WillisPalmer undertakes Expert Witness Assessments for Local Authorities and care proceedings.

As a genuinely multi-disciplinary organisation, we also carry out multi-disciplinary assessments of children and families.

We have been carrying out assessments for local authorities, the courts and independent organisations for 20 years. We have a range of expert social workers with a broad base of knowledge and skills, promising you delivery of high-quality assessments.

Our Independent Social Work Assessments

We provide a wide variety of assessments including expertly written and quality assured reports for local authorities and the courts on the following issues:

• Parenting Assessments ParentAssess or PAMs Parenting Assessments
• Supported Parenting Assessments (completed with family support workers alongside the social worker, please call to discuss)
• International Assessments
• Sibling Assessments
• Fostering Assessments
• Adoption Assessments
• Special Guardianship Order Assessments
• Viability Assessments (also as part of an SGO)
• Connected Persons Assessments
• Video Interactive Guidance Work (video feedback in which a “guider” helps a client to enhance communication within relationships)
• Service Improvement/Mentoring

WillisPalmer has recruited a team of Consultant Social Workers (CSWs) to quality assure all reports before they are filed with the instructing party. The CSWs have significant experience in both undertaking specialist reports, and managing the quality of reports over many years. Read more about our QA process.

Who are our services suitable for?

• Local authorities
• Solicitors
• The courts
• Independent organisations e.g. children’s residential homes
• Schools

Our Process

Firstly, you can contact WillisPalmer by phone on 01206 878178 or online. Please provide us with information about the service you require and we will endeavour to get back to you on the same working day. We will need as much information about the case as possible: who it involves, why you require an assessment, what you want us to assess for, where the person is, any background information and helpful documents. We will provide you with the CVs of professionals able and ready to carry out the assessment within 24 hours. Our professionals will be able to start working immediately on us receiving a letter of instruction. Our assessments are typically carried out within a six week time-scale.

Why choose WillisPalmer?

WillisPalmer's managed service includes:

• Customer service available 8.30-5pm five days a week
• Robust quality assurance process
• Dedicated case manager
• GDPR compliance
• Egress Switch email encryption
• Secure IT infrastructure
• Professional Indemnity Insurance
• Public liability insurance
• Ongoing practitioner compliance
• Practitioner CPD

Dr Julia Brophy at the University of Oxford carried out research into the quality of ISW reports, including those from WillisPalmer. 

"The independence of the ISW as an expert witness for the court is a key factor in the assessment. Reports reflect a dynamic approach to case work moving between the accounts of different parties (in statements/evidence) and events, and back to parents. Reports demonstrate assessments are robust and focused but fair," said the report.

"Findings also indicate that in certain circumstances courts may be severely hampered in the absence of access to the skills and expertise provided by ISWs - not least in case managing to meet the six month ‘standard’ for completion of care cases recommended by the FJR and accepted by government."

STAGE I – Executive Summary

STAGE II – Executive Summary