Challenges of expert witness psychological reporting in care and family proceedings

Daniel T Wilcox Executive Director at Wilcox Psychological Associates

This paper examines issues arising over recent years in respect of instructing psychological experts in Care and Family proceedings. The Jackson Reforms are discussed and the impact of COVID during and post pandemic leading to changes in the way professionals conduct their work. Against this backdrop the author reviews the significant increase in domestic violence and child abuse during the imposed shutdown period. The impact of these events is explored within the context of many Local Authorities facing bankruptcy and having limited funding even for basic services. The author discusses the exodus of established expert forensic psychologists due to the Legal Aid Agency’s guidelines reducing the numbers of hours that may be applied to complete a report as well as the hourly fee now standardised at a basic rate uniformly applicable to highly experienced forensic psychologists as well as those who have just qualified. Lastly commentary is given on the holdover from the COVID pandemic a significant shift towards remote working and the effect that this can have on maintaining a collaborative working ethos and a ‘finger on the pulse’ of key issues.

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