Expert Witness Social Workers
1400+ assessments completed in the past year
Social worker expert witness
Since 2001, Carter Brown have been providing social work assessments (Social Work England) across the country and have a reputation for excellence in this area. We provide reports to local authorities, courts, independent fostering agencies and adoption consortia and have completed almost 1400 of these assessments in the past year.
Assessments our independent social workers provide
Our independent social workers are experienced in working with children, families and vulnerable adults. With a UK-wide network of assessors, we can provide:
- Parenting assessments
- ParentAssess assessments
- PAMS assessments
- CUBAS assessments
- Age assessments
- Form F assessments
- Connected Persons assessments
- Special Guardianship assessments
- Prospective Adopter’s Reports (PAR)
- Viability assessments
- Initial Visits
- Annex A assessments
- International assessments
- Section 7 reports
- Life Story Work
- Deprivation of Liberty assessments
- Case file audits
- Carer Supervision
- Supervised contact
Additionally, each of our social workers has a number of unique specialisms which we use to determine their suitability for every case.
Ready to make a referral?
It only takes 5 minutes, an expert pack with CVs, costs and timescales can be sent to you in as little as 30 minutes if you’re at court.
Why might you need a social worker expert witness?
You might need an expert witness social worker if a case requires independent, specialist assessments of a child, family or vulnerable adult that helps courts, tribunals and professionals to make informed decisions.
No matter your reason for requiring an assessment, our team are here to help. If you require an expert witness social worker for your case, submit a referral today! It only takes 5 minutes and an expert pack with CVs, costs and timescales can be sent to you in as little as 30 minutes if you’re at court.
Where can our social workers help?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an expert witness?
An expert witness is someone who has knowledge not normally possessed by the average person concerning the topic that he is to testify about. Their duty is to assist the court in making their decisions.
Where are you based?
Our head office is in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, but we are able to offer assessments and ongoing support nationwide through our national network of experts.
For more details and to get in touch, see our Contact Us page.
Who are Carter Brown?
Carter Brown was established in 2001 as a company to provide expert witnesses for family law cases. Since then we have expanded the range of assessments we provide and the services we offer. For more information please see our About Us page.
Do you have any experts that speak languages other than English?
Carter Brown has numerous assessors who speak a variety of languages, ranging from French to Mandarin.
What are your timescales?
Our assessors are very flexible on timescales and the majority can accommodate very quick turnarounds from instruction to reporting.
Can I have a hard copy of a report?
We always provide reports electronically for speed and efficiency. Each report will have a digitally-captured signature. However, if you do require a hard copy signature, this can be arranged.
How are the team trained?
Our QA team have received extensive training on a variety of topics including what makes a good expert assessment, independent social work assessments, giving constructive feedback, formatting and layout of reports. All team members undergo an intensive induction process, whereby following a period of independent reading of anonymised reports their work is checked by a more experienced member of staff and case by case feedback offered. All of our ‘in house’ training for the team is delivered via interactive exercises, case vignettes and group discussion with a strong focus on making assessments as robust as they can possibly be.
All members of the team have also received training from the Society for Editors and Proofreaders regarding onscreen editing or proof reading.
What does QA do and does this cost me extra?
Our dedicated and highly trained Quality Assurance team will ensure the quality of each report. They will read each assessment and provide comprehensive feedback to the assessor regarding spelling, grammar, formatting and content. This doesn’t cost the client anything extra – it’s all part of our service to you.
Why choose Carter Brown experts?
Founded in 2001 by two Children’s Guardians, who recognised a need for robust, evidence-based assessments within family proceedings. Carter Brown are one of the UK’s leading multidisciplinary assessment service, providing assessments, consultancy and training to Solicitors, Local Authorities, Organisations and the courts.
Referrals
We make referring to us quick and easy. Our team of experienced Referrals Coordinators will individually match your assessment brief with up to 3 experts based on your case’s unique requirements. As part of the referral process, you’ll receive CVs, timescales and costings within just 2 hours. Or if a quicker turnaround is needed, in as little as 30 minutes. You can make a referral by phone, email or use our convenient online form.
Case Management
Your time matters so that’s why we provide a fully managed service from the point of referral to report submission. Our dedicated team of Case Handlers will request medical records and be your go-to for anything related to your case, prior to the submission of the expert’s report. They will also establish experts’ availability to attend professionals’ meetings or court hearings, so that you have all the information you need to hand, providing you with regular detailed updates throughout, ensuring your case stays on track.
Quality
Experts
Our experts each undergo a rigorous recruitment process which ensures they are appropriately experienced, qualified and regulated from day one. This process is overseen by our in-house recruitment team who are continuously sourcing new experts to expand our offering, ensuring we maintain our nationwide coverage showcasing the best possible expertise.
Timely Reports
We know time matters and the impact delays can have. That’s why we proudly deliver 98% of our reports on or ahead of the filing date.
Value
We offer a transparent pricing structure; We provide expert witness assessments within Legal Aid Agency guidelines and in line with LAA-prescribed hourly rates. Work can also be completed on a fixed fee basis or with volume discounts applied – get in touch to find out more.