Kathleen Funchion on Decision Support Service and Law Reforms
Kathleen Funchion spoke about recent deliberations on decision support and capacity legislation, arguing the Decision Support Service will be central and that recent reforms are welcome. She highlighted extensions to eligibility, the capping of fees and new appeals processes, and said the changes are an improvement on the old wardship system.
Summary of proceedings
Funchion noted that the proposals have been debated through multiple stages, including committee and second stage, and that there has been a large amount of discussion across those processes.
Role of the Decision Support Service
She said the Decision Support Service will be key in implementation and that if concerns arise it is the body people should turn to first. She also observed that the legislation may be subject to review if major difficulties emerge.
Welcomed legislative changes
Funchion welcomed specific changes she described as positive - extending provision to more people, capping of fees and the introduction of appeals processes - and characterised them as improvements.
Comparison with the wardship system
She contrasted the new measures with the old wardship system, saying the reforms are much, much better and that it is positive to see progress on legislation that has been on the books since about 2015.
Recognition of progress
Funchion concluded by saying the progress should be acknowledged and reiterated that the debate and detailed work across stages has produced beneficial changes.
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Just to say, because we're going to run out of time, that we've had a number of discussions on this now through the various stages, through committee stage and second stage and all of the, I forget earlier at this time of the night, all the different processes and stages, and I think there has been a huge amount of discussion on the issues, and as I said earlier, I think the decision support service are going to be the ones that will be key in all of this, so I think if there is any concerns, you know, they certainly are the body to, you know, firstly go to anyway, I know that the legislation is potentially up for a review as well, if there is any major difficulties, but I do think in fairness, there has been an awful lot of discussions, and there's a lot of really good, positive changes, like as I've said, with the extending it out for people, the capping of fees, appeals processes, and they're all really welcome, and certainly much, much better than the old wardship system that we've seen, and, you know, at least we're seeing it actually progressing now, it's been on the books for since about 2015, so I just think it's welcome. I think that should be acknowledged, in fairness. Hon. Hon. Hon. Hon. Hon. Hon. Hon. Hon.
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