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James Pantling-Skeet

James Pantling-Skeet

Senior Associate – Chartered Legal Executive

James’s expertise includes:

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“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.
"Guiding us through EHCP and transition"
James Pantling-Skeet helped us prepare my daughter's EHCP to gain a good placement for the future. He was patient, extremely knowledgeable, had brilliant contacts, helped withe emotional upheaval and organised meetings with all parties to keep everything on track. We had the best outcome we could have had due to his professionalism. He was very caring too. He and his team worked tirelessly and answered our queries promptly. I would highly recommend their service.
"Everything you would want in Solicitor!"
For over a year (maybe even two, time flies!) we have been working with James trying to negotiate a tricky situation with the local authority in relation to the care needs of our child who has complex needs. James and Daisy (paralegal) have been incredible throughout, and we are eternally grateful to them for helping us achieve the outcome we were looking for. Thorough, responsive and ready to roll with every punch that was thrown our way. We would not have the current outcome without them. Their professionalism is unmatched but also their empathy and kindness has been a breath of fresh air and made the process that bit easier. I would highly recommend James and Daisy, the dream team! Thank you both from the bottom of our hearts.
"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.
"James Pantling-Skeet is absolutely stellar"
They have the unique ability to run complex cases involving community care issues as well as education and disability law. James Pantling-Skeet is absolutely stellar. One to watch for sure.  

News articles by James

Press Releases by James

Podcasts by James

Videos by James

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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