Expert Witness

Psychological Services

Christine Tizzard Psychology specialise in providing a comprehensive psychological expert witness service in the areas of family, criminal and private law proceedings.

We cover clinical, forensic and educational disciplines in psychology.

Specifically, the following assessments are undertaken using psychometric testing and diagnostic interview protocol.

Adult Psychological Assessments

Christine Tizzard Psychology provides adult cognitive functioning, emotional and forensic (risk) psychological assessments or a combination of these where required.

We are also pleased to undertake learning disability assessments and capacity to plead assessments.

Child and Adolescent Psychological Assessments

We have a small number of Consultant Chartered Child Psychologists who specialise in the assessment and treatment of children. Assessments include cognitive, emotional and social development depending on the areas required to be assessed e.g., as directed in the letter of instruction.

Family Assessments

Christine Tizzard Psychology provides comprehensive family assessments. This would normally involve the assessment of the family constellation.

This commonly would entail the assessment of the parents, the children and members of the extended family, e.g. grandparents and might typically include the following areas:- Cognitive and emotional assessment of all parties, the observation of contact between parents and children and where appropriate prospective kinship carers. The actual psychological assessment would depend on the questions raised in the letter of instruction received from the lead solicitor.

Areas covered in child and adult assessments within family and criminal law include:-

Attachment assessments
Assessment of parenting skills
Sibling assessments
Cognitive assessment
Educational needs assessment
Child abuse
Family assessment
Forensic risk assessment
Learning disability assessment
Substance abuse
Domestic violence
Placement and treatment needs

Christine Tizzard Psychology is comprised of a team of highly qualified psychologists. All psychological reports are prepared in house. We are not a referral agency.

This also enables us to provide an immediate response to requests from solicitors and barristers (often from court) providing:-

Availability of specific experts (Psychologists and Psychiatrists) and their CV’s
Estimate of costs
Provisional booking of experts
Court availability of experts

All expert witnesses are experienced and practising consultant chartered psychologists who hold full membership with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC), are members of the British Psychological Society, hold personal indemnity insurance and are CRB checked.

Most have completed Bond Solon training and all have many years’ experience in the presenting of evidence to county and family proceedings courts.

Furthermore, we are committed to working within the guidelines set out in the Sussex Expert Assessment Pilot. Although this pilot is operational in Sussex, these are the criteria we adhere to as best practice.

Please phone 01243 775055 or email info@ctpsy.co.uk for an up to date CV of any of our associates.

Psychiatric Assessments

We have a team of consultant psychiatrists who are able to provide psychiatric assessments in family, criminal and private law. All are registered medical practitioners and hold current registration with the GMC.