Tim Spencer-Lane

Tim is a lawyer who specialises in mental capacity, mental health and social care law. He is the legal editor at Community Care Inform and senior lecturer at Kingston University.

At the Law Commission he led the reviews of adult social care, health and social care professional regulation and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. He currently works as a lawyer at the government legal department (Department of Health and Social Care) where he advises on mental capacity and mental health law.

All posts by Tim Spencer-Lane

Safeguarding adults from control and coercion, and the limits of the inherent jurisdiction: Re P (Vulnerable Adult: Withdrawal of Application) [2024] EWHC 1882 (Fam)

Health and Social Care (Wales) Act 2025

Summary of the provisions affecting children's and adults' services in Wales brought in by the Health and Social Care (Wales) Act 2025.

Children and Families Act 2014

An overview of the act which provides the framework in England for identifying and meeting special educational needs, as well as health and social care needs for disabled children and young people.

Mental capacity and ‘insight’: CT v London Borough of Lambeth & Anor [2025] EWCOP 6 (T3)

Language deprivation, assessing the capacity of deaf people and fluctuating capacity: Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council v KZ & Ors (Rev1) [2024] EWCOP 72 (T3)

Court Report with Tim Spencer-Lane: the 2024 Mental Health Bill

Looks at the measures contained in the 2024 Mental Health Bill.

The Court Report with Tim Spencer-Lane: the 2024 Mental Health Bill transcript

Looks at the measures contained in the 2024 Mental Health Bill.

Dissociative identity disorder and fluctuating capacity: Leicestershire County Council v P & Anor (Capacity: Anticipatory declaration) [2024] EWCOP 53 (T3)

Alcohol abuse, capacity and sexual relations in the context of a long-term loving relationship: Re PS (Severe Short-Term Memory Loss: Capacity to Engage in Sexual Relations) [2024] EWCOP 42 (T2)

Community deprivation of liberty and representation: Re PQ (Court Authorised DOL: Representation During Review Period) [2024] EWCOP 41 (T3)