News

The Ministry of Justice has issued guidance on its website regarding Risk Assessment Expert fees.

The guidance is attached.

Top Judge backs the role of Independent Social Worker experts in Family Justice Modernisation Programme.

The full report is attached.

Please see attached the judgment from the President of the Family Division in respect of fees for Expert Social Workers.

Please see attached the full copy of the Government's response to the Family Justice Review.

ISWA staff have recently returned from Malta where they delivered five days training related to working with children and families. Director, Philip King, and Associate Ann Lowe delivered training within the following modules:-

• Report Writing
• Interviewing Children
• Preparing Children for Contact Visits
• Risk Assessment & Decision Making in Complex Cases
• Use of Standardised Tests & Questionnaires The training was highly successful with evaluations which indicated high satisfaction rates amongst course participants. ISWA will be completing its work by reporting on its training programme and providing a resource pack of materials to support practitioners in embedding what they have learnt into their practice.

This is an important document and marks an encouraging and excellent start to reclaiming social work and getting back to some care values and principles.

The proposed refuction has been delayed as a part of the successful Judicial Review brought by the Law Society. See link for more detail.

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2010/10/04/115488/reprieve-for-independent-social-workers-facing-fee-cap.htm

It is our view that the approach detailed below is compliant with recent MoJ Guidance in relation to expert fees for the funding of “Risk Assessment Experts” in Family matters. It may be of significant assistance to you, should you urgently require to instruct ISWA in such cases.

Our Risk Assessment Experts remain available to you across the UK and can complete such assessments within six to eight weeks of instructions.

Phil King and Jimmy Jack

Directors  

Since 1998, ISWA has assisted the Family Courts, Local Authorities and other agencies through the provision of Expert Risk Assessments in highly complex Child and Family matters. Throughout this time, the Agency has recruited a large, diverse team of Risk Assessment Experts, whose specialist work within these arenas has gained it an enviable and highly respected reputation.

A thorough, well balanced, holistic risk assessment is essential to understand what is happening to a child and his/her family in order that appropriate risk management, safeguarding, intervention and decisions can be provided. ISWA’s holistic risk assessments, which use a range of standardised tests, are research based, enabling and contain realistic and achievable recommendations.

Our Expert Risk Assessments of Children and Families focus upon applying specific expertise in understanding and managing risk where one or a number of the following concerns exist within families:-

1. Drug and Alcohol Misuse
2. Domestic Violence
3. Learning Disabilities
4. Mental Health Difficulties
5. Sexual Harm and Violence
6. Physical Violence and Emotional Abuse
7. Acute and Chronic Neglect
8. Attachment Disorders

Our expert fees and rates are compliant with those set by the Ministry of Justice 2010 Standard Civil Contract Payment Annex for Risk Assessment Experts, namely £63.00 per hour, plus travel.

To make a referral and receive a detailed proposal as to how we will provide you with an Expert Risk Assessment, please contact our offices on Tel: 01562 827878 or email jessi@iswa.ltd.uk

Season's Greetings to all from all at ISWA.

ISWA has decided once gain to send e-mail Seasonal Greetings to all customers and partners in place of posted cards. The funds that would have been spent on posted cards has been donated to two charities instead. These are - Piggy Bank Kids (a charity working to give children the best possible start in life) and Centrepoint (a charity helping homeless young people to get off the streets and give them a future). Each charity will receive an equal donation and we hope you will agree that this is money well spent.

ISWA office will close at midday on Monday 24th December 2012 and will re-open on Wednesday 2nd January 2013.