1. Local authority social work evidence in care proceedings: messages from research
Ann Potter
Senior Lecturer
Department of Social Care & Social Work
Manchester metropolitan university
@AnnPotter6

2. Local authority social workers as professional witnesses

3. Social workers as ‘experts’ in care proceedings
“Social workers are experts. In just the same way, I might add, CAFCASS officers are experts. In every care case we have at least two experts – a social worker and a guardian… we must recognise them and treat them as such.” (Munby, J 2013: 8)

4. Professional expertise: theoretical frameworks
Acquisition - Developmental theories
Novice through to Expert
Acquiring and applying knowledge
Developing skills
Learning from experience

5. Theoretical frameworks & the presentation of an ‘expert’ professional self
Communication Performance (Collins & Evans) written & oral evidence (Goffman)

6. The study design Qualitative, socio-legal study
Judicial and Cafcass focus groups
Observations of care proceedings start to finish
Observations of contested final hearings
Interviews with SWs, LA lawyers, lawyers representing parents and children
Analysis of written LASW evidence
Analysis of judgments
Ethics!

7. Messages - local authority social workers
The importance of ‘knowing the family’ – relationship based approaches and evaluations of reliability and credibility
Learning how to communicate the application of SW knowledge & research in care planning, within legal proceedings – what underpins the recommendation
Importance of socialisation in the legal process & particularly contested hearings
Demeanour - which flows from balance & compassionate/humane approach in practice

8. Messages - social work managers & local authority lawyers
Importance of ‘knowing the family’ - relationship based approaches
LPM – learning opportunities - communicating the application of SW knowledge & research in care planning, within legal proceedings – what underpins the recommendation
Socialisation in the legal process & particularly contested hearings – skills training & observations to provide context
Challenging approach to ‘in-house evaluation’ of written evidence and reflective, supervision – learning opportunities that embed the rationale & reasoning for care planning recommendations
Problems with written evidence will not be solved by court skills training alone

9. Messages - Judges, Magistrates & lawyers representing parents
Importance of learning opportunities for magistrates, judges and lawyers, to enable socialisation in social work practice & knowledge base & support evaluations of SW evidence
Importance of providing feedback where possible, on written and oral SW evidence, including in non–contested cases

10. Implications for professional practice
Good news: GMLFJB, GMFCF, GMSWA – all can potentially support practice development & improvements