Gary Spencer-Humphrey is a qualified Independent Social Worker (ISW) / Care Consultant with an adult’s health and care career dating back to 2005. He has undertaken the advanced award in social work (adults) and the specialist award in mental health. Gary is a warranted Approved Mental Health Professional, under the Mental Health Act 1983, a Approved Mental Capacity Professional (formally known as a Best Interest Assessor) under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and is a ASYE Assessor (an assessor for newly qualified social workers).

Gary holds a BSc (Hons) degree in social work, a LL.B (Hons) degree in law and a range of postgraduate and professional qualifications in advanced mental health practice, ethics, counselling, teaching and adult safeguarding. ​He is a skilled jointly trained police/social work investigator and is the holder of the CPD Civil Procedural Rules Expert Witness Certificate administered by Bond Solon.

In 2012, Gary was appointed by the Lord Chancellor to sit on Mental Health Review Tribunal for Wales as a Specialist Lay Member and continues to hear cases under the Mental Health Act 1983. In 2015, Gary set up independent practice (now incorporated into Expert Social Worker Ltd) offering a range of private social care services and advice to those seeking to challenge NHS continuing healthcare.

In 2017, Gary was nominated and won a national social work award for his contribution towards community-based care from the Social Worker of the Year Awards charity. In 2019, Gary was shortlisted for the Lawyer Monthly Expert Award for the category of Social Care – UK.

Gary is regularly instructed in matters relating to mental capacity, the Court of Protection, mental health assessments and NHS continuing healthcare appeals. His clientele is 90% solicitors/law firm and 10% private individuals (references can be provided if required). Gary has occupied a range of practitioner, supervisory and management roles within the health and care profession since 2005, and has held seasonal posts as an academic tutor for a leading distance learning provider since 2012.

He also guest lecturers at Bournemouth University for the nursing and midwifery department. In his spare time, Gary is a charity trustee and judge of the national Social Worker of the Year Awards.

Summary of expertise:

Adult social care / community care.
Care Act 2014.
Mental Health Act 1983 (including alternatives to compulsory treatment under the Act).
Mental Capacity Act 2005.
Positive risk assessments.
Tribunal reporting to the First Tier Tribunal (Mental Health) or the MHRT for Wales as social work expert.
Safeguarding and serious care reviews.
NHS continuing healthcare.
Supervision of healthcare professionals.