The Role of the Care Expert

Ask yourself…. Do you value high standards? Do you appreciate continuous, collaborative and structured professional development? Are you frustrated and wish you could achieve more, but also want to maintain your day-to-day clinical role?

Who are Jacqueline Webb? HQ in Salisbury, Wiltshire. Founded in 1985 by Jacqueline Webb, Occupational Therapist. We are the UK's largest totally independent Rehabilitation Cost Consultancy. We have over 30 years‘ experience of working with personal injury lawyers and solicitors. Our Reputation is born in providing excellent quality reports within the required timescales through excellent training, head office support and CPD. We provide the platform for you to be an Expert Witness.

Our Team We have a team of around 65 active Experts with a variety of specialist areas: Generalists – Upper/Lower Limb Orthopaedics, Upper/lower Limb Amputees, Burns, Visual Injuries, Mental Health, End of Life. Spinal Cord Injuries Head Injuries Birth Injury/Paediatrics Our team is made up of OT’s, Physio’s, Nurses & SLT’s.

Duties of the Care Expert To provide impartial & independent advice to assist The Court To help the Court ascertain the functional situation and quantify the financial compensation: Quantum

Benchmark for recommendations ‘The principal of the law is that compensation should as nearly as possible put the party who has suffered in the same position as he would have been if he had not sustained the wrong’ Lord Blackman, reaffirmed by Lord Scarman in Lim Poh Choo v Camden and Islington AHA 1979

Expert – Christine Sharp What is your previous clinical experience? I worked as a Band 7 Occupational Therapist in a regional specialist unit for hands, plastic and burns surgery, which included seeing patients with multi trauma and amputation injuries. What is your current clinical position and what cases do you take from Jacqueline Webb & Co? I work privately, approximately the equivalent of three days a week. I work as a Case Manager specialising in clients that have multi trauma injuries. I also take on work for a variety of OT specialist companies nationwide to provide specialist hand therapy assessment and treatment How long have you been an Expert? 3 years

The Assessment One-off assessment 3-4 hours in duration At the claimant's home or by telephone

Purpose of Assessment To identify the claimant’s pre- and post-injury situation To assess the claimant’s functional status and how they manage within their home environment. To identify areas of need and the level of independence likely to be achieved with appropriate equipment and adaptations. To clarify information in witness statements and medical records. Explore the impact of disability on the individual and their family.

Writing the report 6 - 22 hours very often 13,000 words plus makes recommendations to put the person back into the position they would have been if they hadn't suffered the wrong.

The Report Assessment Analysis Recommendations Costs: Care Equipment Transport Miscellaneous Housing

Care Care whilst in hospital. Care from date of discharge to date of assessment. Care from date of assessment to date funding available. Future care (may include more than one scenario). Longer term needs (when claimant has a child, when claimant is elderly.

Equipment

Transport

Miscellaneous Garden maintenance Household maintenance Chiropody Heating Clothing Footwear Holidays

Housing Suitable, unsuitable or adaptable?

Key Skills of the Care Expert Assessment Timekeeping Communication – oral & written Clinical reasoning / justification Confidence in making decisions and recommendations. Ability to accept criticism / have views challenged.

What do you need to become an Expert….. Six or more years’ post-graduate experience. Minimum of 10 hours per week capacity for work – excluding weekends. Complementary clinical employment Experience in assessing or setting up care packages, housing needs and equipment aids. A willingness to learn and to challenge yourself.

Take Home Messages Understand the role of the Care Expert What is involved in a report – Care etc. The benchmark you work to is higher – less restriction Come and find out more – you wont know until you ask.

Ask yourself…. Do you value high standards? Do you appreciate continuous, collaborative and structured professional development? Are you frustrated and wish you could achieve more, but also want to maintain your day-to-day clinical role?

Find out more about Expert Work Contact Simon Dickinson on: E-mail: recruitment@jwebb.co.uk Tel: 01722 342512 Or visit website: http://www.jwebb.co.uk/expert-witness-recruitment

The role of the Care Expert