Dawn Whitaker Lancaster University, UK

Dawn Whitaker is a lecturer at Lancaster University and registered independent social work consultant and trainer. Dawn worked as a mental health social worker in the North West of England for many years, before joining a Local Authority training department to deliver teaching on the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Dawn subsequently joined the NHS as a locality Mental Capacity Act implementation lead, with particular responsibility for implementing the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). As an Independent Social Worker, Dawn is regularly instructed by the Official Solicitor for the Court of Protection, specifically in cases where there is a health and social care dispute, or an adult is deemed to be ‘at risk’ requiring ‘safeguarding’. Dawn continues to undertake ISW work, and has been involved in a number of high-profile, landmark cases such as Cheshire West [Cheshire West and Chester Council v P (2011) EWHC 1330 (COP)] and LBX v K & Ors [2013] EWHC 3230 (Fam).