Child mental health expert witness course
Monday - Tuesday 25 - 26 June 2012
Venue: Royal Society of Medicine, 1 Wimpole Street, LONDON, W1G 0AE
This 2 day course concentrates on the technique involved in acting as expert witness for child mental health professionals and has five main components.
Firstly there are initial lectures on:
The law pertaining to children
The role of the mental health professional
Receiving instruction.
That is followed by a second part consisting of lectures on:
Assessing children
Assessing parenting and families
The last lecture style presentations are on
Writing a report.
Giving evidence
Seminars and a 'Mock Court'
Before the course participants are sent details of a 'case' with a set of instructions. At the end of the first day a seminar is held to go through the case in order to help participants write a report (which hopefully they can prepare over night if they have not done so already). First thing on the second day another small group seminar examines the issues and manner of presentation. The afternoon of the second day is very special. Barristers from a good set of chambers hold a mock court at which each participant is invited to give evidence. This is a safe venue in which to practice and witnesses are given advice on the pro and cons of their technique.
ACCOMMODATION:
For information on hotels close to the RSM at the best rates please go to:
http://www.HotelMap.com/M9EFH
Monday 25 June |
|
8.30 am |
Registration and coffee |
9.00 am |
Opening |
| His Honour Judge John Altman, Designated Family Judge for London | |
9.15 am |
The role of the psychiatrist/mental health professional |
| Dr Claire Sturge, Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Northwick Park Hospital | |
10.15 am |
Coffee |
10.45 am |
Assessing the child: Psychiatric diagnosis - identifying needs |
| Dr Margaret DeJong, Great Ormond Street Hospital | |
11.45 am |
Assessment of parenting capacity |
| Dr Danya Glaser, Honorary Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Great Ormond Street Hospital and Visiting Professor, UCL | |
12.45 pm |
Lunch |
1.45 pm |
The role of the adult psychiatrist |
|
Dr Frances Klemperer, Consultant, General Adult Psychiatry, South Kensington & Chelsea Mental Health Centre and Family Assessment & Support Team, Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Dr Anna Steeruwitz, Court Assessment Service, Anna Freud Centre, London |
|
2.45 pm |
Preparing a report |
| Professor Harry Zeitlin, Emeritus Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of London | |
3.45 pm |
Tea |
4.00 pm |
Case history report preparation |
| Small group work - Discussion of vignette and case problem analysis | |
5.00 pm |
Close of day |
Tuesday 26 June |
|
9.00 am |
Discussion with coffee |
| Small work groups | |
10.00 am |
Court work: Clinicians' fears and expectations |
| Dr Johan Redelinghuys, Consultant Child Psychiatrist, West London NHS Mental Health Trust | |
11.00 am |
The legal framework |
| Mr Charles Prest, Barrister, 6 Park Square, Leeds | |
12.00 pm |
Coffee |
12.15 pm |
Giving evidence: how to defend your opinions in Court |
| Ms Martha Cover, Head of Chambers, Coram Chambers, London | |
1.15 pm |
Lunch |
2.00 pm |
Role-play mock court |
| Barristers and expert witnesses | |
4.30 pm |
Coffee |
4.45 pm |
Closing remarks |
5.00 pm |
Close of meeting |
|
Meeting ref: PYC07 CPD: 10 credits |
|