FamilyLawHour HCPC Going for someone who promises timely delivery, but produces a sub-standard report can be an issue if they do not have the appropriate expertise. Increasingly, I am instructed to provide a 2nd or 3rd report in such cases.

Dr Sue Whitcombe FamilyLawHour HCPC 💯 🫂

Q4: What difficulties have you encountered in instructing a psychologist as an expert? (e.g. availability....quality of reports....costs). #familylawhour

Gemma Hope (She/Her) FamilyLawHour Feedback from colleagues is an excellent marker. We know when a solicitor finds a good psychologist, they come back time and again. But what do you do when there is a sub-standard report?

POLL: When choosing an expert, do you check the HCPC register? #familylawhour

Dr Sue Whitcombe FamilyLawHour HCPC Can the courts not develop a staff capability by which they have their own trusted expert working on cases and parents can have their own expert at additional cost to themselves if they want a 2nd or 3rd opinion?

FamilyLawHour From the psychology grapevine - many colleagues are unable to meet current demands in terms of timescales & costs. We are often called last minute - from a solictor in court-asking if we can submit a CV, we want a report in 6 weeks! If a psychologist is good, they are in demand!

Dr Sue Whitcombe FamilyLawHour HCPC The task of choosing for an uniformed parent is daunting but still need the ability to challenge appointed experts/family court advisers.

POLL: Quality of reports. Are expert psychologists reports fit for purpose? In what percentage of cases do they adequately provide a response to instructions and assist the court? #familylawhour

FamilyLawHour A significant number of psychologist will no longer work for LAA rates-they are substantially below rate charged by most psychologists for all other areas of their work. Additionally - suggested number of hours from the LAA often mean a robust, sound, useful report is difficult

FamilyLawHour The BPS FJC Guidance has much better indication of the likely time required to undertake a robust, ethical assessment - it is worth considering this and ensuring application for prior authority.

Dr Sue Whitcombe FamilyLawHour The Ministry of Justice has to tackle this if they are serious about providing safe, beneficial services that work for the public and benefit of children.

FamilyLawHour Quality of reports can be an issue. Sometimes you need tochallenge this. What does a good report look like?

FamilyLawHour It is important that poor reports, poor practice, work outside area of competence and expertise is challenged. This is why it is important to instruct HCPC psychologists - this is the only recourse to addressing poor practice.

Thank you to Dr Sue Whitcombe for hosting tonight's #FamilyLawHour and to Patricia Beckett, Parental Alienation, [email protected], Gemma Hope (She/Her) for taking part.

FamilyLawHour Dr Sue Whitcombe Patricia Beckett Parental Alienation Gemma Hope (She/Her) Thanks for hosting this important topic and 👏 to Sue.

[email protected] FamilyLawHour Dr Sue Whitcombe That’s rather a sweeping generalisation. Every case is different, involving different factors and circumstances.

[email protected] FamilyLawHour HCPC The issue, from my perspective, is psychologists are called in too late in the day. It would be beneficial to have psychologists working alongside social work and Cafcass from the outset, or for a better system which focuses on early assessment & intervention outside of court

Dr Sue Whitcombe FamilyLawHour Fortunately not experienced this, but challenge through court process/cross examination and complaint to regulator/governing body would be options.