Pictured above: Natalie Roberts
A third member of one of the area's largest Mental Health teams
is celebrating after gaining full Law Society accreditation this
week for the Mental Health Review Panel.
Natalie Roberts, who works for GHP Legal, has already
represented clients at Tribunal. The Firm, which has offices in
Oswestry, Llangollen and Wrexham, acts for patients in hospitals
and nursing homes across Shropshire, Mid Wales, North Wales and the
North West.
"Continuity in mental health cases is essential if you are to
act in the client's best interests," says Natalie. "So getting
accreditation was important as it means I can now see cases right
through to conclusion. In fact when you join the Panel you sign an
agreement stating that you will not delegate work unless there is a
valid reason why you cannot deal with it."
John Lancaster, GHP Legal Partner at the head of the firm's
Mental Health team, said:
"Very few firms in the area have the expertise to deal with
Mental Health cases. Natalie's achievement means we now have three
accredited people on the team who can act quickly if a client is
sectioned under the Mental Health Act, to ensure their detention is
reviewed as early as possible by either a Mental Health Review
Tribunal or by hospital managers. As part of the team Natalie will
be working to enforce the rights of her clients at GHP Legal and
advising relatives of mental health patients on their rights and
responsibilities to be involved."