Mental Disorders, Mental Illness and the Family Court

Dr Joan Rutherford FRCPsych Joan became Chief Medical Member, First Tier Tribunal (Mental Health) in 2010, and is also an honorary consultant at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Her post combines the position of doctor at the Mental Health Tribunal with a management and training role and she is a member of the tribunal’s child and adolescent mental health services panel (CAMHS). Previously, she was a consultant psychiatrist at Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust from 1992–99, then at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust from 1999–2010. Joan co-authored the eBook Mental Disorders –Information for Mental Health Tribunal Members, which was made available to all judicial members of HM Courts and Tribunals Service in August 2019. Judge Meleri Tudur She is the Deputy President of the Health Education and Social Care Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal; responsible for the Special Educational Needs and Disability, Care Standards and Primary Health Lists Jurisdiction within that Chamber. She has experience of Family Court work. Jennifer Cross JP CQSW Jenny worked for many years as a social worker/manager and approved mental health professional (AMHP) for an Inner London borough. She has professional experience in a variety of services including children and families, fostering and adoption, and adult services encompassing mental health. She has also been an academic tutor and practice assessor in the education and training of social workers and AMHPs. Jenny is a longstanding member of the Mental Health Tribunal and a member of the tribunal’s CAMHS panel, the Care Standards Tribunal and the Upper Administrative Tribunal. She sat as a magistrate for 25 years, including in the Family Court, and has been a trustee of several mental health charities. Dr Stephanie Tolan MRCPCH Stephanie is a paediatric registrar in the North Central and East London Foundation School training scheme. She obtained an MA in Medical Ethics and Law from Kings College London in 2020, and is now a trainee member of the Ethics Committee at North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust. An active member of the London School of Paediatrics trainees’ committee, Stephanie has a key role in their mentor system – The Paediatric Family – to support trainees throughout their training in London. Dr Andy Cohen MRCPsych Andy is a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust. He has worked in the field of child and adolescent mental health for over 20 years, the last 15 based in a busy community team in South West London. Andy has an interest in medical education and is the Programme Director for higher specialist training in child and adolescent psychiatry on the St George’s trainee scheme.

Part I The development of family relationships
Chapter 1: Bonding and attachment
Chapter 2: Family dynamics
Chapter 3: Overview of mental disorders in children
Chapter 4: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
Part II Mental disorders and illness in children and young people
Chapter 5: Behaviour disorders in children
Chapter 6: Emotional disorders in children
Chapter 7: Neurodevelopmental disorders in children
Chapter 8: Psychotic disorders in children
Chapter 9: Vulnerability factors and mental disorders in young people
Chapter 10: Mental disorders, relationships and parenting
Part III Mental disorders and illness in adults
Chapter 11: Emotional disorders in adults
Chapter 12: Psychotic disorders in adults
Chapter 13: Behavioural disorders in adults
Chapter 14: Neurodevelopmental disorders in adults
Chapter 15: Traumatic disorders in adults
Chapter 16: Mental disorders in older adults
Part IV The work of the Family Court and mental health
Chapter 17: The work of the Family Court
Chapter 18: Safeguarding children and local authority care
Chapter 19: Reports, assessments and the Family Court
Chapter 20: Ten tips for the Family Court about mental disorders in adults
Chapter 21: Detention and the Mental Health Act 1983
Chapter 22: Violent and risky behaviour and mental disorders
Appendix: Case studies