Specialist areas of work include:

• Serious Case Reviews: acting as an independent chair of Serious Case Review panels; writing overview reports; providing training, consultancy and mentoring for authors of Individual Management Reviews; providing training and consultancy concerning the Ofsted SCR evaluation process;

• Conducting or chairing case reviews and writing overview reports and management reviews for Serious Case Reviews held under Chapter 8 of Working Together to Safeguard Children;

• Expert witness evidence in child protection and child welfare case, including negligence and personal injury cases;

•  Acting as Independent Chair of investigation management groups considering allegations or complaints against employees or foster-carers;

•  Devising or delivering training in child welfare and child protection up to PQ Higher Specialist level;

• Independent chairing of meetings, particularly on an interagency basis;

• Consultancy at either service or case level;

• Conducting or disseminating research via seminars or conferences;

• Audit or evaluation of services;

• Writing procedural guidance on a single or multi-agency basis.

Expertise at a senior level in most other aspects of children's services is available within the group of associates with whom Patrick works.