On this page:

Using the law to develop and improve equipment and adaptation provision

DescriptionReference resource to assist better understanding amongst professionals of the framework in which they work, to constructively improve and develop equipment and adaptation provision
ISBN0 7559 0698 5
Official Print Publication Date
Website Publication DateJune 27, 2003

Next »

Listen

Using the law to develop and improve equipment and adaptation provision

Michael Mandelstam
For the
Strategy Forum: Equipment and Adaptations

June 2003

This document is also available in pdf format (520k)

Index

Foreword

1

Introduction

1.1

Basing policies and practices on the legal framework

1.2

Local authorities and the NHS: public bodies created by and subject to legislation

1.3

Legislation for the welfare of clients and patients

1.4

Health and safety at work legislation: balancing risks, resources and benefits

1.5

Law of negligence

1.6

Dispelling the legal myths

1.7

English and Scottish case law

1.8

Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons [Scotland] Act 1972.

2

Welfare legislation

2.1

Community care legislation

2.1.1

Community care assessment: Social Work [Scotland] Act 1968, s.12A.

2.1.2

If a person is disabled: Social Work [Scotland] Act 1968, s.12A

2.1.3

Taking account of the views of clients and carers: Social Work [Scotland] Act 1968, s.12A

2.1.4

Assessing carers. Social Work [Scotland] Act 1968, s.12AA

2.1.5

Taking account of NHS provision: Social Work [Scotland] Act 1968, s.12A

2.1.6

General welfare services: Social Work [Scotland] Act 1968, s.12.

2.1.6.1

Relevant person

2.1.6.2

Nature of the general duty

2.1.6.3

Equipment and adaptations

2.1.6.4

Advice and guidance

2.1.6.5

Cost-effectiveness

2.1.7

Equipment and adaptations: Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, s.2

2.1.7.1

Range of services and implications for equipment and adaptations

2.1.7.2

Need, and necessity to meet the need, for equipment and adaptations

2.1.7.3

Implications for equipment and adaptation services of the legal rules about need and necessity

2.1.7.4

More than one option to meet a need

2.1.7.5

Meeting a need within a reasonable time

2.1.7.6

Judicial decisions about waiting times for community care

2.1.7.7

Local government ombudsmen: decisions about waiting times for equipment and adaptations

2.1.7.8

Identity of assessors for equipment and adaptations

2.1.7.8.1

Competence assessment and changes to equipment and adaptation services

2.1.7.9

Self-assessment for equipment and adaptations

2.1.7.10

Self-selection of equipment and minor adaptations

2.1.7.11

Assessed need against client preference

2.1.7.12

Adaptations in the home

2.1.7.13

Additional facilities for greater, safety, comfort or convenience

2.1.7.14

Instructions, maintenance, repair, replacement, review, monitoring, recall of equipment and adaptations

2.1.7.15

Divisions of responsibility for equipment and adaptations

2.1.8

Duty to provide information and to individuals CSDPA 1970

2.1.9

Domiciliary services and laundry facilities: Social Work [Scotland] Act 1968, s.14

2.1.10

Care homes

2.1.11

Direct payments: Social Work [Scotland] Act 1968, ss.12B and 12C

2.1.12

Direct payments and equipment and adaptations

2.1.12.1

Direct payments and joint working

2.1.12.2

Direct payments, equipment and adaptations, and safety

2.1.12.3

Direct payments: intervention on safety matters?

