Clare Garside's Résumé

Clare Garside has practised as an Expert Witness since 1984.  In 1988 she co-founded Direction Consultants, which after over 14 years of success as a partnership, incorporated to become Assessability Limited in 2002.

In addition to her extensive experience she has undertaken formal  Expert Witness training and is a member of the Society of Expert Witnesses.  She holds Professional Indemnity insurance to the value of five million pounds.

Clare prepares reports for both claimant and defendant to inform litigation.  She prepares some 30 assessment reports a year, and is well experienced in taking instruction as a single or as a joint expert and appears in court to give expert testimony as required.  The current balance of work is 70% claimant, 20% defendant and 10% Single Joint Expert.

 Clare provides functional assessment reports in the following types of cases:

·         Personal injury – e.g. care, equipment and rehabilitation; well

                        evidenced and fully costed

·         Clinical negligence

·         Child custody – e.g. physical capability to care for children

·         Court of Protection – e.g. necessary adaptations

Clare gained the Diploma of the College of Occupational Therapists in 1976, and continues to maintain clinical contact on a contractual basis.  She currently discharges a freelance part time contract with the Wheelchair Services Department of an NHS primary care trust, undertakes other ad-hoc clinical assessment and therapy, and has experience of case management.

Clare contributes as an occasional Mobility Therapist within the charity Whizz-Kidz and is also practised in the provision of advisory reports for Benevolence Fund expenditure; work which has a similar structure to personal injury reporting.  In conjunction with this the company holds a debt counselling licence.

Previous employment has been with the Royal Air Force and the National Health Service in the assessment and rehabilitation of clients with physical and psychiatric disabilities.  Clare reached the grade of Head III and has extensive experience in rehabilitation following trauma, including orthopaedics, head and hand injuries.  She has psychiatric experience mainly in the field of acute admission and day care, and specialist knowledge of wheelchair and special seating provision. 

Clare maintains a professional development portfolio and in addition to reading relevant journals and taking short courses as appropriate, has for some years been an active member of the College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section - Independent Practice group and currently serves as Treasurer on its national committee.