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 in report writing and giving evidence in court, and is a member of the Society of Expert Witnesses. She holds Professional Indemnity insurance to the value of five million pounds.

Clare Garside 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 average balance of work is 70% claimant, 20% defendant and 10% Single Joint Expert.

She maintains clinical contact on ad hoc but regular basis, and currently discharges a freelance part time contract with the Wheelchair Services Department of an NHS primary care trust. She has also contributed as an occasional Mobility Therapist within the charity Whizz-Kidz and is practised in the provision of advisory reports for Benevolence Fund Expenditure.

Clare Garside gained her Diploma from Derby School of Occupational Therapy, where she was Student of the Year, 1976. 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. She 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 Garside maintains a professional development portfolio and, in addition to reading relevant journals, attends short courses as appropriate. She is an active member of the College of Occupational Therapists, having recently completed ten years service as Treasurer of their Independent Practice national specialist section, and now serves on the committee of their Medico-Legal Forum.

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