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.