SCC JM - Independent Expert Assessment Service DPS

Expert Witnesses are required to provide high quality, evidence based assessments and reports for children, adolescents, and adults to help inform child protection and care planning decision-making. This Lot 1 is further divided into sub-lots: Lot 1a: Assessments completed by Independent Social Workers (ISWs) Lot 1b: Assessments completed Psychologists Lot 1c: Assessments completed by Psychiatrists Lot 1d: Assessments completed by All Other Experts

Qualified Social Workers are required to undertake high quality, evidence-based Special Guardianship Order (SGO) Assessments on behalf of SCC, in locations across the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland). Assessments are to be conducted professionally, sensitively and in a timely fashion, in line with the Family Justice Council: Best Practice Guidance: SGOs (2021) , SCC SGO policy and guidance (2023) and Friends and Family policy (2022)

This service may be requested by the court with a stipulated package of support undertaken in the family home and / or in the family’s local community, over a period of an agreed number of weeks. The support may include regular planned appointments and observations over a number weeks in the community, or may involve a more intensive home based 24 hour a day, 7 days a week observations, monitoring and support, from a highly skilled team supporting the family. This lot may require a bespoke assessment, which enables opportunities for families to remain together during the assessment period in their own homes, when it is seemed safe and appropriate.