The Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986

Miscellaneous N.I.

Special provisions as to wards of court N.I.

39.—(1) An application for assessment in respect of a minor who is a ward of court may be made under this Part with the leave of the court; and Article 5(3) to (5) shall not apply in relation to an application so made.

(2) Where a minor being a ward of court is liable to be detained in hospital under this Part, any power exercisable under this Order in relation to the patient by his nearest relative shall be exercisable by or with the leave of the court.

(3) Nothing in this Part shall be construed as authorising the making of a guardianship application in respect of a minor who is a ward of court, or the transfer into guardianship of any such minor.

Duty of approved social worker to make application for assessment or guardianship N.I.

40.—(1) It shall be the duty of an approved social worker to make an application for assessment or a guardianship application in respect of a patient within the area of the [F1 Board or authorised HSS trust] by which that officer is appointed in any case where—

(a) he is satisfied that such an application ought to be made; and

(b) he is of opinion, having regard to any wishes expressed by relatives of the patient or any other relevant circumstances, that it is necessary or proper for the application to be made by him.

(2) Before making an application under paragraph (1) in respect of a patient, an approved social worker shall interview the patient in a suitable manner and satisfy himself that detention in a hospital or guardianship (as the case may be) is in all the circumstances of the case the most appropriate way of providing the care and medical treatment of which the patient stands in need.

(3) An application under paragraph (1) by an approved social worker may be made outside the area of the[F1 Board or authorised HSS trust] by which he is appointed.

(4) It shall be the duty of a[F1 Board or authorised HSS trust], if so required by the nearest relative of a patient residing in its area, to direct an approved social worker as soon as practicable to take the patient's case into consideration under paragraph (1) with a view to making an application under that paragraph in respect of him; and if in any such case that approved social worker decides not to make an application he shall inform the nearest relative of his reasons in writing.

(5) Nothing in this Article shall be construed as authorising or requiring an application to be made by an approved social worker in contravention of Article 5(3) to (5) or Article 19(3) to (6) or as restricting the power of an approved social worker to make any application under this Order.

[F2 (6) For the purposes of this Article a person shall not be taken to be within, or to be residing in, the area of a Board if he is within, or, as the case may be, residing in, the area of an authorised HSS trust.]

F1 1994 NI 2

F2 1994 NI 2

Applications, recommendations and reports under Part II N.I.

41.  Any application for assessment, guardianship application, recommendation or report which appears to be duly made under this Part may be acted upon without further proof of the signature or qualification of the person by whom the application, recommendation or report is made or given, or of any matter of fact or opinion stated therein.