Experts: Experts Booklet & Experts Register
A number of experts are regularly involved in the Family Justice System, including paediatricians, psychiatrists and psychologists.
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Paediatricians
A paediatrician is a medical doctor who specialises in diagnosing, looking after, and treating children and young people who are ill, who have been neglected or suffered abuse.
For more information see: Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
The College advances the art and science of paediatrics, improves standards of medical care to children, and educates and examines doctors in paediatrics. Additionally, the College has a function in providing information to the public on the health care of children
Psychiatrists
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specialises in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, addictive, behavioural and emotional disorders.
For more information see: Royal College of Psychiatrists
The Royal College of Psychiatrists is the professional and educational body for psychiatrists in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland
Psycholgists
A psychologist studies the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social aspects of behaviour, from a scientific viewpoint and applies this knowledge to help people understand, explain and change their behaviour.
British Psychological Society
By its Royal Charter the Society is charged with national responsibility for the development, promotion and application of psychology for the public good
To find out far more about the role of each of these experts in the court process see :
This guide provides a wealth of information on the use of experts, primarily in the Public Law field, but equally applicable to the Private Law sector.
This guide offers advice on the range of experts practising in health and social care, with detailed information on the role of the Psychiatrist and their many different areas of specialism, the role of the Psychologist and their many different areas of specialism, the role of the Paediatricians and also of Social and Local Authority workers.
It provides guidance as to the instruction of experts, advice for experts themselves on the preparation of court reports and at the end of the guide is a flow diagram which assists in identifying which kind of professional to instruct in any particular case.
To find a local expert in the many fields of Psychiatry, including Child Psychiatry, Learning Difficulties, Adult Psychiatry, Addiction Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatrists and in the many fields of Psychology including Clinical Psychology and those with speciality in Learning Difficulties and Educational Psychologists in Norfolk see
The Experts Register - A Guide for Legal Professionals in Norfolk
To find a local expert in the many areas of specialist Paediatrics the following sites provides lists of local experts see:
Norfolk Primary Care Trust, now NHS Norfolk
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kings Lynn
James Paget University Hospital, Gorleston, Great Yarmouth
At the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital there are currently 6 consultant community paediatricians who undertake child protection assessments and provide expert opinion on a regular basis.
Dr Richard Reading, Dr Rosalyn Proops, Dr Sue Zeitlin, Dr Sarah Steel, Dr Tim Kinnaird, Dr Anastasia Bem.
Whilst none of them routinely do private law however they can be approached personally. Within the NNUH there are a number of specialists who may undertake expert opinion work. This includes paediatric surgeons, radiologists and specialist paediatricians. Their areas of interest are listed on the hospital websites.
All paediatricians will refer to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health ‘Child Protection Special Interest Group Handbook’ and ‘The Physical Signs of Child Sexual Abuse March 2008’ . These provide collations of evidence based research and provide an excellent guide for doctors (and other professionals
These can be seen on the RCPCH website www.rcpch.ac.uk
There are 2 Designated Professionals for Norfolk who can signpost enquiries for Paediatric expert reports and specialist opinions:
Jane Black, Designated Nurse, Safeguarding Children on 01603 257054 or email jane.black@bnorfolk-pct.nhs.uk Sue Zeitlin, Designated Doctor, Safeguarding Children on 01603 508939 or email sue.zeitlin@norfolk-pct.nhs.uk