Rule 1.2

Representative


In July 2015 rules governing Deprivation of Liberty applications to the Court of Protection was changed for non-controversial cases the court was asked to address.


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What is a 1.2 Representative? (Formally 3A Representative)

As a result of the Cheshire west ruling in 2014, the court has been inundated with applications to authorise people’s deprivation of liberty in community/domestic settings. To respond and meet the demand of the applications coming into the court arena it developed a streamlined paper procedure known as Re X to deal with the vast amount of cases being brought to the court.

As a result of the Re X streamlined procedure, this introduced the concept of a ‘Rule 1.2 Representative.’ (Formally Rule 3A Representative) Advocacy Focus act as Rule 1.2 Representatives for a number of individuals within the North West.

A 1.2 Representative is the name given by the court to a person who is able to consider whether from the perspective of individuals best interests you agree or do not agree that the Court should authorise the individuals package of care and support resulting in a deprivation of their liberty.

This is usually a family member, however in cases where the person has no family an Independent Advocate may be appointed as Rule 1.2 representative.

If a person is being deprived of their liberty in a domestic setting e.g. own home, supported living placement, shared lives etc. and lacks the capacity to consent to these arrangements, local authorities may need to apply to the Court of Protection to authorise the deprivation of liberty.

When doing so, the local authority will identify if the individual is suitable for the Re X streamline process, if the individual has a close relative, friend or Independent Advocate to get involved in this process to act as a Rule 1.2 Representative. Some individuals will not be suitable for Re X streamline process and will require a Litigation Friend.

Read more about Litigation Friend.

Role of a Rule 1.2 Representative

Key responsibilities of a Rule 1.2 Rep include:

  • Weighing the pros and cons of the individual’s care and support package and comparing it with other available options;
  • Considering whether any of the restrictions are unnecessary, inappropriate or should be changed;
  • Informing the court about what the individual has said, and the individual’s attitude towards, the care and support package;
  • Checking from time to time that the care and support package is being properly implemented.

Advocacy in Action

Ahmed* is a 33 year old male who has a diagnosis of Autism. Ahmed was living at a shared property with two other residents and had a twenty four hour package of care. The staff that supported Ahmed had noticed that he was struggling to cope with sharing his home with the other residents as he was becoming increasingly anxious at their presence and appeared to be unhappy when his housemates were near him.

Read full story

Make a referral

Please complete a Rule 1.2 Representative referral form.

To download a Rule 1.2 Representatives handy leaflet for family members, friends or significant others click here.

For more information about referring for a Rule 1.2 Rep contact us here:

Call us Advocacy Focus on: 0300 323 0965 or email: admin@advocacyfocus.org.uk

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