Psychological
Solutions To Transform Lives
We work with individuals, organisations, public services and the courts to provide evidence-based psychological solutions that help people to live better.
Our team of therapists and Clinical Psychologists are led by Consultant Clinical Psychologist Dr Maria Downs. Dr Downs founded M Downs and Associates in 2012, and since then the company has gained a reputation for uncompromising quality in the delivery of therapy, reports, education and assessments.
Court Reports
Our comprehensive Medico-legal Reports are produced by Psychologists for court proceedings and tribunals.
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Through a combination of psychometric testing, clinical interviews and document analysis, the Psychologist will use their expertise to produce evidence based recommendations and answer any questions put to them.
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​We are instructed by solicitors, guardians, social workers and individuals and can provide assessments of adults, children and families.
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​​Our Experts
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​Our expert witness Psychologists have been selected due to their expertise in their respective fields of Psychology.
All our psychologists are chartered with the British Psychological Society, fully insured, supervised and DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) checked.
Court Reports
FAQ's
Do you provide Cognitive and Capacity Assessments? Yes. We provide Cognitive assessments on their own or with a Capacity assessment. Our fees are in line with the rates set by the Legal Aid Agency (LAA). Our timescales for Cognitive and Capacity Assessments are generally two weeks from instruction.
Which locations do you cover? Our offices are based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire but we cover other areas, including the West Midlands, North West, North Wales, London, and the North East. We are expanding our locations regularly and have experts available to travel, so please do get in touch to enquire.
Do your costs reflect the rates set by the Legal Aid Agency (LAA)? Yes. We provide court reports at Legal Aid rates.
How do I enquire about a psychological report? Please email us at info@mdownsandassociates.co.uk or call us on 01143035053 to discuss. We will then advise if this is something we can provide, along with detailed cost estimates, timescales and the CV's of the recommended expert(s).
Do you assess non-English speakers? We have experts available who are experienced at providing assessments with the assistance of an interpreter. Please mention if an interpreter is required when sending an enquiry, as the interview element of the assessment will require additional time. We will provide a breakdown of hours and a cost estimate that takes this into consideration.
Do you provide court reports for the family courts? Yes. We offer psychological reports in both public and private law proceedings, and are also able to act in pre-proceedings. We have experts available who assess adults, young adults/adolescents and children.
What other areas of law do you cover? We provide psychological reports for the following areas of law; Criminal Law Immigration Family Law Personal Injury Professional and Medical Negligence
What are the timescales for providing a psychological report? We understand that lengthy timescales can delay court proceedings, and we are constantly striving to balance demand for our services with providing efficient turnarounds. While our timescales vary according to the expert, our team is growing and we are better able to meet that demand in a timely way. Cognitive and capacity assessments generally operate on a two week turnaround. Other timescales are available on request.
Are psychological assessments online or face to face? Psychological assessments are always conducted in person.
Do you assess parental alienation? Yes. We are able to provide psychological reports in cases where there is an allegation of parental alienation. An expert will explore whether emotional and psychological harm are being caused to a child/children, in order to help inform the court.