LLG’s Child Protection Conference will provide a full day of training on the latest legal and policy developments affecting local authority lawyers and officers working in child protection.
The day will begin with a welcome from Jeanette Bloor, LLG’s National Lead for Children Services and Education, followed by a session on Re A Compliance in Care Proceedings.
After a short break, the morning will continue with a detailed session on Deprivation of Liberties – Inherent Jurisdiction vs. Court of Protection. This will explore the interplay between the two jurisdictions in complex cases involving 16–17-year-olds, using case examples to consider deprivations of liberty, care and treatment under both frameworks, and care planning for children transitioning to adult services. This session will be led by Amrita Hurst, Partner, and Robyn Griffiths, Senior Solicitor, Bevan Brittan.
Following a further break, the programme will move to Unregulated Placements and Secure Accommodation, before lunch. The afternoon will open with A Day in the Life of an In-House Family Court Advocate: Top Tips for Practitioners, delivered by Layla Cakmak, Associate Solicitor & In-House Advocate, Weightmans. This session will provide practical guidance on advocacy in care proceedings, including preparation, courtroom processes, and post-hearing tasks. The programme continues with Age Assessments for Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children. Sarah Erwin-Jones, Partner, Browne Jacobson, will discuss statutory frameworks, evidential requirements, and practical approaches, alongside recent case law and safeguarding considerations.
The final training session of the day will focus on Mental Health & Wellbeing in Childcare and Litigation. This session will address the challenges of childcare work, resilience, and wellbeing, with perspectives from both childcare and litigation practice. It will be delivered by Marion Robinson, Partner, and Henry Bermingham, Partner, Weightmans.
The day will close with remarks from Jeanette Bloor.
All sessions will be recorded and made available for download, offering attendees flexibility to engage live or catch up later. A full programme and session details will be shared with participants in advance.
Marion is a Partner in the Weightmans Local Government team based in Liverpool. She joined Weightmans in 2021, having previously spent 14 years working for In-House Local Authority Legal Teams as a Senior Solicitor.
Marion specialises in all aspects of Public Law, with an emphasis on Childcare, and regularly acts for Local Authorities in matters relating to Child protection, Children with Disabilities, Deprivation of Liberty cases, Judicial Review applications, Serious Case Reviews, LADO procedures, Independent advice to IROs and provision of any Policy Advice requested. Marion also has advocacy experience in the Magistrates, Family Court (County) and High Court, and works on the Local Government Children & Adults Out of Hours Emergency Advice Line.
Amrita is a partner in the Health & Care Regulatory team. Her practice focuses on people and spans public and human rights law, Court of Protection proceedings and advice, health and social care law, safeguarding and education and extends to inquests, coronial law and regulatory matters. She works with local authorities, health and care providers in the NHS, independent and third sector and central government departments.
She has worked as a public and administrative lawyer specialising in the law as it relates to vulnerable children and adults in the public and private sectors for over 20 years acting in cases which often intersect with claims under the Equality Act 2010. Amrita has acted in some novel and significant cases in the Supreme Court and House of Lords.
Within Amrita’s broader practice, she advises on safeguarding and education with particular experience of appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs & Disability) and claims for judicial review brought in connection with EHC plans and associated obligations under the Education Act 1996 and Children and Families Act 2014.
In the Court of Protection, she has acted for local authorities, health bodies and family members across a spectrum of work including personal welfare, deprivation of liberty, best interests, serious medical treatment and property and affairs. She specialises in cases in the High Court invoking the inherent jurisdiction in respect of vulnerable adults and children.
Robyn is a senior solicitor within the children’s team, with a background in care and adoption work. Robyn has considerable experience representing local authorities in care proceedings, as well as applications for Secure Accommodation Orders and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, complex fact finds involving non-accidental injuries and sexual abuse, and cases with an international element.
Robyn provides advice on a broad range of child protection and safeguarding matters to local authorities and public health bodies. She has developed a particular interest in the interface between different the legal frameworks between mental health law, mental capacity law and family law, and specifically with the 16 - 17 year old niche cohort.
