Can a child psychiatrist also report on a parent's mental health in care proceedings?

Generally no, a parent's mental health needs an adult psychiatrist (or perinatal where mother / baby is in issue). We can arrange a parallel adult assessment alongside the child assessment with a consistent timetable.

Do you accept Single Joint Expert appointments under FPR Part 25?

Yes. Our child consultants are routinely appointed as SJE for both public and private law proceedings.

What's the youngest age you'll assess?

From around age 4 with a developmentally-sensitive approach. Below that, we typically rely on observational and collateral information rather than direct interview.

Do you cover ASD / ADHD differential where the parents are seeking a psychiatric explanation?

Yes, but for a definitive diagnostic neurodevelopmental assessment we may recommend a multi-disciplinary route. The expert will be clear about the limits of a single-day medico-legal assessment.

Can the child be assessed at home?

Sometimes yes, particularly for younger children or those with significant disability. Most assessments are at a clinic or remotely.

How are safeguarding disclosures handled?

Our experts follow GMC guidance: any new safeguarding concern is escalated to the relevant local authority and disclosed in the report.

Family

Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Expert Witnesses

Child and adolescent instructions need an expert who understands developmental presentation, attachment, safeguarding and the legal frameworks specific to minors. We match you to a CAMHS-experienced consultant for care, family, youth justice and paediatric PI work.

Request a child psychiatry expert How it works

Court-compliant under

CPR Part 35 · FPR Part 25 · CrimPR

Turnaround

Standard 1–2 weeks · Urgent 2–5 working days

Signed by

GMC-registered consultant psychiatrist

Fees

Fixed fee agreed up front · Legal Aid prior authority supported

Use this report when…

The case calls for a child psychiatry consultant rather than a generalist
Diagnosis, causation, prognosis or capacity is in issue
A court-compliant report is needed for an upcoming hearing or listing

What to send with your enquiry

You don't need the full bundle to get a quote — a short summary and the items below are enough for us to match an expert and confirm the deadline.

A short case summary (case type, jurisdiction, hearing/listing date)
Letter of instruction or draft questions for the expert
GP and psychiatric records (full set where available)
Witness statements and any prior expert reports
Schedule of loss (civil) or court order granting permission (family/CoP)
Any prior s.12 / Approved Clinician requirements

Expert type

· Consultant child & adolescent psychiatrist (CAMHS)
· Sub-specialists in neurodevelopment & ASD
· Forensic CAMHS for youth justice

Applicable law

· Children Act 1989
· FPR Part 25 (PD25B/C)
· Mental Capacity Act 2005 (16/17 year-olds)
· Sentencing Children & Young People guideline

When needed

· Care proceedings, child or parent psychiatric assessment
· Private law disputes about child arrangements
· Youth Court / Crown Court fitness assessments
· Paediatric PTSD after RTAs and assaults

What this report is for

Children's symptom presentation differs from adults', and developmental context (attachment, school functioning, family dynamics) is central. The Family Court applies the welfare checklist; the Youth Court applies adapted CrimPR. A child & adolescent consultant is trained in both.

What's in the expert's report

Letter of instruction summary and chronology of papers reviewed
Personal, family, social and forensic history
Detailed psychiatric history and treatment to date
Mental state examination at assessment
Diagnosis against ICD-11 / DSM-5-TR with reasoning
Opinion on the legal questions specifically posed
Causation, apportionment and prognosis
Treatment recommendations with indicative cost where requested
Risk and capacity where in issue
Developmental and educational history
Welfare-checklist opinion (in family proceedings)
CPR / FPR / CrimPR declaration and statement of truth

What the expert covers in assessment

Developmental history

Antenatal, birth, milestones, attachment and educational history from records and parent / carer interview.

Child interview

Age-appropriate clinical interview, with carer present at the start where appropriate.

Collateral information

School, CAMHS, social services and contact-centre records, plus carer reports.

Mental state & developmental assessment

Mental state and screening for neurodevelopmental conditions (ASD, ADHD) where the differential is open.

Safeguarding screen

Active screening for safeguarding concerns and statutory reporting obligations.

Welfare opinion

Opinion framed against the welfare checklist and the specific questions posed by the court.

Conditions that may affect this assessment

Anxiety Depression Self-harm PTSD ASD ADHD Conduct disorder Attachment difficulties Early-onset psychosis Eating disorders

How to instruct

Tell us about the case

Brief enquiry: case type, jurisdiction, deadline and any specific requirements (Section 12, female assessor, child & adolescent expertise).

Same day

Expert shortlist

We propose a matched consultant psychiatrist with confirmed availability, fixed fee and indicative turnaround.

Within 24 hours

Assessment

We coordinate the appointment, papers and any pre-reading. Remote or in-person as the case requires.

1–2 weeks

Report delivered

CPR / FPR / CrimPR-compliant report delivered to your inbox. Addendum work, Part 35 questions and joint statements handled directly with the expert.

Within agreed deadline

Suggested instruction wording

"Please prepare a CPR Part 35 / FPR Part 25 / CrimPR-compliant psychiatric expert witness report addressing diagnosis, causation, prognosis, treatment and the specific questions set out below, on the basis of the enclosed records and a single examination of the assessee."

Drop this into your letter of instruction and we'll come back with a matched expert and fixed quote within one working day.

Turnaround & fees

Tier	Time	Notes
Standard	10–14 days from instruction	Standard timescale once papers and assessment are arranged.
Priority	5–10 working days	For approaching trial windows and tribunal listings.
Urgent	2–5 working days	For Crown Court, MHT and tight deadlines where the expert can be cleared immediately.