The 2017 Manchester Legal Awards have recognised the achievements of a pioneering legal advice clinic from the University of Manchester, which provides student-led help for those living with dementia.
As the first of its kind within the UK, the service is operated by the Legal Advice Centre of the University in association with Making Space – leading provider of adult health and social care services as well as a national charity.
Establishing the service was Neil Allen, trustee of Making Space since 2009. The barrister and Senior Lecturer at the University set up a pilot programme with Making Space in 2015, at the time when the latest phase of the Government’s ‘Dementia Challenge’ was being launched. The success of the clinic swiftly made it a regular fixture within the wider practice of the Legal Advice Centre.
Over Skype video links to Making Space ‘hotspots’, Manchester law students advise on cases, under the supervision of Neil. With this support, the students are able to communicate with clients in an environment which is familiar, comfortable and dementia-friendly. It allows justice to be much more accessible for clients.
By offering communication and wellbeing support using its charitable partnership, the clinic is able to take a more holistic approach to client care. It can also fast-track to the Admiral Nursing Service, providing families of those living with dementia with access to clinical and emotional support.
As well as the regular training required to work in the clinic, students must also undertake specialist training if they wish to take part on a dementia case. The training is given by those living with dementia, lawyers and Making Space co-ordinators, and enables students to gain a wider understanding of sensitive issues and greater awareness of the best ways to deal with vulnerable clients.
The commitment of local volunteer lawyers have also contributed to the success of the clinic; by providing the students with support, they are playing an important role in clinically educating the next generation of legal professionals.
Commenting on the achievement, Neil Allen stated:
“I am delighted that the clinic has won this award,” said Neil Allen. “There can be no doubt that it meets a growing need – hardly a day goes by where dementia-related issues do not appear in the media, and it is a hot topic for research, including within our university. With people living longer, advanced planning for one’s old age is becoming much more common and this is becoming one of our biggest practice areas.”
“The simplicity of our model means that it can be replicated across any number of areas to help various sections of the community. This is something that we hope to do in the coming year by establishing a specialist clinic in partnership with the Deafness Support Network to help members of the Deaf community.”
For more information about the clinic, click here.
