to carry out a timely review of NHS Complaints Advocacy Services by the Department of Health (DH).

The purpose of this review is to identify positive measures and practices that can be implemented across (local and national partners) to help NHS Complaints Advocacy Services maximise their impact and effectiveness.

There are 2 online surveys currently live.

One for providers of NHS Complaints Advocacy https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Y7YKL9J

One for referrers (either people who self refer or professionals) https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YD9BVRV 

Please contact us if you would like to take part in a telephone interview.

Call 0151 203 5714

Empowerment Matters and Irwin Mitchell Solicitors Care Act Workshop – New Date

Are you prepared for the Care Act?

Following the success of our recent Care Act seminars working in partnership with Irwin Mitchell law firm, we are pleased to announce a further date in Manchester.

The workshop will be relevant to advocates or others who support individuals.

They will cover:

• Information about the legal framework, focusing on the Act’s practical application
• The ‘Well-being’ principle and what this means in practice
• Best practice in ‘needs assessments’ and care & support planning
• How the Care Act will work in practice and options for challenge
• The independent advocate’s role under the Care Act
• Eligibility for advocacy including interface with IMCA
• Supported decision-making
• Top Tips when supporting an individual whose care/support needs are being assessed.

As with our previous workshops, there will be time for participants to have their questions/queries addressed by legal professionals.

To book a place at one of the following workshops:

2nd June 2015 10 – 1pm at Irwin Mitchell offices in Manchester

please click on this link here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3RSWMZJ