Robyn regularly represents clients in care proceedings, the Court of Protection and in a wide range of applications under the Inherent Jurisdiction including DoLS and care and medical treatment cases
Sarah is our leading lawyer on redress, abuse and assault claims. Recognised by the Legal 500 since 2015 as a standout expert in child and adult abuse claims, as well as safeguarding advice, Sarah has a particular interest in working with social care, sports and faith organisations as well as many charities.
As a result of her experience, Sarah has been asked to give evidence and advise clients in responding to public inquiries. She dealt with the personal injury claim that followed the tragic death of Victoria Climbié and has been involved in a number of high-profile group actions, taking cases to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
She advises clients on risk management, child protection, human rights, public inquiries, redress schemes and Data Protection Act issues.
Henry is a public sector specialist with over 20 years' experience in advising public sector bodies.
He specialises in social care claims, highways, human rights, occupiers' liability, employers' liability, stress, public rights of way and 'power and duty' cases. His work includes recovery of indemnities under outsource contracts and contributions from abusers. With particular experience in CSE (Child sexual exploitation), he is used to 'press cases' and is media trained.
Chambers & Partners describes Henry as "an experienced personal injury solicitor with comprehensive knowledge of litigation concerning public sector bodies", while The Legal 500 notes that he is known for "his expertise in social care work involving historic abuse and deprivation of liberty".
He was President of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL) in 2008. He is an active contributor to ALARM, speaks and writes regularly on public sector issues.
Notable cases: CGH v K (a school) 2005, Claims arising from CSE Operations (2008-2015), The Employers' Liability Trigger Litigation (2012 UKSC-14), The Midlands Section. 20 Litigation.
Layla joined Weightmans in March 2023 as an Associate solicitor and in-house Advocate based in the Manchester and Liverpool. Specialising in public law matters, Layla enjoys a broad practice representing professional clients within the Social Care and Governance team, as well as delivering an advocacy service across the wider Regulatory Department.
Layla represents Local Authorities, Healthcare Trusts, Police forces and other Public bodies dealing with all aspects of Child protection proceedings, Adult Social Care Court of Protection proceedings, SEN Education Tribunals and Police protection and disclosure orders.
Prior to joining Weightmans Layla attended the University of Hull to complete her LLB (Hons) obtaining the Blackstone Scholarship awarded to her by the Honourable Middle Temple to complete the Bar Vocational Course at City Law school London where she qualified as a Barrister in 2010. Layla completed her training contact in private practice alongside the Legal Practitioner Course cross qualifying as a solicitor.
Layla’s previous experience includes 4 years working within legal aid teams of rapidly growing, fast-paced child protection matters. Her experience representing both the Applicant and Respondents gives her a unique perspective into the legal challenges for the professional clients allowing her to deliver reasoned and practical legal advice to limit risks and save money.
As an experienced in-house advocate Layla is regularly instructed by professional clients to attend case management and final hearings with substantial experience in county and high court matters. Layla has vast experience of dealing with urgent application hearings and contested final hearings. She also offers an out of hours advocacy service to cater for clients during times of crisis.
Layla also accepts external ad hoc advocacy instructions including advisory work as well as the drafting of statements of case and applications.
Layla can advise and act on a wide range of instructions including:
• General advice
• Legal planning meetings
• Care planning
• Advising local authority panels
• Threshold
• Pre-proceedings
• Designation
• Care proceedings
• Emergency Protection Orders
• Placement Orders and Revocation of Placement Orders
• Secure accommodation
• Deprivation of liberty
• Court of Protection
• SEND Tribunals
• Private law matters
• Adoption
• Contact
• Fostering
• Domestic Violence Protection Orders
• Sexual Harm Protection Orders
• Forced Marriage Protection Orders
• Disclosure
Layla is developing her practice in education matters and has experience in advising schools in respect of SEND appeals and representing Local Authorities withing JADRs and Tribunal hearings.
Layla’s approach to advocacy is considered and pragmatic. She has developed a reputation as a tenacious and compassionate advocate. Layla is professional, approachable and passionate in delivering the very best service to her clients. She establishes a solid working relationship with clients often going that extra mile to make sure the job is done.
Outside of work, Layla enjoys travelling, cooking, live music, playing netball and raising money for charitable courses.
Related training
09:00 - 16:00
Online
