BIA Legal Update (Annual Refresher) 17 October 2025

Aims

This one day course aims to provide an essential update on case law in relation to the role of the BIA.

Learning outcomes:

• Consider the latest DoLS news, research & guidance

• Examine the latest case law relevant to DoLS and the BIA role

• Reflect on how the information covered affects BIA practice

Programme- the day will include the following key topics which may be subject to some minor amendments to reflect the latest case law and guidance at the time of delivery :

• Coronavirus Act 2020 – overview & impact MHA, MCA & DoLS

• Court of Protection – guidance

• Coronavirus and DoLS – the first case law

• Deprivation of Liberty – ECHR onwards

• Restating the fundamentals of deprivation of liberty – case law

• DoLS appeals – case law

• National DoLS statistics

• Ombudsman ruling and Social Work England ruling

• CQC inspections and DoLS

• Assessing mental capacity – recent case law on use or weigh

• Representatives: the role of the BIA – case law

• Community DoL applications – case law

• 16-17 year olds and deprivation of liberty – Supreme Court ruling

• Self-neglect & assessing mental capacity – case

• DoLS case law summary sheet

• Case studies

• Liberty Protection Safeguards – overview

• DoLS > LPS – what is changing

• DoLS > LPS – what stays the same(ish)

• AMCP replacing the role of the BIA

The course will be delivered by Steven Richards

Steven Richards is a Director of Edge training and consultancy and has worked in the mental health field for over 20 years. He was a Mental Health Act administrator for many years at the Maudsley Hospital advising clinical staff on their use of the legislation in practice. During this time, he was involved in the publication of the hospital’s guide to the Act, called the Maze. Following this, Steven was an in-patient advocate for Mind working across adult acute and dementia assessment wards. As an advocate he successfully challenged the assessment of mental capacity of a client directly before the Court of Protection.

Steven was a Mental Health Act Reviewer with the Care Quality Commission for over 10 years visiting and reviewing the care and treatment of patients detained under the Act. He also worked with the CQC as a specialist advisor on the Mental Capacity Act and DoLS.

Steven delivers training on both the Mental Capacity Act and Mental Health Act across England and Wales to health and social care professionals. He has experience of training a wide variety of services including local authorities, CCGs, NHS Trusts, Welsh Health Boards, the police, hospices and prison health services. Steven delivers professional legal update courses for DoLS BIAs and Mental Health Assessors and AMHPs under the Mental Health Act. He has spoken at a series of Health Education England conferences on the use of the MCA at the end of life care. Steven was invited by members of the House of Lords to deliver training on the draft Liberty Protection Safeguards bill prior to detailed debate and amendments in the house. Steven is co-author of 3 books:

Working with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (3rd edition) ISBN: 978-0-9552349-5-8

Working with the Mental Health Act (4th edition) ISBN: 978-0-9931324-1-4

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) Handbook - 2nd edition (ISBN: 978-0-9931324-2-1)

Includes all course materials and a PDF certificate. Course access details will be emailed direct to delegate(s) upon completion of your booking.  If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to email events@edgetraining.org.uk  or call 07341 277487.

Delegates may also be interested in BIA Report Writing Skills course