Barristers in this team have a wealth of experience in community care and health law as well as bringing cross-disciplinary expertise in discrimination, mental health, mental capacity, immigration, prisons, education, housing, freedom of information, social security, EU and human rights law.


Our legal experts in the Community Care and Health team have been providing insightful webinars on the most relevant topics during COVID-19 to help keep you informed during this difficult time. All webinar recordings and slides that have been made available can be found below.

For more information about our work in this area, please contact Sian Wilkins or Rachel Finch from our practice management team.

Disability in Lockdown | 7 Dec 2020

This webinar will be delivered by Jamie BurtonOliver Lewis and Alice Irving.

Alice will discuss issues arising from the recent report from Public Health England showing that people with learning disabilities died of Covid-19 at four times the rate of adults without learning disabilities. This will include discussion of ongoing gaps in the data available and a potential legal challenge to the government’s prioritisation plan for vaccinations.

Oliver will consider the latest lockdown regulations and how they will impact on those living and working in care homes in England and Wales.

To access the full webinar recording, click here.

16 & 17 year olds and unregulated accommodation | 16 Jul 2020

Concerns about the use of unregulated accommodation (or ‘other arrangements’ under s22C Children Act 1989) to house children in care have been widespread in recent months. In February 2020, the Department for Education launched a consultation on Reforms to unregulated provision for children in care and care leavers. The consultation closed in June 2020 and the government’s response is awaited.  Last month, the charity Just for Kids Law published a new report, Not in Care, Not Counted which revealed that an estimated 1,498 children aged 16 and 17 in England who are at risk of homelessness and should be in the care of local authorities are unlawfully placed in unregulated accommodation under the Housing Act 1996 or section 17 Children Act 1989. This accommodation includes hostels and supported accommodation with minimal adult supervision, leaving them at risk of abuse and exploitation.

In this online webinar, Mary-Rachel McCabe, a member of our Community Care & Health Team, will be joined by Just for Kids Law’s Kady Murphy, Policy Officer (Housing and Social Care) and Mital Raithatha, solicitor and Head of Education and Community Care. They will consider the legal framework for placing children in care in unregulated accommodation; the difference between unregulated and unregistered provision; the findings of Just for Kids Law’s recent report; and what they and others are calling for the government to change so that vulnerable 16 and 17 year olds are better protected.

The webinar will be chaired by Jamie Burton, head of our Community Care & Health team.

To access the full webinar recording, click here.

To access the slides, click here.