2.1.12.4

Balancing intervention with the purpose of direct payments

2.1.12.5

Summary of potential legal liabilities in direct payments situation

2.1.12.6

Cost-effectiveness of equipment and adaptations as part of direct payments

2.1.13

Charges for non-residential services: Social Work [Scotland] Act 1968, s.87

2.1.14

Adaptations through housing authorities: Housing [Scotland] Act 1987, Part 8

2.1.14.1

New system of funding home improvement grants

2.1.14.2

Scope of home improvement grants

2.1.14.3

Registered social landlords/housing associations

2.1.14.4

Stairlift issues

2.1.14.5

Building regulations and adaptations

2.1.14.6

Divisions of responsibility for equipment and adaptations

2.1.15

NHS provision: National Health Service [Scotland] Act 1978

2.1.15.1

Extent of NHS duty to provide equipment and other services

2.1.15.2

Equipment provision and rehabilitation by the NHS: some concerns

2.1.15.3

Continuing NHS healthcare status

2.1.16

NHS charges: National Health Service [Scotland] Act 1978

2.1.16.1

Implications for joint working

2.1.17

Joint working: Community Care and Health Act 2002

2.1.17.1

Delegation of functions

2.1.18

Division of responsibilities for equipment and adaptations

2.1.18.1.

Past guidance from the Scottish Office

2.1.18.2

Effect of the guidance on equipment and adaptation demarcation

2.1.18.3

Future of the guidance

3

Providing equipment and adaptations fairly: judicial review and the ombudsmen

3.1

Judicial review

3.1.1

Fettering of discretion: rigid policies on equipment and adaptations

3.1.2

Taking account of all relevant factors when assessing for equipment and adaptations.

3.1.2.1

Role of professional judgement: attaching weight to different factors.

3.1.3

Illegality

3.1.4

Legitimate expectations

3.1.5

Reasoning and documentation

3.2

Ombudsmen

3.2.1

Ombudsman investigations: equipment and adaptations

4

Human rights and discrimination legislation

4.1

Effect of Human Rights Act 1998

4.2

Inhuman or degrading treatment

4.3

Right to respect for private and family life

4.3.1

In accordance with the law

4.3.2

Necessary

4.3.3

Economic well-being of the country

4.3.4

Protection of health and protection of the rights and freedoms of others

4.4

Disability and race discrimination legislation

4.4.1

Race Relations Act 1976

4.4.2

Disability Discrimination Act 1995

4.4.3

Justifications for less favourable treatment

4.4.4

Implications for equipment and adaptation policies

4.4.5

Extension of Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to education

5

Health and safety at work legislation

5.1

Overall duty of employers to employees: Health and Safety at Work Act Etc 1974, s.2

5.1.1

Implications for equipment and adaptation provision

5.2

What is reasonably practicable?

5.2.1

Reasonable practicability and benefit to patients and clients

5.3

Duty of employers to non-employees: Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, s.3

5.3.1

Duty to non-employees: supportive of good quality equipment and adaptation services

5.3.2

Maintenance of equipment and adaptations on loan in the community: what is reasonably practicable?

5.3.3

Use of independent contractors or other organisations

5.4

Duty of employees: Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, s.7

5.5

Health and safety at work policy: Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, s.7

5.6

Risk assessment etc: Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

5.7

Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1999 [LOLER]

5.7.1

Lifting equipment used at work

5.7.2

Lifting equipment

5.7.3

Thorough examination of lifting equipment

5.8

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998

5.8.1

Equipment used at work

5.8.2

Scope of equipment

5.8.3

Maintenance of equipment: strict liability

5.9

Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992

5.9.1

Implications for equipment and adaptation services

5.9.2

Elimination of all risk

5.9.3

Avoiding rigid policies on hoist use

5.10

Safety advice on equipment

5.10.1

Safety, joint working and open government?

5.10.2

Content of, and acting on, safety notices etc

6

Negligence

6.1

What constitutes professional carelessness

6.2

Expert views

6.3

Vicarious and direct liability of an organisation

6.4

Organisational responsibilities for equipment and adaptations

6.5

Practical implications for professionals

6.6

Employers' Liability [Defective Equipment] Act 1969

7

Consumer Protection Act 1987 [part 1] and Medical Devices Regulations 1994

7.1

Consumer Protection Act 1987: product liability

7.2

Medical Devices Regulations 1994


The views expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Department or Scottish Ministers.

Next »

Page updated: Tuesday, April 4, 2006