Author: Professor Luke Clements

Luke Clements is the Cerebra Professor of Law and Social Justice at the School of Law, Leeds University. Luke is also a solicitor with Scott-Moncrieff & Associates Ltd. He has had conduct of many cases before the European Commission and Court of Human Rights. In 1996 he was the solicitor who took the first Roma case to reach the Strasbourg Court Buckley v. UK (1996) Luke’s academic research and litigation experience is primarily concerned with the rights of people who experience social exclusion, including disabled people and their carers. He has helped draft and promote a number of Parliamentary Bills aimed at improving the rights of people experiencing social exclusion – including Bills that became the Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995 and the Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004. Luke’s Chair in Law is funded by the disabled children’s charity Cerebra

Columnists, SEND Legislation, Social care, special needs

Begging to differ with the Baroness—a new legal framework for disabled children’s social care really is needed

By Professor Luke Clements May 28, 2025 November 6, 2025

and Ana Laura Aiello, School of Law, Leeds University. Professor Luke Clements is the Cerebra Professor of Law and Social Justice, and Dr Ana Laura Aiello is the researcher on …

Columnists, Health, SEND & Health Research, special needs

Shameful state of continence services leaves disabled children “robbed of fundamentally important experiences”

By Professor Luke Clements March 26, 2025 March 24, 2025

and Dr Ana Laura Aiello A major new research report reveals serious failings by health and social care bodies in the way that they commission and deliver (or don’t deliver) …

Columnists, Fabricated or Induced Illness FII, SAFEGUARDING, special needs

Research finds unfounded FII accusations cause “devastating and often life-long impact on children and families” and over 80% of allegations dropped

By Professor Luke Clements November 15, 2023 November 6, 2025

by Professor Luke Clements and Dr Ana Laura Aiello There is considerable evidence to suggest that increasing numbers of parents are experiencing allegations that they have fabricated or actually induced …

Columnists, Social care

Working Together to Safeguard Children: An important consultation

By Professor Luke Clements August 18, 2023 April 26, 2026

+++ Note this consultation closes on 6th September so don’t delay ++ A strong sense of despair and hopelessness comes over me whenever I am asked to respond to (yet …

Parenting, Social care, special needs

Urgent change is needed to stop the institutional culture of parent-carer blaming

By Professor Luke Clements July 23, 2021 November 6, 2025

and Dr Ana Laura Aiello Disabled children and their families are one of the world’s most severely disadvantaged groups and the UK is no exception. Why should this be – …

Guest Posts, SEND & Health Research, special needs

Autistic children unlawfully denied care assessments: Your parent carer group can help further research

By Professor Luke Clements August 11, 2020 March 18, 2026

with Professor Luke Clements and Dr Ana Laura Aiello SNJ Intro by Tania: Has your autistic child had a social care assessment of their needs? Either from the disabled children’s …