Ms. Justine Fawcett

Justine Fawcett qualified in 1991 from the University of Ripon & York St. John, York. In 1996 she graduated through Wolverhampton University with an Honours Degree in Health Studies. She worked independently through Veronica Downing Associates for 20 years, setting up her own company, Waveney Medico-Legal Services in September 2022.

Justine has worked as an independent Occupational Therapist and Expert Witness, preparing rehabilitation costing reports in personal injury and medical negligence cases for adults and children. Specialising in acquired brain injury and complex disability, she has extensive OT/Care Expert Witness experience in the areas of orthopaedic injuries, amputation, upper limb and hand injury, cerebral palsy, visual impairment, cauda equina syndrome, and various medical conditions such as TB, bowel disease and stoma care.

She has over 30 years clinical experience, specialising in the field of acquired brain injury, but also rehabilitation of people with complex and multiple injuries, including orthopaedic, burns and hand injuries, amputation, elderly and medical conditions. Her work has involved care assessments, the assessment and provision of equipment and home adaptations, hand therapy, cognitive rehabilitation, rehabilitation for visual impairment, ADL and community rehabilitation, discharge planning, vocational rehabilitation and work place assessments. As a mother of three children she is knowledgeable on the subject of parenting.

Justine has over 20 years Expert Witness experience in the areas of Care and Occupational Therapy. Covering all aspects of Occupational Therapy including independence, equipment, care and services, housing needs and rehabilitation. Specialising in complexity; objectively analysing each case with tailored recommendations. Justine has Court experience and her current split of work is claimant 50%, defendant 50%.

Justine highlights that she is not a Case Manager, but is an OT who works clinically and assesses for the care needed by her clients,  advising Case Managers or Social Care on the client's needs. She works with Case Managers and  clients who have care packages which could be small or large depending on the complexity of the case. Mostly of the clients she deals with the care comes from agencies of various types, less often directly employed. She uses her clinical knowledge and detailed analysis to assess care needs, and research to look at local rates from providers; job searches for pay rates if direct employment is used or sometimes a care package is already in place. Her strength as a Care Expert is her objectivity, clinical analysis of need, and ability to widely research possibilities to meet this care, as rates across the UK vary widely. 

Expert Witness Accreditation from Cardiff University, passing Bond Solon Expert Witness training courses in Report Writing, Courtroom Skills, Cross Examination, and Law and Procedure

Registered with the Health Professions Council Reg No OT19810, Member of the British Association of Occupational Therapists (BAOT No BT0201217), RCOT Specialist Section Independent Practice - Member, and Medico-legal Forum lead from March 2023, RCOT Specialist Section Neurological Practice - Member