Part 4

Health Board and local authority functions
Chapter 2

Local authority functions

Duty to inquire into individual cases

Duty to inquire
33
1
Where it appears to a local authority that—
a
a person in their area who is aged 16 years or over has a mental disorder; and
b
any of the circumstances mentioned in subsection (2) below apply,
the authority shall cause inquiries to be made into the person’s case.
2
Those circumstances are—
a
that the person may be, or may have been, subject, or exposed, at some place other than a hospital to—
i
ill-treatment;
ii
neglect; or
iii
some other deficiency in care or treatment;
b
that, because of the mental disorder, the person’s property—
i
may be suffering, or may have suffered, loss or damage; or
ii
may be, or may have been, at risk of suffering loss or damage;
c
that the person may be—
i
living alone or without care; and
ii
unable to look after himself or his property or financial affairs;
d
that the person is not in hospital and, because of the mental disorder, the safety of some other person may be at risk.
S. 33 in force at 5.10.2005 by S.S.I. 2005/161, art. 3 (as substituted (1.7.2005) by S.S.I. 2005/375, art. 2 and as amended (22.9.2005) by S.S.I. 2005/459, art. 2)