CICA Appeal & Review
Expert Witness Reports
Our chambers prepares independent psychiatric and psychological reports for CICA appeals and reviews, addressing the medical merits of a cica appeal decision under CPR Part 35. We accept instructions from solicitors, insurers, and local authority legal teams preparing submissions to the CICA tribunal.
Independent evidence for
cica appeal decisions.
Our chambers prepares expert psychiatric and psychological reports for claimants appealing a cica appeal decision. These reports assess whether the original CICA award correctly reflected the medical evidence under the 2012 Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.
Members of our chambers hold GMC Specialist Register or HCPC registration and provide independent opinions on diagnosis, causation, and prognosis in compliance with CPR Part 35 and the Civil Justice Council’s 2014 Guidance for the Instruction of Experts.
Three stages where a
cica appeal report is critical.
Initial CICA refusal
Our reports address the medical basis for a cica appeal when the original application was refused on psychiatric grounds. We assess whether the CICA decision aligned with clinical evidence under the 2012 Scheme.
Internal review stage
Members of our chambers prepare reports for the internal review process, providing independent evidence to challenge a cica review decision before escalation to the First-tier Tribunal.
First-tier Tribunal
Our experts provide oral and written evidence for CICA tribunal hearings, addressing the medical merits of the cica appeal under CPR Part 35 and Practice Direction 35.
What the report contains,
section by section.
Expert qualifications
GMC Specialist Register or HCPC registration, MRCPsych or BPS Chartered status, and the expert’s experience in CICA appeals and CPR Part 35 compliant reports.
Documents reviewed
Medical records, police reports, original CICA decision, internal review correspondence, and any prior psychiatric or psychological reports submitted to the CICA tribunal.
Clinical assessment
Structured interview, mental state examination, and standardised instruments where clinically indicated, conducted in compliance with CPR 35.3 and Practice Direction 35.
Diagnosis & causation
ICD-11 or DSM-5-TR diagnosis, with reasoned opinion on the link between the index offence and the claimant’s current psychiatric condition, addressing any alternative explanations.
Prognosis & treatment
Expected future course of the condition, recommended treatment, and the likely impact on the claimant’s functional capacity, supporting the quantum case for the cica appeal.
Comparison with CICA decision
Detailed analysis of the original CICA decision, identifying discrepancies between the medical evidence and the CICA tribunal’s findings on psychiatric injury.
Declaration of compliance
Signed declaration under CPR Part 35, confirming the expert’s overriding duty to the court and independence from the instructing party.
How the assessment
is conducted.
Our experts follow a transparent methodology to ensure the report withstands scrutiny in a cica appeal. Each step is documented to meet CPR Part 35 and the Civil Justice Council’s 2014 Guidance.
-
01
Records review
Full review of GP, hospital, mental health, and police records, with material entries identified in the report to support the analysis of the cica appeal decision.
-
02
Clinical interview
Structured, trauma-informed interview conducted in person or via secure video, typically lasting 2–3 hours, with breaks as needed for the claimant’s wellbeing.
-
03
Standardised instruments
Where clinically indicated, instruments such as the PCL-5, IES-R, or PHQ-9 are administered, with rationale and results documented in the report.
-
04
Formulation & opinion
Clinical formulation linking the index offence, pre-morbid baseline, and current presentation, leading to a reasoned opinion on diagnosis, causation, and prognosis.
-
05
Report drafting
Report prepared in compliance with CPR Part 35, Practice Direction 35, and the Civil Justice Council’s 2014 Guidance, with clear signposting of assumptions and evidence used.
Every stage of a
cica appeal or review.
Our chambers accepts instructions for expert reports at all stages of a cica appeal, from initial refusal through to First-tier Tribunal hearings. Reports are prepared in compliance with CPR Part 35 and the 2012 Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.
Questions from
solicitors we work with.
Do your reports comply with CPR Part 35 for a cica appeal?
Yes. Our reports are prepared in strict compliance with CPR Part 35, Practice Direction 35, and the Civil Justice Council’s 2014 Guidance. Each report includes the expert’s declaration of independence and overriding duty to the court under CPR 35.3.
Can your experts address a cica review decision in their report?
Yes. Our experts analyse the original CICA decision and any subsequent cica review decision, identifying discrepancies between the medical evidence and the tribunal’s findings on psychiatric injury.
What qualifications do your experts hold for CICA appeals?
Our consultants are on the GMC Specialist Register or HCPC register, hold MRCPsych or BPS Chartered status, and have experience in preparing reports for CICA tribunal hearings under CPR Part 35.
How quickly can you prepare a report for a cica appeal?
Typically 6–8 weeks from receipt of full records. Expedited reports are available for tribunal deadlines, with turnaround agreed at instruction.
Do you accept instructions for historic abuse cica appeals?
Yes. Our chambers accepts instructions for historic abuse cases, including those where the index offence occurred decades ago. Reports address limitation under the 2012 Scheme and the medical evidence for delayed onset conditions.
Can your experts attend a CICA tribunal hearing?
Yes. Our experts are available to give oral evidence at First-tier Tribunal hearings, in person or via secure video link, in support of a cica appeal decision.
Need an expert for your
cica appeal case?
Send a brief case summary — claimant details, CICA decision date, procedural stage, and any tribunal deadline — and our chambers will confirm expert availability and timescales within one working day.