Tim Spencer-Lane Tim Spencer-Lane

Tim is a lawyer who specialises in mental capacity, mental health and social care law. He is the legal editor at Community Care Inform and senior lecturer at Kingston University.

At the Law Commission he led the reviews of adult social care, health and social care professional regulation and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. He currently works as a lawyer at the government legal department (Department of Health and Social Care) where he advises on mental capacity and mental health law.

All posts by Tim Spencer-Lane

Disabled children, short breaks and section 20: R (TS) v Hackney [2023] EWHC 3063 (Admin)

Deprivation of liberty, disabled children and Cheshire West: Re SM [2024] EWHC 493 (Fam)

Child protection and the common law duty of care: HXA v Surrey County Council & Anor [2023] UKSC 52

Psychological assessments in care proceedings: E (A Child) (Care and Placement Orders) [2023] EWCA Civ 721

Termination of an 11-year-old’s pregnancy, Gillick competence and child protection: A Health Board v AZ [2023] EWHC 2517

Leaving care legal framework in England and Wales: quick guide

A guide to the legal framework and case law governing local authorities' duties to young people leaving care in England and Wales, including explanations of the 'eligible', 'relevant' and 'former relevant' categories, and the role of personal advisers/advisors and pathway plans.

Interim care orders – are they ‘necessary and proportionate’?: Re J & Ors [2023] EWCA Civ 1266

Infant vaccination, religious objection and care orders: Re WSP (A Child) [2023] EWHC 2622 (Fam)

Deprivation of liberty to protect a child from criminal exploitation: EBY (A Child) [2023] EWHC 2494 (Fam)

Care orders v supervision orders when a child is placed at home: JW [2023] EWCA Civ 944