Testimonials

 I would happily use Dr Churchman again for a psychological risk assessment. My client department were also impressed by her work

Legal Services, London Local Authority

We are very pleased with the expertise provided by Dr Dowsett in the course of one of our cases. Psychology Experts were extremely helpful and attentive to our needs, from dealing with our initial enquiry courteously to the prompt delivery of the final report. We would have no hesitation in returning to Psychology Experts for future expert instructions

Solicitor, Crane and Staples Solicitors

Many thanks for your offices assistance and that of Dr Desautels. The LA was most assisted by his work

Lynne Braby-Pavitt, Principal Barrister, Essex County Council

Dr Marion Bates produced a well constructed report with a very good analysis.  I would recommend her to other solicitors.  

Solicitor, Thurrock County Council

My client department found Dr Treisman’s report challenging and helpful as to the future planning for this young person…Dr Treisman was thorough in her preparation and prepared her report earlier than she was requested to - which again assisted enormously

Clare Fairlie, Senior Legal Officer

Dr Sarah Tonks was very clear and concise response to the questions and saved considerable time that would otherwise have been wasted in oral evidence

Legal Officer, Bristol County Council

Dr Derry’s analysis of the mother was extremely insightful and accurate and in fact, many of his predictions have already transpired by the time of this hearing

Judgement, Brighton Family Court

local-authority

Local Authorities

Children are at the heart of everything we do

Parents, Children and Family Assessments

Psychology Experts are specialists in child and family assessments. We recognise that family difficulties arise from the complex interplay between psychological, relationship, family and social difficulties. Through an in-depth understanding of attachment, child development, psychological pathology and family systems, we can offer a clear picture of how individual and parental behaviours function within families. We also consider the strengths, both within the individual and their families to offer clear guidance for the Courts.

  • Assessments of parents and children of all ages and at all stages of the child protection pathway
  • Global family assessments with a focus on  clear intervention strategies to enhance the families strengths and reduce the risk of harm to children
  • Attachment-based parenting assessments that give a clear picture of the transgenerational cycle of difficulties within families stemming from a parent’s own childhood experiences
  • Evidence-based assessments where there is an identified forensic risk of harm to children in families
  • Assessments of parental protectiveness where there is abuse within a family and the capacity of a protective parent to make meaningful changes
  • Diagnostic assessments of the factors contributing to parenting difficulties including adult mental health, personality and substance misuse problems

 

Adoption and Foster Care

As a team of psychologists, we have the training and experience to understand why placements break down.  We use evidence-based assessments of attachment, trauma and parenting to understand how separation in early childhood can affect a child’s ability to form trusting and secure relationships later on. We offer:

  • Attachment-based parenting assessments to understand the difficulties in a child’s placement
  • Diagnostic assessments to help looked after children get the right intervention in the right timescales
  • Attachment-based parenting assessments to understand the difficulties in a child’s placement
  • Diagnostic assessments to help looked after children get the right intervention in the right timescales
  • Parenting interventions for carers to offer looked after children a corrective experience of attachment relationships
  • Interventions to address the carers own attachment and mental health difficulties that can impact on their relationship with the child
  • Educational assessments to understand a looked after child’s learning needs

Early Assessment for Change

Psychological intervention to assess a family’s capacity for change.

Early Assessment for Change is a model of psychological assessment and intervention that begins at the outset of the child protection pathway. It has been developed in response to the changes in the family justice system and proposed statutory guidance for Local Authorities (April, 2014).

Why use Early Assessment for change?

  • This framework uses evidence-based assessments to clearly identify the core psychological difficulties underlying parental risk and preventing change
  • We work with the family to agree goals and set expectations about a family’s engagement
  • We engage the family in risk-focused short-term psychological interventions to address the root concerns within a family
  • We offer the court a clear assessment of a family’s actual ability to change rather than speculation about whether a family can change
  • It avoids unnecessary and traumatic court proceedings for children and families who have the potential to change
  • We provide timely independent psychological reports based on treatment outcomes, reducing the time that cases can proceed to court

Parenting Interventions

Our consultation model of intervention identifies clear, achievable goals for families in difficulty and develops their motivation to address a wide range of problems including early experiences of trauma, beliefs and attitudes to parenting, issues within the parental relationship, attachment difficulties and protectiveness.

  • Assessments of parents and children of all ages and at all stages of the child protection pathway
  • Global family assessments with a focus on  clear intervention strategies to enhance the families strengths and reduce the risk of harm to children
  • Attachment-based parenting assessments that give a clear picture of the transgenerational cycle of difficulties within families stemming from a parent’s own childhood experiences
  • Evidence-based assessments where there is an identified forensic risk of harm to children in families
  • Assessments of parental protectiveness where there is abuse within a family and the capacity of a protective parent to make meaningful changes
  • Diagnostic assessments of the factors contributing to parenting difficulties including adult mental health, personality and substance misuse problems.

Make a referral

Call us on 01273 381468 or email us at [email protected] or complete our referral form.