Dr Forster provides expert assessment of parents in relation to all aspects of family law, including care proceedings. These assessments range from cognitive assessments to aid in clients accessing court proceedings to full parental risk assessment, including the ability of a parent to protect the child from harm. Issues of mental health, neurodevelopmental disorders and trauma are all frequently integrated into reports, where appropriate. Clear and actionable recommendations are given to aid referrers and court professionals.
Mental Health Assessments
Dr Forster provides bespoke assessments of mental health for a variety of settings, including mental health tribunals. Comprehensive expert opinion on Personality Disorder and mental health-related risk assessments are available. Instructions are accepted from solicitors working on behalf of patients and organisations who are caring for the patient.
Examples of Available Assessments
Whatever the instruction, Dr Forster will employ the most up-to-date and empirically-supported assessment measures so you can be reassured that opinions are supported by evidence. These assessments range from risk of offending (including sexual and intimate partner offending) and
personality disorder to cognitive functioning. In addition to the standardised assessments, Dr Forster will incorporate any relevant case-specific factors to produce individualised and comprehensive reports.
Listed below are Dr Forster’s areas of expertise and the associated assessments commonly employed (if applicable):
- Risk of violence – HCR-20v3
- Risk of sexual violence – RSVP
- Risk of intimate partner violence – SARAv3
- Protective factors for violence – SAPROF
- Assessment of Psychopathy – PCL-R
- Personality Disorder – IDPE or MCMI-IV
- Impact of Autism on risk – FARAS
- General cognitive functioning – WAIS-IV
- General memory functioning – WMS-IV
- Executive functioning – BADS or D-KEFS
- Malingering or deception – TOMM or Paulhus Deception Scale
- Trauma assessment – ACE-IQ, CAPS or THQ
- Parental stress and coping – PSI
- Mental illness (including psychotic disorders) – SCID-5 or PANSS
- Alcohol or drug problems – AUDIT or DAST
- Capacity assessments (including capacity to consent and capacity to litigate)