Medicolegal Services
Independent psychiatric assessment and expert reporting across criminal, family, civil and Court of Protection proceedings in England and Wales.
Criminal Proceedings
Cliniscape provides independent psychiatric assessment and expert reporting for defendants, claimants and courts in criminal proceedings across England and Wales. Reports are prepared in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Rules (CrPR) and the Criminal Practice Directions, and comply with the duties of an expert witness under Part 19 of the CrPR.
Fitness to Plead and Stand Trial
Assessment of whether a defendant has the cognitive and communicative capacity to understand the charges, instruct counsel, follow proceedings, give evidence and make a plea. Evaluation is conducted against the Pritchard criteria and takes account of any relevant psychiatric diagnosis, intellectual disability or neurodevelopmental condition.
Psychiatric Defences and Criminal Responsibility
Expert opinion on the applicability of psychiatric defences including insanity (M'Naghten Rules), diminished responsibility (Homicide Act 1957, as amended by the Coroners and Justice Act 2009), automatism, and loss of control. Assessment addresses the presence and severity of any qualifying mental disorder and its causal relationship to the alleged offence.
Sentencing Reports and Disposal Recommendations
Pre-sentence psychiatric reports addressing the nature and severity of any mental disorder, its relevance to the offending behaviour, treatment needs, and recommendations for disposal including community treatment orders, hospital orders under sections 37 and 41 of the Mental Health Act 1983, and other disposals available to the court.
Risk Assessment and Management
Structured professional judgement and actuarial risk assessment for violence, self-harm and sexual offending. Assessment of dynamic and static risk factors, protective factors, and recommendations for risk management and treatment. Suitable for parole hearings, Mental Health Tribunal proceedings and MAPPA.
Prison and Secure Setting Assessments
Assessments conducted in custodial and secure settings including prisons, young offender institutions, and medium and high secure hospitals. Experience of working within forensic psychiatric services across NHS and independent sector settings.
Family Proceedings
Cliniscape accepts instructions in private and public law family proceedings, providing independent psychiatric assessment of parents, carers and other parties whose mental health is relevant to the welfare of children. Reports comply with Part 25 of the Family Procedure Rules (FPR) and the associated Practice Direction 25B.
Parental Psychiatric Assessment
Comprehensive assessment of a parent's or carer's mental health, including diagnosis, severity, chronicity, and the impact of any psychiatric condition on their ability to meet a child's physical, emotional and developmental needs. Assessment draws on clinical interview, collateral history, and review of relevant records and documentation.
Capacity to Parent and Engage with Services
Opinion on a parent's capacity to provide consistent, safe and nurturing care, and their ability to engage meaningfully with support services, local authority assessments, and therapeutic interventions. Assessment considers the prognosis of any identified condition and the likely trajectory with and without treatment.
Risk to Children from Parental Mental Illness
Evaluation of the nature and degree of risk posed to a child by a parent's mental disorder, including risk of emotional harm, neglect, exposure to disturbed behaviour, and risk of physical harm in the context of psychotic illness or substance misuse. Assessment is evidence-based and draws on the relevant research literature.
Section 7 and Section 37 Related Assessments
Psychiatric opinion to inform welfare reports under section 7 of the Children Act 1989, and assessments relevant to care proceedings under section 37. Expert input on the psychiatric dimensions of threshold criteria, care planning, and contact arrangements.
Special Guardianship and Adoption Proceedings
Assessment of prospective special guardians and adoptive carers where a psychiatric history is relevant to the suitability assessment. Opinion on the significance of past or current mental health difficulties, treatment history, and current functioning.
Court of Protection
Cliniscape provides expert psychiatric assessment of mental capacity for Court of Protection proceedings and for local authorities, NHS trusts and other public bodies requiring an independent opinion. Assessments are conducted in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the associated Code of Practice.
Mental Capacity Assessments (MCA 2005)
Assessment of capacity to make specific decisions including decisions about residence, care, contact, medical treatment, and financial affairs. The two-stage test under section 2 and section 3 of the MCA 2005 is applied rigorously, with clear distinction between the diagnostic threshold and the functional assessment of decision-making ability.
