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James Pantling-Skeet

James Pantling-Skeet

Senior Associate – Solicitor

James’s expertise includes:

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+44 (0)118 952 7265 Send an email

“Associate James Pantling-Skeet is noted for his grasp of the subject matter and his professional approach” Healthcare, Legal 500 2022.

“James Pantling-Skeet has been extremely thorough in his case preparation and in keeping the family involved”. “He’s very sharp and hard-working, and he understands the sector really well”. “He is very knowledgeable, thorough and patient”, Education (Individuals), Chambers Guide 2022.

“James has a great analytical brain and provides clear and insightful advice. He also has great empathy and brings his humanity when dealing with health and social care matters”. “James always gives us a sound level of reassurance and provides an extremely high level of consistency throughout the whole process”, Healthcare (Community Care), Chambers Guide 2022.

 

James’s professional biography

James Pantling-Skeet is an experienced Associate in Boyes Turner’s highly regarded Community Care, Court of Protection and Special Educational Needs teams. He provides a holistic, empathetic yet focused service to parents, young people, families, Attorneys, Deputies, Case Managers and Charities. His combined Community Care and Special Educational Needs expertise means he is well-placed to provide comprehensive legal advice relating to rights of children and adults living with a disability, injury, or illness.

His expertise includes:

  • Special educational needs provision – alternate provision, disputes relating to the Education Act 1996 and Children & Families Act 2014, including appeals to the Special Educational Needs & Disability Tribunal (SENDIST) regarding refusals to assess, refusals to issue, and EHCP contents disputes. In addition, transition from children to adult’s services.
  • Social care funding - Care Act 2014 eligibility, assessment, personal budget negotiations, care planning, ordinary residence, financial assessment and direct payment disputes. In addition, deprivation of asset disputes.
  • Healthcare funding – Hospital Discharge, NHS Continuing Healthcare eligibility, assessments and appeals. In addition, Personal Health Budget eligibility and challenges to insufficient funding to meet assessed needs. Section 117 Aftercare & CPA planning. Children and Young Persons Continuing Care eligibility, assessments and appeals.
  • Challenges to arbitrary funding decisions, such as reductions in the level of support provided to disabled children and adults.
  • Disputes between patients, representatives and statutory bodies regarding care fee liability.
  • Disability adaptations, including all aspects of Disabled Facilities Grants.
  • Issues relating to changes to support models – i.e. moving from residential care to supporting living, including relevant CQC guidance and safeguarding concerns.
  • Health & Welfare matters – mental capacity assessments, best interest decision-making, health & welfare applications (such as disputes relating to where a person should live to receive care) to the Court of Protection, deprivation of liberty safeguards (DOLS) and the Re X process (Community DOLS).

James is a member of the Court of Protection Practitioners Association (COPPA) South Central Committee. He is a Trustee of the Dorset Children’s Foundation. His current project is assisting the Board of Trustees to explore establishing an Advocacy Service to support parents of children and young people with disabilities at statutory meetings. 

James regularly provides pro bono seminars and webinars to professionals supporting vulnerable children, young people and individuals, and to parents of children and young persons with disabilities.  

James is ranked as an ‘Associate to Watch’ in Chambers, in both Education (Special Educational Needs) and Healthcare (Community Care). His expertise is recognised in the Legal 500. He is also a member of the Professional Deputies Forum and the Education Law Association.
"James was a pleasure to deal with"
We contacted Boyes Turner earlier this year after we ran into a dispute with our local authority. This was about a social care matter and learning disability. The case was handled with professionalism and tact. James was a pleasure to deal with. Clear communication, humour and detailed knowledge of the law in this area.
"EHCP and specialist school provision"
James and Daisy couldn't have been more helpful with supporting us to receive an appropriate school placement in our daughter's EHCP. We were talked through all options, possible outcomes and the costs of each to make a fully informed decision. Having such strong expert support with a great deal of experience made a huge difference to our approach and we would recommend them to other parents in a similar situation.
"Fantastic advice and service"
I was recommended James as I was facing difficulties with my local authority adhering to statutory deadlines to secure my sons school placement and issuing his EHCP. We wanted to challenge the LA with their timeframes which resulted in them trying to offer us a school that was not suitable for my son needs. After our initial consultation with James we felt empowered and confident to push back and not give up on what we knew would be best for our son. After a lot of back and forth we eventually secured the right school for my son and I don’t feel we could have done this without James help and support. James as well as his secretary Daisy were always quick to respond to my emails and would keep in touch regularly via video calls so we could gather evidence and agree best approaches as things progressed. I am very pleased we used their services and would not hesitate to use them again if I needed to in the future.
"EHCP negotiation of named school - Success!"
I instructed James Pantling-Skeet after a previously unsuccessful hearing at first tier Tribunal. He was able to obtain an Educational Psychology report that clearly identified need, and then ensured that we had a strong case to present to our new Local Authority. Despite the inevitable slow or absent responses to requests for comment, he was doggedly persistent; and was able to negotiate a successful outcome without recourse to first tier Tribunal. He was extremely approachable throughout this process, and kept me updated at all time. James was compassionate, thoughtful, and committed to our case in the most difficult of circumstances; and it is a testament to his tenacity that he was able to achieve a successful outcome for my child. I would recommend him without reservation.

News articles by James

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Webinars by James

Outside of work, James enjoys a good glass of wine, home-cooked food, travelling, hiking, cycling, running, paddle-boarding, listening to Fleetwood Mac and spending time with family, friends and his husband. James' next fitness challenge is the Round the Isle of Wight 100km bike ride in May. 

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