Spotlight On An Expert: Joanne Gorman, Midwifery Expert

I’d always been fascinated by pregnancy and childbirth as a young person and wondered if I could be a midwife. However, I lost my confidence and applied for Sociology and Social Policy at university instead. I really enjoyed my degree and following my graduation, I worked in social housing and then as a family support worker, supporting young people leaving care for Warwickshire social services.

A number of the young people I worked with were pregnant and I accompanied them to their midwifery appointments and scans. I realised then that I definitely wanted to be a midwife. So, I applied and was horrified to learn that there were 24 places and over 200 applicants. The closing date was still months away. I was very disheartened, but then delighted to be told that I had an unconditional offer, so I returned to university. I graduated as a midwife in 2008.

I started work at the Trust I trained in and focused on high-risk intrapartum care, maternity triage care and high-risk ante and postnatal care. I was the equality diversity and inclusion lead midwife, and I also attempted a secondment in the clinical governance team. However, I soon realised that clinical care was where my heart was. Twenty years after witnessing my first birth, it’s still a privilege to do so and I still share in the excitement and joy of new life.

As much as I loved my profession, I did feel that I was ready for a new challenge. I was asked to attend a case conference at my Trust as a witness. This triggered my interest in expert witness work. I googled it and Somek came up so I applied and was told that my details would be held on file. I assumed that was the end of my journey…

A few months later, in early 2022, I was contacted and asked to start the recruitment process. I was working permanent nights at this time as I have two young boys, so I had lots of free time in the week. I was shocked and delighted to be successful in the recruitment process. I then started receiving instructions and absolutely relished the mental challenge and doing something new for the first time in 14 years alongside my clinical work.

My associate trainer, Julia, was absolutely amazing with her feedback and support, and I began to take on Early Notification Scheme (ENS) cases. This is where a big part of my caseload comes from and I quickly progressed to a level 4 expert due to Julia’s support and the sheer volume of cases I was instructed on!!!

I then felt that I was ready for another new challenge, so I applied for the Associate Trainer role in May 2025 and was successful. I commenced this role on a part time basis in September 2025. It was a big decision to end my substantive NHS contract at the Trust I’d been part of for 20 years (including my training) but I have no regrets! I’ve returned as a bank Midwife and work regular shifts on the labour ward and in the maternity triage, so I have the best of both worlds now.

Being an Associate Trainer is another huge learning curve, and I am thoroughly enjoying the new challenge. It’s so rewarding to offer support to newer experts and I’m excited to see them develop throughout their own journeys as expert witnesses. I will be proud to support them and to see them thrive and grow in confidence. It has been so interesting to read reports from other disciplines, and I have learned so much about other professions and practices already.

Everyone has been so welcoming and helpful and I’m slowly overcoming my IT phobia!

Author; Joanne Gorman, Associate Trainer & Midwifery Expert Witness