Best Interests Evaluations
Psychiatric opinion to inform best interests decisions where a person lacks capacity, including assessment of the person's wishes, feelings, values and beliefs, and the likely impact of proposed interventions on their wellbeing. Opinion on the least restrictive option consistent with the person's best interests.
Deprivation of Liberty
Assessment of whether a person is being deprived of their liberty within the meaning of Article 5 ECHR and the MCA 2005, and whether any deprivation is in their best interests. Expert opinion for Court of Protection proceedings under section 21A and for standard authorisations under Schedule A1.
Property and Financial Affairs Capacity
Assessment of capacity to manage property and financial affairs, including capacity to make a will (testamentary capacity), capacity to make gifts, and capacity to enter into contracts. Opinion on the temporal relationship between any identified incapacity and the relevant transaction.
Capacity to Litigate
Assessment of a party's capacity to conduct litigation, including capacity to give instructions to solicitors, understand the nature of proceedings, and make decisions about the conduct of their case. Opinion relevant to the appointment of a litigation friend under CPR Part 21.
Civil Proceedings
Cliniscape provides independent psychiatric assessment and expert reporting for civil litigation matters including clinical negligence, personal injury, employment disputes and other proceedings where psychiatric injury or pre-existing mental health conditions are in issue. Reports comply with CPR Part 35 and Practice Direction 35, and with the Civil Justice Council's Guidance for the Instruction of Experts.
Clinical Negligence Claims
Psychiatric expert opinion in clinical negligence claims where the alleged negligence has caused or contributed to a psychiatric injury, or where a pre-existing psychiatric condition is relevant to causation, condition and prognosis. Assessment of breach of duty, causation, and the extent of psychiatric harm attributable to the alleged negligence.
Personal Injury — Psychiatric Injury
Assessment of psychiatric injury arising from accidents, traumatic events, and other personal injury scenarios. Diagnosis and quantification of conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder, depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, and adjustment disorders. Opinion on causation, prognosis, treatment needs, and the impact of the injury on the claimant's daily life and earning capacity.
Employment and Workplace Disputes
Psychiatric assessment in the context of employment disputes including workplace stress claims, bullying and harassment, constructive dismissal, and discrimination proceedings. Opinion on the nature and severity of any psychiatric injury, its causal relationship to workplace events, and prognosis with and without treatment.
Condition and Prognosis Reporting
Detailed condition and prognosis reports addressing the current psychiatric diagnosis, severity of symptoms, functional impairment, treatment history, response to treatment, and likely future trajectory. Opinion on the extent to which the claimant's current presentation is attributable to the index event as opposed to pre-existing or subsequent factors.
Litigation Capacity Assessments
Assessment of a party's capacity to conduct litigation under CPR Part 21, including capacity to give instructions, understand proceedings, and make decisions about the conduct of their case. Opinion relevant to the appointment of a litigation friend.
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
Cliniscape is an established provider of independent mental health assessments under Schedule A1 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 for local authorities across England. Dr Naclad has completed almost 3,000 DoLS mental health assessments since May 2023, providing a reliable, high-quality and timely service to commissioning authorities.
Schedule A1 Mental Health Assessments
Assessment of whether a person meets the mental health requirement for a standard authorisation under Schedule A1 of the MCA 2005 — that is, whether the person is suffering from a mental disorder within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1983. Assessments are conducted by a Section 12(2) approved doctor as required by the DoLS framework.
Assessment of Mental Disorder
Structured psychiatric assessment to determine whether a qualifying mental disorder is present, its nature and severity, and whether it is of a kind that warrants the deprivation of liberty in the person's best interests. Assessment draws on clinical interview, collateral information, and review of relevant records.
Eligibility and Interface with the Mental Health Act
Assessment of the eligibility requirement under Schedule A1, including the interface between the DoLS framework and the Mental Health Act 1983. Opinion on whether the person is ineligible for a standard authorisation by reason of their status under the MHA, including cases involving conditional discharge and community treatment orders.
