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Citizens Advice is a good starting point; they can give you advice on benefits, work, debt and money, consumer rights, housing, family, law and courts, immigration and health.

They have interpreters to support you if English isn't your first language.

Citizens Advice

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The Education Tribunal for Wales makes decisions on appeals about additional learning needs or special educational needs and claims of disability discrimination in schools.

Welcome to the | Education Tribunal

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If you have been unfairly treated by Welsh public services PSOW investigates complaints & works to improve standards.

Welcome to the Ombudsman | Public Services Ombudsman Wales

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If you need to raise concerns about an NHS or social care service, you can talk to Llais. Their trained, dedicated complaints advocacy staff will provide you with the free, independent, and confidential support you are entitled to.

You may be directed to your local Llais for support - Llais Wales | Llais

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Established by the Care Standards Act 2000, the Children’s Commissioner for Wales is an independent children’s human rights institution. If you have a situation regarding a child, the Commissioner may be able to support you - Home - Children’s Commissioner for Wales

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The Commissioner is an independent human rights institution and is working for a Wales that leads the way in empowering older people, tackling inequality and enabling everyone to live and age well. If you have a situation regarding an older person, the Commissioner may be able to support you - Home - Older People’s Commissioner for Wales

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If you are thinking of using a legal service provider, they have factsheets and tips and information on how to complain if you have an issue. If you need to take the complaint further, you can go back to the Ombudsman.

Home | Legal Ombudsman

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Write to your representative, locally and nationally 

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Write to your representative, locally and nationally 

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Find out who represents you and write to them. Explain to them your situation and either suggest what they can do or ask them what actions they can take as your representative.

WriteToThem - Email your Councillor, MP, MSP, MS, MLA or London Assembly Member for free

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Irwin Mitchell Solicitors have prepared a series of factsheets and template letters to assist you when dealing with public bodies and the government. They are free of charge.

Areas covered are Education, Health and Social Care, Human Rights, Judicial Review, Mental Capacity, and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

Some of the factsheets are only relevant to England (for instance, relating to the Care Act in England, or education, which is devolved in Wales

https://www.irwinmitchell.com/personal/protecting-your-rights/factsheets-and-template-letters

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Disability Law Service – they provide free legal advice on community care, employment, housing, discrimination, public law and welfare benefits to Disabled people and their carers to ensure that they have access to their rights and justice.

Home | Disability Law Service

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Speakeasy Cardiff – Available to citizens living in Cardiff and the Vale tackling social welfare issues including welfare benefits, debt, housing and employment law.

If you need help with any of the issues above please call 029 2045 3111 or email info@speakeasy.cymru or visit their website

Free legal advice in Cardiff | Speakeasy Law Centre

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A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you (the ‘donor’) appoint one or more people (known as ‘attorneys’) to help you make decisions or to make decisions on your behalf.

This gives you more control over what happens to you if you have an accident or an illness and cannot make your own decisions (you ‘lack mental capacity’).

Make, register or end a lasting power of attorney: Overview - GOV.UK

Is the court of protection the same as Power of Attorney?

The person you appoint is called your Attorney and you are called the Donor. In contrast, a Court of Protection Order is an order made by a Judge when a person does not have mental capacity to make the appointment themselves through a Power of Attorney but it is certified that they need help. The Court of Protection can also make orders to give additional powers to an attorney who is dealing with the affairs of a donor under a Lasting Power of Attorney. The two regimes are separate, and deputies and attorneys have both similar but different duties and responsibilities.

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Irwin Mitchell Solicitors | From Medical negligence to SEN tribunal cases the Irwin Mitchell Solicitors have plenty of experience in supporting learning disability families’ cases. Office is in Cardiff but they cover most of Wales.

https://www.irwinmitchell.com/our-offices/united-kingdom/cardiff

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Clarke Willmott solicitors offer expert advice and support on a broad range of complex legal services to individuals and businesses based in the UK and overseas.

http://www.clarkewillmott.com/

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Simpson Millar Solicitors - Trusted, Expert Legal Advice For You

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HCB Solicitors | Education Law Specialists in England and Wales  

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HCB Solicitors | Education Law Specialists in England and Wales  

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Contact our team now on

0333 202 7175 or email us at education@hcbgroup.com

https://www.educationlawadvice.com/

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SEN Legal – Based in England but can take instructions from clients in Wales.

customerservices@senlegal.co.uk

SEN Legal | Contact Us

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Wills & Trusts

You don't have to use a solicitor when writing your will. But wills are legal documents, and can be invalidated by mistakes, so it's important to have confidence that it's been properly drafted.

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You can check out the National Free Wills Network - the charities on this network offer fee-free will-writing by solicitors in the hope that you will make a donation or a ‘bequest’ in the will.

Charity Logos – National Free Wills Network

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Free Wills Month & other affordable options

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Free Wills Month & other affordable options

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There are also a few charity events throughout the year where you can get a will written for free or at least for cheaper.

Free Wills Month happens every October and March, allowing those aged 55 and over to get a solicitor-drafted (or updated) will for free – though it's hoped you'll leave something to charity.

Will Aid, which runs annually in November, is a UK-wide campaign involving seven charities.

For more information on low-cost will options you can visit the Money Saving Expert website page - Top free or cheap will-writing services – MoneySavingExpert

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Wills & Trusts Service at Mencap can help you plan for the financial future of a person with a learning disability. The support they offer includes:

Planning for the Future webinars

Guides and resources

Help from our Wills and Trusts team

Answers to frequently asked questions

Wills and Trusts Service for parents and carers | Mencap

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The Court of Protection makes decisions on financial or welfare matters for people who can’t make decisions at the time they need to be made (they ‘lack mental capacity’).

Court of Protection - GOV.UK

During the process, you can get support from The Open Justice Court of Protection Project was founded in June 2020 (shortly after the first pandemic lockdown) to support the judical aspiration for transparency in the Court of Protection – an English court, established in its current form under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, with the authority to determine whether adults have the mental capacity to make key decisions in their lives (such as where they live, whether they undergo serious medical treatment, whether they maintain contact with family members), and to make decisions in the best interests of those deemed to lack capacity.

Promoting Open Justice in the Court of Protection

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Before any Ombudsman can look at your complaint, you must complain to the organisation involved and give it a chance to sort out your issue. That will be your first step! Every local authority and public body services should have a complaints procedure outlined on their website.

Please be aware that if you wish to approach the Ombudsman with your complaints, you should do so promptly. You must complain to the Ombudsman within 12 months of the action or decision that has negatively affected you. If more than 12 months has passed, we may still be able to help if there is a good reason for the delay.

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Proceeding with a complaint can be a stressful process.

Make sure you have all relevant information stored somewhere safe so you can reference back to it and log as much as you can

Be patient but keep track of how long the process takes, the Public Services Ombusdman for Wales says 12 weeks is a reasonable time for them to give you a final reply but it could take longer depending on the complaint.

Ask for help where you can, find out if there are any service that can support you like CAB or Llais, please see the below sections

Inform yourself about your rights! Family carers can refer back to our page to find out about their rights

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Call 0844 736 0006

Or email info@geldards.com

Additional Learning Needs | Lawyers & Solicitors | Geldards

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Our specialist education law team are experts in additional learning needs and disability law, helping parents ensure their children get the support th…