What we do as Independent
Social Workers
We are a team of independent senior social workers who offer expert advice, assessments and services to support you in all areas of health and social care.
Our customers are Solicitors and Professional Deputies seeking robust assessments and court compliant expert reports, Members of the Public, Local Authorities, Care Homes, Care organisations.
If you need specific / expert advice on any aspect of health and social care, give us a call to book a free 30 minute consultation.
Assessing mental capacity and completing the COP3 Part B form as part of the application.
Assessing what the care and support needs are and writing a comprehanive report.
Assessing an individual's vulnerabilty to financial abuse / decision making abilities around finances.
Assessing mental capacity and completing the COP3 Part B form (for use within the Court of Protection).
Assessing mental capacity for any specific decision and then writing a report.
Reviewing an existing provision of care, including at home, residential / nursing / supported living to see if it is meeting the person's needs.
Providing a comprehensive service to Professional Deputies, from mental capacity assessments, to care assessments and reviews.
Completing the 'CHC checklist' with you and providing support with the next DST stage if you are eligible.
Help and advice to create / change / revoke a LPA / completing the Certificate Provider role.
When someone lacks the mental capacity to make a specific decision but the decision needs to be made for them.
Provision of information on care providers who could meet your care needs and then assist you to set it up.
Working With You
We cater our approach to your needs. Our services will be bespoke in terms of timescales, sensitivity and the specific needs of the person we are assessing. We provide a clear, compassionate, and professional pathway for solicitors, organisations, and individuals to secure our Expert Social Work Assessments and support.
01
Initial Contact
When you contact us, you will either know exactly what service you require (and we will arrange the appointment quickly) or you will need to discuss your requirements with us first. We will have a telephone conversation or communicate by email with you to determine what you need. We will then send out a detailed referral and information gathering form (that will give us all the information we need) with a bespoke quote. When you return this to us, we will arrange a convenient appointment date and time. If you are seeking advice / information this will be by telephone or video link for the initial 30 minute consultation. When you contact us please provide an address (or just a postcode) so we can quote you accurately.
02
Expert Assessment
Whichever type of assessment you are instructing us to complete; our senior social workers place the person at the centre of process. Our empathic, unrushed approach means that the person will feel empowered from the beginning and in control of the interview (e.g., taking breaks whenever they wish). The referral forms we send out to you will include questions about communication methods, cognitive impairment, best time of day, and also request any other information we may need to conduct the assessment successfully. We encourage a 'familiar face' to be present if the individual wishes / agrees to this; as this often helps the individual feel more relaxed (There may be times during the assessment when we will ask you to leave - e.g., to gain wishes and feelings / when discussing very personal or confidential aspects).
03
Comprehensive Report / Determination
There are 2 main types of assessment report we will complete for you depending upon your needs. You may only need a 'letter of determination' which provides just the date and the outcome of the assessment. Or, you may need a full assessment report which is clear, evidence-based and unambiguous whilst being robust and able to stand up to scrutiny. In our experience, this is the most frequently required type of report that is requested; and they are fully Court compliant.