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Cap on experts social work fees will reult in loss of experts

Family courts are being warned they face an loss of expert social work witnesses in May when their fees are capped.

From the 2nd of May the legal aid fees paid to independent social workers  hired as expert witnesses in family court cases will be capped at £30 an hour across England and Wales and at £33 in London. The decision to cap ISW fees follows a consultation on family legal aid funding last year.

The low rates offered to social workers in comparison to other professions shows a lack of understanding by the government of the experience and value of ISWs. Many social workers have 20 to 30 years experience which is hard to replace.

A separate consultation on legal aid, which closed in February 2011, included a recommended fee guide for other professions. With occupational therapists valued at £68 an hour while nurses can expect £81 an hour for expert witness work.

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