We have been a specialist provider of forensic risk services for over 20 years and use our genuinely multi-disciplinary teams to promote the welfare of children and assist and support frontline practitioners and managers to make the best decisions in cases of complex abuse.

Our extensively trained team of Expert Witness social workers and forensic risk experts recognise that abusers are not a homogeneous population group and fall within a range of offence typologies and risk parameters. They have a broad range of specialist skills and experience to advise, assess and intervene.

All assessments include a written report by our experienced and highly trained experts.

Our Forensic Risk Assessment Services

Our experts and multi-disciplinary teams can carry out a broad range of independent assessments. Forensic risk assessments use a range of formalised empirically recognised appraisal tools to aid investigative, predictive and clinical judgement.

We engage in the following assessments:

• Forensic evaluation and risk assessments on male and female clients convicted of a sexual offence
• Psychometric assessments
• Fitness to Plead assessments
• Opinion in family reconstruction viability cases
• Environmental risk and safety analyses of community, family and organisational settings
• Structured risk and needs assessments for children and young people who have sexually harmed others

Similarly, we advise on those sexual risk behaviours which may not reach a threshold to convict but may suggest deviant sexual interests, thus potentially posing a risk to children and other vulnerable individuals.

Expert Advice

WillisPalmer advises and works alongside practitioners to design intervention strategies for engaging clients and where applicable, relevant others. This may include interventions to progress contact/rehabilitation plans and restorative processes.

Such work will often include a need for protective behaviour/risk awareness interventions with partners/others in the family system to promote assertive communication and safe permissible boundaries before any rehabilitation process commences.

We can also provide educational sessions with partners/family members of the person being assessed to provide them with information such as what signs to look out for in a potential abuser or someone with a history of offending.

When Are Forensic Risk Assessments Beneficial?

Our forensic risk assessments are suitable in the context of public or private law proceedings; with convicted or alleged perpetrators; or with professionals about whom there may be a concern.

Our experts can assess:

• Individuals identified as significant risk and who require intensive case management monitoring
• People who have been diagnosed with learning difficulty or mental health problem
• Individuals residing in residential care, educational establishments or substitute family environments
• Children at risk of or who have experienced intra-and/or-extra-familial sexual abuse
• Individuals who have historic convictions
• Those who have had uncorroborated allegations of sexual abuse made against them
• Children and young people who have engaged in sexually harmful or offending behaviours
• Females who have sexually offended
• Children or young people who have experienced internet-based offences, such as grooming.

Process

Enquiries can be made to WillisPalmer on 01206 878178 or email enquiry@WillisPalmer.com.

Please tell us which assessment is required, who is to be assessed, the location, and any background information you believe will be helpful. For forensic risk assessments, this tends to be details of convictions or allegations, police records, information regarding anyone else involved, such as a new partner and his/her capacity to protect any child involved.

We will provide you with the CVs of suitable experts, fees and timescales. We endeavour to respond within the hour and certainly on the same working day.

Our experts are available to begin immediately upon receipt of a letter of instruction.

Quality assurance

WillisPalmer has a team of Consultant Social Workers and Forensic Risk Experts to quality assure all reports before they are filed with the instructing party. The team have significant experience in both undertaking specialist reports and managing the quality of reports over many years. Read more about our QA process.

Why choose WillisPalmer?

• Our experts are highly experienced, knowledgeable and have a broad range of expertise in abuse risk factors
• All reports are quality assured by a WillisPalmer independent forensic risk expert
• Dedicated case handler to ensure the highest standards of professionalism
• GDPR compliance and secure IT infrastructure
• Professional Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance
• Entirely independent organisation specialising in multi-disciplinary services
• We work with a wide range of local authorities, solicitors and independent organisations