(1) The Director may or, where section 36(9) applies, shall, in accordance with this section, appoint a person to be a court friend for a relevant person.

(2)

(a) A court friend for a relevant person is a person who assists the relevant person in relation to an application under Part 5 in respect of which the relevant person is the subject.

(b) The court, on the hearing of such application, may hear submissions from the court friend on behalf of the relevant person.

(3) Subject to subsections (4) and (5), for the purposes of assisting a relevant person in relation to an application under Part 5, a court friend may -

(a) at any reasonable time, examine and take copies of any health, personal welfare or financial record held in respect of the relevant person by any person, body or organisation, and

(b) interview the relevant person in private or otherwise than in public.