Lester Aldridge LLP

Health & Social Care

Nicole is a Partner specialising in health and social care law.

Nicole’s work has ranged from advice and advocacy for registered healthcare professionals in fitness to practise investigations to challenges against CQC and Ofsted on behalf of private providers and NHS Trusts. She has significant experience in public and administrative law matters, including judicial reviews; challenges to DBS certificates; regulatory due diligence for purchasers, vendors and funders; preparation for and representation at inquests; healthcare and professional disciplinary actions; safeguarding investigations; and ICO investigations.

Nicole also advises on local authority fee disputes, on behalf of both care home residents and care home providers, and special educational needs provision, including appeals to the Special Educational Needs & Disability Tribunal. She also has experience in a wider range of health and welfare matters, including Personal Health Budget eligibility, hospital discharge assessments, best interest decision-making and engagement with Court of Protection proceedings. She also advises on discrete matters of public law and personal injury.

Nicole writes regularly for health and social care publications and presents at conferences and seminars on health and social care matters. She is the co-author of the Nursing & Midwifery section of the Legal Action Group book ‘Professional discipline and healthcare regulators: a legal handbook’ (1st edition 2012, 2nd edition 2018).

She began her career in the charity and immigration law sectors before moving into the health and social care sector in 2009. Since, she has worked closely with a range of clients, enjoying roles in a trade union, representing nurses and healthcare assistants, and within private practice, representing healthcare professionals, independent health and social care providers and NHS Trusts.