Choosing the right Expert

Choosing the right Expert for your client’s assessment or treatment can be a very difficult business.  When looking for an Expert Psychologist is it important to ensure that they are suitable qualified to undertake the task in question.  Examples of criteria for validating the competence of a Psychology Expert may include:

- Relevant graduate and post-graduate qualifications specific to the case in question

- Several years of relevant professional experience after initial qualification

- Articles having been published in recognised journals or publications relevant to the issues in hand

- Recent professional experience in the specialist area required for the case

At Psychology Direct we like to have as much information as possible about the client and the issues surrounding the case so that we can make sure we select the most appropriate experts for you.

Here is a guide to the information that experts may find helpful when you are discussing a potential case with them:

1. A name or reference for the case so we all know who/what we are talking about

2. The client’s age or DOB as some psychologists and psychometric tests only work within certain age ranges.

3. The client’s location as we always aim to locate a suitable expert as close to your client as possible.

4. The nature of the case e.g. Care or Criminal Proceedings in the Courts, Rehabilitation following an accident, Educational Assessment for exam concessions, Return to Work assessment of an employee

5. A brief history of the case e.g. Client X was involved in an RTA 6 months ago.  They sustained minor physical injuries but now suffers from travel anxiety.

6. Details of any previous professional assessments that the expert may need to be aware of or refer to.  This is particularly important when psychometric testing is involved as some tests cannot be repeated within a certain timeframe.

7. Confirmation of any background documents (bundle in legal settings) that the expert may need to read e.g. Witness statements, Immediate Needs Assessments, School reports, Line Manager or Human Resources reports.

8. Any deadlines that need to be met e.g. Court dates.

If you can provide as much of this information as possible you should find that the expert is more able to gauge if they are a suitable professional for the case.  They should also be able to confirm more accurate costings and timescales to avoid nasty surprises down the line.