Courtroom Skills and Giving Evidence for Social Services

Description

This highly practical training session is designed to ensure that Social Care Professionals undergo a process of familiarisation to equip them with the necessary skills to give a conident account under questioning or cross-examination.

The day is split into two halves. The morning looks at the theory of giving evidence and is designed to demystify the whole process. Delegates will gain an insight into the order of events, the procedures and roles and responsibilities of different people involved.

Importantly, they will explore the various techniques lawyers use to discredit Social Care Professionals in cross-examination, and learn how to withstand them and remain in control.

In the afternoon, we set up a mock courtroom in which they are able to put into practice what they have learnt from the morning. Delegates are cross-examined by an experienced lawyer-trainer.

What you will learn

• Recognise how the adversarial and inquisitorial systems works, and distinguish the diference between them
• Identify the procedures, order of events, and roles and responsibilities of those involved
• Prepare how to give evidence to best practice standards
• Demonstrate how to make appropriate use of supporting evidence, document and records while under cross-examination
• Distinguish between the difference in giving 'opinion' evidence as the 'expert witness' and giving evidence as a professional witness
• Demonstrate effective ways to withstand lawyers’ cross-examination techniques in order to give clear and conident oral evidence in the witness box