Sara Kelsall

How can I help you?

As a Community care and Court of Protection Welfare lawyer and Legal Representative, I will help you with your challenges to the care act assessments by the local authority; challenge the financial assessment in relation to the care contribution’s you are asked to pay; deal with continuing healthcare appeals; adaptations and matters pertaining to safeguarding investigations and findings by the local authority. I can also help children where decisions are made on their behalf, particularly in relation to their needs and their transition from children's services to adult services.

Where you are unable to make decisions about your care, needs and accommodation because you may have a mental impairment or mental health condition, I will advise you and represent you and ensure that your feelings and wishes are heard.  Court of Protection proceedings can be issued to make decisions on what is in your best interest and can also involve family members who may be unhappy with any decisions that are made about their loved one. The decisions made in these cases can be of huge importance to you and your family.  My work in these matters is varied and I am regularly instructed by the Official Solicitor to act on behalf of the person, who has been assessed to lack the capacity to make decisions.  I can also help you as a family member, where you have an interest in these proceedings.

My time is also spent assisting with Deprivation of Liberty Safeguarding appeals where you may have objected to living in the residence or want to live elsewhere. If you are subject to the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, I and my team will ask the court to look at your circumstances and perhaps make changes to the residence or care arrangements which can be greatly beneficial to you.

Additionally, I also help Shared Lives Carer’s in their appeals, where they have been de-approved or to prevent de-approval. The department assists Carers who are members of Shared Lives Plus and we are proud to be their contracted lawyers to help them through a difficult time, when their carer’s status is being de-approved, due to safeguarding allegations.

A little about me

The work we undertake in this team is all about the vulnerable people and how we can achieve as best an outcome that we can. I feel passionate about the work that I do and strive to make a positive difference though the practice of law.

My experience

I joined the firm back in 2008 and began work as a paralegal within the Community Care Department. I did my training contract here where I also gained experience working within the family law department, which I enjoyed and found invaluable. I qualified in 2012 and worked in the Mental Health Team, where I gained an insight and knowledge in this area of law before returning back to the community care department. Alongside each other role, I have maintained my input within the community care team and this has helped me in being able to deal with more of the surrounding issues and be more creative in my approach to my work.