The Public Law Podcast

In this fourth episode for 2025, 39 Essex Chambers’ Barristers Katherine Apps KC, and Francesca Gardner discuss Safeguarding in the context of contractual issues and disputes. Katherine explains the various ways and circumstances that contractual issues arise in the safeguarding context, and explores some of the wider and more complex issues for practitioners to be aware of. The session covers a w...

In another practical episode, 39 Essex Chambers' Barristers Ian Brownhill and Francesca Gardner explain the various scenarios where a person needs to be taken to hospital and how it is done legally, even if they are objecting to it, or a relative is obstructing their conveyance. Francesca explains how orders can be made for children under the Children Act 1989 and Ian explains various power to ent...

39 Essex Chambers' Barristers Francesca Gardner and Ian Brownhill demystify the legal framework in respect of financial abuse. Francesca and Ian explain what the statutory definition of financial abuse is and how the statutory language includes matters which are criminal offences. Francesca and Ian clarify that financial abuse isn’t just something that happens within families but can include peopl...

In the first episode for 2025, 39 Essex Chambers' Barrister Ian Brownhill talks to John Robinson is a Clinical Nurse Consultant in Palliative Care, based at Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group, Perth, Western Australia. John was previously employed as the Voluntary Assisted Dying Coordinator for the South Metropolitan Health Service area of Perth for two years from its commencement, supporting...

Francesca Gardner and Stuart Sale, CEO of the Ann Craft Trust discuss the reflections from Safeguarding Adults Week 2024, the themes, the key issues and the objective for 2025.

Francesca Gardner speaks with Gillian Sanders, the Integrity Manager at World Sailing about Safeguarding in Sport, including Gillian’s insights and experiences of Safeguarding from her own experiences of competing in the Olympic Games.

The inherent jurisdiction of the High Court in respect of vulnerable adults is one of the tools in safeguarding that remains misunderstood. 39 Essex Chambers barristers, Francesca Gardner and Ian Brownhill answer key questions on what the inherent jurisdiction can do and when it might be used.

39 Essex Chambers barristers, Katherine Apps KC and Ian Brownhill discuss the flow of information in safeguarding cases. They explore the challenges of dealing with disinformation and misinformation as well as matters that need to be considered when sharing information or placing it in the public domain.

In this second part of two-part special, 39 Essex Chambers barrister Ian Brownhill continue his discussion with mental health policing expert Michael Brown.

In this first part of two-part special, 39 Essex Chambers barrister Ian Brownhill is joined by mental health policing expert Michael Brown. Having recently retired from active service as a police officer, Michael shares his experience of how the police approach safeguarding issues. Ian and Michael also discuss the Right Care, Right Person model of policing and how this may impact on people experie...

At the start of Safeguarding Adults Week 2024, 39 Essex Chambers barrister Ian Brownhill launches the series for 2024. Ian reflects on the perceptions of, and the law surrounding, statutory safeguarding enquiries under section 42 of the Care Act. Ian explores what the consequences are of getting a safeguarding enquiry, or investigation wrong, and introduces our listeners to the week ahead.

Katherine Barnes is joined by Laura Thornton, Associate Director at Osborne Clarke, to discuss challenges and remedies under the Procurement Act 2023. Having identified the main changes, the speakers go on to consider the significance of the changes.

In this episode Katherine Barnes is joined by Jonathan Davey, Partner at Addleshaw Goddard specialising in procurement and commercial law, to discuss the rules for the modification of contracts under the Procurement Act 2023, the extent to which these represent a substantive change in practice and possible difficulties arising.

Katherine Barnes is joined by Parishil Patel KC of 39 Essex Chambers and Lucy James, partner and National Head of Commercial Litigation at Trowers & Hamlins, to discuss the grounds on which suppliers can be excluded under the Procurement Act 2023, the new debarment list and the implications of these for procurement practice and litigation.

Over the next three weeks, Katherine Barnes, public, procurement and planning barrister at 39 Essex Chambers, will discuss the key changes to public procurement under the Procurement Act 2023 with various expert speakers. The podcast takes listeners through the key changes that will apply to new procurements from 25 February 2025, analyses the significance of the changes in practice and identifies...

This episode of Everyone’s Business discusses the safeguarding of adults in charities. Ian and Francesca discuss the issues and responsibilities surrounding the safeguarding of adults within the charity sector. Ian and Francesca reflect on the widely publicised safeguarding concerns which occurred in the overseas aid sector. They consider why and how does a charity need to anticipate safeguarding...

In this episode of Everyone’s Business, Steve and Anna start to discuss the complex area which is the safeguarding of adults in education. This episode focusses on adults who have just turned 18 and are still in secondary school, FE colleges specifically those providing education for disabled adults and adults with special educational needs, and young adults in higher education. The overarching th...

Companies are becoming increasingly scrutinised regarding their obligations in respect of safeguarding. Ian Brownhill and Scarlett Milligan discuss what this means in practice, thinking about how the statutory regime applies to commercial enterprises throughout the supply chain as well. Do commercial companies in fact have safeguarding obligations? What happens when a company finds itself on the r...

Safeguarding in competitive sports is increasingly featuring in headlines with allegations of assault, grooming and abuses of power. 39 Essex Chambers barristers Susan and Nicola discuss what makes the sporting arena susceptible to so many safeguarding issues. What is it about the relationship between coach and athlete which creates a risk of abuse? What safeguarding frameworks exist to safeguard...

This episode introduces the different types and means by which someone falls under the umbrella of the safeguarding of adults from two 39 Essex Chambers barristers. What is meant by an adult who lacks mental capacity? In what scenario are they considered to need safeguarding? Through the analysis of The Care Act, they give their thoughts on the obligations of care workers and the steps that can be...

Scarlett Milligan and Tom Tabori, speaking with Anita Sharma of the charity INQUEST, explore recent appellate decisions which impact on the scope and conduct of inquests, the state's Article 2 obligations, and broader investigative duties on the state. In addition to key takeaways for practitioners, Scarlett, Tom and Anita discuss changes in practicalities, national statistics, and how b...

In the first episode of this series, Katherine Barnes and Adam Boukraa answer two difficult questions about the timing of a judicial review. They first discuss the case law on when the three month period ends for bringing a judicial review, before moving on to consider when time begins to run for bringing a challenge to secondary legislation and policy.

In the last episode, Ian Brownhill reflects on the series and shares his thoughts on:  ‘The Politics of Safeguarding’. Ian talks about how politics and political decisions shape how safeguarding is delivered for children and adults at risk. He takes time to reflect on how safeguarding adults is developing as a concept in Ireland and the approach taken in the Isle of Man. Ian also talks about...

In this episode, rugby player (and solicitor) Molly Sanghera joins Ian and they discuss:  ‘Safeguarding the player, safeguarding the game’. Molly and Ian talk about how safeguarding has evolved in rugby and how participation in team sport can be facilitated for children who are looked after and adults with care needs.

In this episode, solicitors Matthew Wort and Tim Coolican join Ian and they discuss:  ‘Safeguarding concerns from an employment and regulatory law perspective’. Matthew, Tim and Ian talk about how safeguarding issues impact on issues of employment and regulatory law. Matthew and Ian talk about the importance of whistleblowers and Tim explains what regulators will look for in respect of safegu...