Ian Gillman-Smith

Since 2000 Ian has been practising as an Independent Social Worker and Expert Witness. He is instructed by solicitors with franchises in mental health law, primarily for the purpose of preparing Independent Social Circumstance reports for Mental Health Review Tribunals and attendance at Mental Heath Review Tribunals as an Expert Witness. These reports consider the circumstances leading to, and possible alternatives to an individual's compulsory detention in psychiatric hospitals under Part II and Part III of the Mental Health Act 1983, as amended by the Mental Health Act 2007. They cover both social and statutory matters. The reports are prepared to a standard to be presented to a court as evidence.

Ian will assess clients who are subject to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 with respect to mental capacity and best interest and issues relating to deprivation of liberty. Instructions are typically from solicitors who are acting as "Litigation Friend" on behalf of the Official Solicitor.

Work is also undertaken as an Expert Witness with respect to community care provision, issues relating to Fair Access to Care Services, medical negligence claims and criminal proceedings.

Client groups assessed include:

• Clients with a forensic history in medium and high secure psychiatric settings
• Clients with a learning disability
• Older age clients
• Clients within adult acute mental health psychiatric settings.
• Clients who need to access specialised mental health care.

This work is carried out across the UK. Ian has now prepared in excess of 400 reports. He will attend Mental Health Review Tribunal Hearings as an Expert Witness to provide oral evidence. He also provides assessments for the Official Solicitor's Office and Local Authority Legal Departments.

Ian is listed on the Sweet and Maxwell experts list. Specialist areas of work cited are: personality disorders / psychoses / violence / self-harm / suicide / criminal behaviour / addictions and compulsions / drug abuse / eating disorders / stress disorders / offender assessment / dangerousness / risk assessment / learning difficulties / Mental Health Act / psychiatric rehabilitation / psychological counselling / therapies / psychotherapy / families and mental illness / mental disability.