• March 28, 2024
 Welcoming Back Tim Farmer To The Judging Awards Panel

Welcoming Back Tim Farmer To The Judging Awards Panel

We are delighted that founder and managing director of TSF Consultants, Tim Farmer, is returning to the judging panel for the second upcoming prestigious British Wills and Probate Awards, which is brought to you by Today’s Wills and Probate, alongside headline sponsor, Arken.legal (UK) Ltd, a leader in software solutions for the legal services industry.

In this interview, he talks about what sparked his interest in the area of capacity, what challenges the industry face and how professionals in the Wills and Probate field could improve their service delivery.

Please could you provide us with an overview of your background and your current role?

I am a multi-award winning author and expert witness, specialising in the assessment of mental capacity, and the founder and managing director of the multi-award winning TSF Consultants – the UK’s leaders in the provision of mental capacity assessments to the legal and financial sectors.

I have over 25 years’ experience of working with individuals with reduced mental cognition and a registered mental health nurse. In my role as a nurse, I have worked in a number of varied and exciting areas ranging from the management of Liaison Psychiatry services, community learning disability units and specialist eating disorder to working in high secure units in Bermuda and alongside the aboriginal community teams in Australia.

Everything I do is driven by the belief that everyone has the right to be the best that they can be. In the words of Dr Seuss, “A person is a person, no matter how small”.

What initially sparked your interest in the field of capacity?

By the very nature of what I do, mental capacity has always been a central concept and idea that I have worked with and promoted. I set up TSF Consultants in 2011 because I realised that, at the time, there was no national provision of quality, mental capacity assessments. At that time the average waiting time for a mental capacity assessment was four months. I believed that those individuals who found themselves in crisis due to doubts over capacity deserved better.

How do you think professionals in the Wills and Probate sector could improve their service delivery?

I think that despite all the good work that has been done to protect the vulnerable, there is still more that can be done in identifying those at risk and ensuring the correct support is provided.

As a judge of the British Wills and Probate Awards, what will you be looking for in relation to the entries? What will make them stand out from the rest?

I will be looking for those that ensure the individual remains the centre of the whole process. This will include how the individual is supported, empowered and where necessary protected.

How important do you think it is to recognise outstanding achievement and highlight progression in the sector?

I think it is hugely important. There is so much good practice that goes unrecognised. Over the years there has been a lot of bad press about unscrupulous practitioners, I think it is time we celebrated all the good work that goes on behind the scenes. I also believe that if we promote good practice in this way it is more likely to thrive and provide better outcomes all round.

What do you think is the main key challenges the industry is facing at present?

I don’t think there is any getting away from the issues created by the digital world and the faceless access to goods and services. I know that a lot of those in the industry are alive to potential risks both for their clients and themselves but the issue of how to manage these risks remains open. For me, the real issue is how we assess an individual’s capacity, online and in real time. As a company, this is something we are working hard to address.

The British Wills and Probate Awards will take place on the 17th October at the prestigious Belfry Hotel and Resort in Birmingham, where the array of category winners will be announced and celebrated.

As 276 people are set to attend the exclusive event, sponsoring the awards will provide you with a fantastic opportunity to ensure your company is seen by your professional target audience. If you are looking for an exclusive way to boost your company’s brand exposure and reinforce your reputation click here.

As an alternative, your firm could enhance their exposure within the sector by appearing in the awards brochure, which is handed out to everyone attending the event. Do not miss out on these amazing prospects to showcase your firm.

If you would like more information about the awards, sponsorship and advertisement opportunities please call Josh Hall on 01829 307 505 or email awards@todayswillsandprobate.co.uk.

Tickets for the awards are selling out fast so don’t leave it until the last minute to get an award ceremony seat at this ‘not to be missed’ event. Bookings for this key event are open here where you will find information and pricing for individual tickets and whole tables of twelve.

If you work in this sector, this event should not be missed and be a key date in your diary – what are you waiting for!

Join the Conversation #TBWPAwards

Toni Ryder-McMullin

Toni is the Media Officer for Today’s Conveyancer, Today’s Wills & Probate and Today's Family Lawyer. I worked for a law firm for 16 years, during my time at the firm I worked as a company commercial legal secretary for 7 years but changed careers and moved into marketing for the remaining 9 years – where I covered all aspects of marketing. While in the marketing role, I achieved a CIM Professional Certificate in Marketing and CAM Diploma in Digital Marketing.