In the complex world of immigration law, where vulnerability, trauma, and legal thresholds intersect, credible expert evidence can be the deciding factor in a case’s outcome. At AACA, we are proud to offer Independent Social Workers (ISWs) who are not only seasoned practitioners but also trusted voices in the courtroom. For solicitors handling sensitive immigration cases, our experts offer more than just reports. They provide clarity, authority, and confidence under cross-examination.
Why Legal Professionals Trust AACA
All of our ISWs bring a minimum of eight years post-qualifying experience, with extensive knowledge of adult safeguarding, mental capacity law, trauma-informed assessment, and immigration frameworks. Their expertise is not limited to fieldwork. They are equipped to navigate the demands of formal legal proceedings, particularly in high-stakes immigration matters where every piece of testimony must stand up to scrutiny.
Our reports are fully compliant with Practice Direction 35 (Experts and Assessors) and Practice Direction 10 (Expert Evidence in the Immigration & Asylum Chamber), ensuring their admissibility and relevance in court. But it’s the integrity and preparation behind the report that sets our panel apart.
Confidence in the Courtroom
When our ISWs give evidence, whether in person or remotely, they do so with preparation, professionalism, and poise. We work closely with legal teams in advance of the hearing to ensure our experts:
- Understand the structure, schedule, and technical setup of the proceedings.
- Are briefed on likely lines of questioning and areas of challenge.
- Have reviewed their reports in detail, ensuring consistency in oral and written evidence.
- Are supported in managing emotional or adversarial interactions, especially if cross-examined by vulnerable parties or family members.
This preparation allows our ISWs to remain composed, grounded and fact-based, even when handling the emotionally charged realities of asylum, removal, or human rights-related applications.
Real-World Relevance, International Insight
Many of the individuals we support face life-changing decisions relating to Article 8 rights, deprivation of liberty, or long-term safeguarding concerns. Our ISWs bring genuine international insight, having worked in or reported on conditions in the Global South, refugee settings, and areas impacted by conflict or systemic injustice.
Their experience enables them to provide courts with not just clinical assessments but also contextualised, culturally aware insights that are often critical to fair decision-making. Whether advising on family reunification, unaccompanied minors, or adult asylum seekers with significant health concerns, our team delivers ethical, robust, and legally sound reports.
Tailored Support for Solicitors
We understand that your client’s needs are urgent, time-sensitive, and often come with tight legal deadlines. That’s why we:
- Provides clear timescales and efficient turnaround on assessments and availability.
- Offers court-ready professionals who understand the pressures of immigration hearings.
- Delivers evidence-based reports that are structured, referenced, and legally compliant.
We regularly support cases involving:
- Failed asylum applications
- Human rights claims under Article 8
- Age-disputed individuals requiring Merton-compliant assessments
- Capacity and best interests decisions in cross-border care or removal cases
Let’s Work Together
Whether you need an expert to speak to a judge about the impact of removal on a vulnerable adult or require a social circumstances report to support an appeal, AACA is here to help.
Our team is collaborative, highly experienced, and ready to step into your case with professionalism and purpose.
