Our community care team is recognised as a leading set in the Chambers & Partners Bar Guide.
We undertake significant litigation and our team has cross-disciplinary expertise that sets it apart from other chambers. We regularly advise individuals in need of community care services as well as charities and non-governmental organisations both in the UK and internationally.
We also regularly provide legal advisory support to organisations during parliamentary inquiries and the passage of key community care legislation. We have particular strength in the field of migrant rights.
Areas of Expertise
- Support for looked after children and care leavers under the Children Act 1989
- Care Act 2014 – social care for adults with care and support needs and carers
- Support for parent carers and young carers
- Support for persons subject to immigration control (including those subject to Schedule 3 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002)
- Age assessments
- Education, including school exclusions and support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
- Support for victims of trafficking
- Asylum support
- Support for those on immigration bail under Immigration Act 2016, Sch 10
- Disabled facilities grants
- Continuing healthcare and access to NHS treatment
- Disputes between social services and health authorities
- Charging issues arising from health and social care
- Support under s117 Mental Health Act 1983 following discharge from hospital
- Human rights and discrimination issues arising in all of these areas
Our community care team
Our community care barristers are regularly instructed in judicial review proceedings and have appeared at all court and tribunal levels from the First-Tier Tribunal through to the Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights. A number of team members are on the preferred panel of counsel for the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).
The strength of the team lies in individuals’ expertise across related areas of law such as public law, immigration, housing, civil liberties and human rights, welfare benefits, equality and anti-discrimination, Court of Protection, mental health, trafficking and LGBTI issues. Garden Court is ranked by Chambers & Partners in Band 1 for Immigration and Social Housing and is ranked as a leading set in Civil Liberties & Human Rights, Administrative & Public Law, Court of Protection (Health & Welfare), Education and Family Law.