Assessments in Care Homes and Hospitals
Assessments conducted in care homes and hospitals across England. Cliniscape provides nationwide coverage for commissioning local authorities, with assessments arranged promptly and reports delivered within agreed timescales.
Nationwide Coverage for Local Authorities
Cliniscape works with local authorities across England, providing a consistent, high-quality mental health assessment service. Instructions are accepted directly from local authority DoLS teams. Queries regarding availability, timescales and fees should be directed to [email protected].
ADHD & Neurodevelopmental
Cliniscape provides specialist assessment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other neurodevelopmental conditions in adults within medicolegal contexts. Dr Naclad holds UKAAN certification in the assessment and pharmacological treatment of adult ADHD, and has experience of neurodevelopmental assessment across criminal, family and civil proceedings.
Adult ADHD Diagnostic Assessment
Comprehensive diagnostic assessment of ADHD in adults using a structured clinical interview, validated rating scales, and review of collateral information including childhood records where available. Assessment addresses the diagnostic criteria under DSM-5 and ICD-11, the severity and pervasiveness of symptoms, and the degree of functional impairment across domains.
ADHD in Criminal and Family Proceedings
Expert opinion on the relevance of ADHD to criminal proceedings, including its relationship to offending behaviour, impulsivity, risk-taking, and response to treatment. Assessment of the impact of ADHD on parenting capacity, emotional regulation, and the ability to engage consistently with support services in family proceedings.
Neurodevelopmental Considerations in Capacity
Assessment of the impact of ADHD and other neurodevelopmental conditions on decision-making capacity, the ability to conduct litigation, and the ability to engage with legal proceedings. Opinion on reasonable adjustments and the need for intermediary support.
UKAAN-Certified Assessment Methodology
Assessments are conducted in accordance with UKAAN (UK Adult ADHD Network) standards for the assessment and diagnosis of adult ADHD, ensuring a rigorous, evidence-based and defensible approach. Dr Naclad holds the UKAAN Certificate in Assessment and Pharmacological Treatment of ADHD.
Treatment Recommendations and Prognosis
Opinion on the treatment options available for ADHD, the likely response to pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, and the prognosis with and without treatment. Assessment of the impact of untreated ADHD on the individual's functioning and the likely trajectory with appropriate management.
Litigants in Person
Cliniscape accepts instructions directly from litigants in person who require independent psychiatric assessment and expert reporting for their own legal proceedings. Individuals who are representing themselves in criminal, family, civil or Court of Protection proceedings may instruct Cliniscape directly, without the involvement of a solicitor.
Direct Instructions Without a Solicitor
Cliniscape is able to accept instructions directly from individuals who are representing themselves in legal proceedings. An initial enquiry should be submitted via the contact form or by email to [email protected], setting out the nature of the proceedings and the opinion sought.
Criminal, Family, Civil and Court of Protection
Direct instructions are accepted across all areas of Cliniscape's practice. The assessment process and the standard of the report produced are identical regardless of whether instructions are received from a solicitor or directly from a litigant in person.
Clear Explanation of the Assessment Process
Cliniscape recognises that litigants in person may be unfamiliar with the medicolegal process. A clear explanation of what the assessment involves, what information will be needed, and how the report will be structured will be provided at the outset.
Reports to the Same Professional Standard
All reports produced by Cliniscape are prepared to the same professional standard and comply with the relevant procedural rules (CPR Part 35, CrPR Part 19, FPR Part 25). The expert's overriding duty is to the court, not to the instructing party.
Guidance on Using the Report in Proceedings
Where helpful, Cliniscape can provide guidance on how to use the expert report in proceedings, including how to disclose the report to the court and other parties, and how to respond to questions or challenges from the other side. This guidance is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice.
Submit a Professional Enquiry
Cliniscape accepts medicolegal instructions from solicitors, courts, public bodies and litigants in person. Initial enquiries are acknowledged within one working day.