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You are in Safe Hands

Neil Courtney — Senior Independent Social Worker

One of our Directors here at Expert Social Work Assessments is Principle Social Worker Neil Courtney, a Senior Independent Social Worker with over 30 years of experience in health and social care. Neil operates with complete independence — no affiliations or ties to any formal care organisation — providing objective, court-compliant assessments and reports for solicitors, professional deputies, local authorities, care organisations, and members of the public. He conducts in-person assessments across all of England and Wales, and supports overseas clients by video for immigration matters.
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Registration and Qualifications
Neil is registered with Social Work England and Social Care Wales, and is a member of the British Association of Social Workers (BASW).

  • Social Work England registration number: SW22867

  • Social Care Wales registration number: W/5112188

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Both registrations can be verified on the respective public registers:

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Qualifications

  • BA (Hons) Social Work, 2011

  • Qualified Best Interest Assessor (BIA), 2013

  • Continuing professional development across all aspects of social care practice

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Experience:
Neil has over 30 years of experience in the care field, 15 years as a qualified social worker (since 2011), working in both statutory roles and as an independent social worker. He intends to commence Practice Educator training in the near future.
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Career History:
Neil's career spans statutory, voluntary, and independent practice settings.
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Period                                                                  Role                                                                                                         Organisation
Feb 1995 – Jun 1998                                      Residential Worker                                                                         Five Rivers Project
Jun 1998 – Jul 1999                                       Learning Disability Support Worker                                       Macintyre Care
Jul 1999 – Jan 2002                                      Learning Disability Day Service Officer                                Hampshire County Council
Jan 2002 – Jul 2011                                       Care Manager                                                                                     Southampton City Council
Jul 2011 – Feb 2014                                        Community Social Worker                                                           Southampton City Council
Feb 2014 – Oct 2015                                      Hospital Discharge Social Worker                                           Dorset County Council
Feb 2014 – Aug 2022                                    Best Interest Assessor / Paid RPR / Authoriser               Featherstone Social Work Services
Apr 2020 – Oct 2020                                   Safeguarding Team Social Worker                                           Southampton City Council
May 2022 – Apr 2023                                   S.21a Challenges Social Worker (DoLS)                                  Wiltshire Council
Jan 2022 – Jul 2026                                    Independent Social Worker / Director                                    Simply Social Work Ltd
Aug 2026 – Present                                     Independent Social Worker / Director                                    Expert Social Work Assessments Ltd
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Specialist Roles:
Best Interest Assessor (BIA)  - Neil is a qualified Best Interest Assessor, commissioned by multiple local authorities to carry out BIA assessments under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) for adults with cognitive impairment in care homes, nursing homes, and supported living. He has authorised deprivations of liberty and scrutinised BIA and Section 12 Doctor reports in the Authoriser role.
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Paid Relevant Person's Representative (RPR) - Commissioned by local authorities to visit service users subject to a standard DoLS authorisation, audit care plans, monitor conditions of authorisation, and initiate Court of Protection applications where required.
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Section 21a Challenges Social Worker At Wiltshire Council -  Neil wrote court statements, carried out assessments for P, liaised with the local authority solicitor, and represented the local authority at court hearings and round table meetings for S.21a challenges.
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Fields of Expertise:
Neil has worked across a wide range of health and social care fields throughout his career, with particular specialist interest in autism and ADHD, alcohol misuse, dementia, brain injury, and learning disability.

  • Community social work

  • Hospital social work

  • Alcohol and substance misuse services

  • Learning disability and learning impairment

  • Physical disability and physical impairment

  • Older persons

  • Neurological conditions

  • Acquired brain injury

  • Autism and ADHD

  • Personality disorders

  • Mental health

  • Dementia

  • Immigration and family reunification

  • Court of Protection work

  • Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards

  • Pre-qualification work with looked-after children

  • Support work with adults

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Services Provided
Neil accepts instructions in the following areas:

  • Mental Capacity Assessments (any decision, with report)

  • COP3 assessments for Deputyship applications (Property and Financial Affairs, and Health and Welfare)

  • Immigration and visa reports (entry clearance, leave to remain, deportation, family reunification, administrative removal, dependent adult, carer to UK citizen)

  • Independent care and support needs assessment reports

  • Financial vulnerability assessments (Lichtenberg method)

  • Independent Best Interest Assessor (DoLS)

  • Lasting Power of Attorney — Certificate Provider and capacity assessments

  • Expert witness reports for courts and tribunals

  • Section 21a challenges

  • SEN assessments (over 18s)

  • Retrospective mental capacity assessments

  • Advocacy

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Legislative Frameworks Applied
Neil's assessments and reports are grounded in the relevant statutory frameworks:

  • Mental Capacity Act 2005

  • Care Act 2014

  • Court of Protection Rules

  • NHS Continuing Healthcare nationally prescribed decision-making process

  • Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) / Mental Capacity Act Deprivation of Liberty

  • Immigration Rules (for immigration assessments)

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Independence
Expert Social Work Assessments has no affiliations or ties to any formal care organisation. Every assessment and report produced by is fully independent. We will not recommend any specific care agency or provider. This independence matters. When a court, solicitor, professional deputy, or family member requires an objective expert opinion, the value of that opinion rests on the assessor having no stake in the outcome. Neil's sole obligation is to the person being assessed and to the accuracy of the report.
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Geographic Reach
Neil conducts in-person assessments across all of England and Wales. Overseas clients are supported by video link, primarily for immigration matters. A postcode is required when requesting a quote, so that travel can be accurately accounted for.
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Contact and Referral
To instruct Neil or to request a quote, use the referral contact form on the Contact page. Initial enquiries are also welcome by phone, email, or text.

A free 30-minute telephone or video consultation is available for anyone who wants to discuss their situation before committing to a formal instruction.

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