Family

As a company we have prepared over one thousand reports for the family courts and we also have extensive experience of giving evidence in court. We aim to provide comprehensive, focused and evidenced based reports that are clear and accessible. Parsons Dowd can undertake individual risk based assessments or with our family therapist systemic whole family assessments. Parsons Dowd can address a wide range of areas including:

• Assessments of ability to provide "good enough" parenting including assessment of intellectual functioning and the impact of this on caring
• Sex offender risk assessment within a family context
• Violent behaviour risk assessment in a family context
• Ability of a partner to protect children from a violent, sexually abusive or emotionally abusive person
• Risk assessment of carers
• Whole family assessments in order to establish the dynamics of a family, for example, in the context of disputes or where a child is demonstrating behavioural difficulties
• Parenting assessment including risk assessment of physical and sexual abuse, violence (including domestic violence) and partners' ability to protect
• Assessment of capacity as defined by the Mental Capacity Act 2005 particularly in cases of sensory impaired clients
• Psychological aspects of child physical, emotional and sexual abuse
• Attachment theory and relevance to parental behaviour
• Substance abuse and dependence in a forensic context. Effect of substance misuse and dependence upon parenting abilities
• Psychological effects of matrimonial / relationship breakdown and abusive relationships