Civil

An established provider of medico-legal assessments, Psychology Associates assures high standards of clinical practice, objectivity, and reliable expert witness resources.

Psychology Associates has a strong record of providing Expert Witness reports in cases of Personal Injury (PI) and civil law. Our broad experience, and access to Psychologists specialising across the lifespan, enables us to provide an expert psychologist whatever the nature of the case. We have provided experts for claimants and defendants, as well as single joint experts, with the quality of our work founded upon clear commitment to clinical objectivity. Psychology Associates can offer assessment across a range of legal instructions, from small value claims through to cases of catastrophic injury. Additionally we provide assessment across the field of civil law, from Mental Capacity assessment to tribunals.

We ensure that all Associates working in the field of civil law receive robust and effective supervision, and all written reports are reviewed by a Consultant Associate before filing. We maintain a strong emphasis on Continuing Professional Development to ensure that we deliver authoritative reports based on best practice. Associates receive training specific to the role of being an expert witness, including report-writing protocols, and the professional skills required to give evidence in court.

Psychology Associates has introduced a fixed pricing structure for Personal Injury assessments, giving clarity of anticipated report content from the outset. Additionally, the nature of some claims requires a particularly sophisticated response to referral questions (such as in the case of severe head injury and neuro-disability). In such cases we are able to provide bespoke assessments in order to meet best the needs of the referral question. Our fixed structure reflects the following tiers:

• Tier 1: Paper Review to advise on need for Psychological Assessment

• Tier 2: Assessment for Therapy

  A short assessment to identify client’s capacity to benefit from psychology input and to develop a treatment rationale.

• Tier 3: Standard Psychology Report

  A concise, evidenced, and clinically/legally valid report, focusing on presenting issues, with brief review of background factors.

• Tier 4: Comprehensive Medico-Legal Psychology Report

  A ‘gold standard’ level report detailing extensive psychometric evidence, the influence of background factors and maintaining variables, indication of consistency of presentation with psychiatric diagnoses, robust clinical psychology formulation, and psychological prognosis.

• Tier 5: Clinical Neuropsychology Report

  Employing an extensive assessment of cognitive functioning in addition to the content of a Tier 4 report.

Psychology Associates maintains a consistently high standard of clinical evidence, formulation, and opinion in the area Civil Law and Personal Injury. We believe this sets us apart, offering services that are respectful to the client, and deliver well evidenced responses to questions at issue. Our breadth of expertise means that we can also, where appropriate, provide therapeutic interventions in Personal Injury cases.