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Operating out of the North West of England, CM Medico-legal offers comprehensive assessment of neurodevelopmental disorders and specialist medico-legal assessment. Neurodevelopmental disorders include Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Learning Disability.
The service works with children, young people and adults. Dr. Mockett is able to commence and monitor medication in private practice with a view to shared care with registered GP.
Autism is a life long developmental disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world. More than one in 100 people are on the autism spectrum and there are around 700,000autistic adults and children in the UK” (National Autistic Society, 2023).
CM Medico-legal offers comprehensive assessment of social communication difficulties, in-line with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines. We offer assessment across the life-span.
ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; a complex brain disorder….ADHD is a developmental impairment of the brains executive functions, people with ADHD have trouble with impulse control, focusing and organisation” (ADDitude, 2023).
CM-Medicolegal offers child and adult assessment of ADHD. All assessment is in-line with clinical guidelines (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, NICE).
We provide specialist legal assessments for the children and young people predominantly with nuerodevelopmental conditions search as learning disability, ADHD and ASD. This type of work can include forensic assessments, specialist litigation, negligence claims and capacity assessments. Some of this work is undertaken in adults within our specialist expertise.
Dr Mockett speaks nationally and internationally on Neurodevelopmental Disorders at many academic and educational conferences.
Topics include ADHD & ASD, ADHD & Learning Disability & the assessment and treatment of ADHD, ASD and
Learning Disability.
Conference and educational speaking both in person and online can be arranged via CM Medicolegal. Please contact us to discuss options and speaking engagement fees.
(MBBS FRCPsych MSc PGCE)
Dr Mockett is BUPA registered.
Dr Mockett can also be found on the BUPA consultant finder website. CM Medico-legal primarily work work self-funding families and individuals.
Dr Mockett is BUPA registered.
Dr Mockett can also be found on the BUPA consultant finder website. CM Medico-legal primarily work work self-funding families and individuals.
The majority of appointments are online. Assessments of very young children or for people with specific needs are undertaken at Hilton House.
Each individual clinic and individual clinician in the NHS tend to set their own criteria. Our assessments are based in NICE (National Institute of Clinical Excellence) guidelines for assessments of ADHD and ASD, conducted using NHS staff and mirror our NHS practice.
Our service is led by GMC registered Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Dr Mischa Mockett. Dr Mockett commenced working as a NHS consultant in 2006 and is currently working at the Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation trust. He is indemnified by the MDU.
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ASD Assessment
CM Medico-legal conduct a comprehensive, collaborative assessment of young people and adults (all ages) with social communication difficulties. This assessment is in line with the National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidelines on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
Components of an Assessment
An assessment of social communication is based around a multi-agency format. Information is gathered from different sources before a formulation or diagnosis can be made. In addition to this a variety of standardised tools can be administered to aid the assessment process. We also involve other professionals such as psychologists and nurses and seek their opinions.
Sources of Information
A clinical history will be taken in conjunction with a developmental history. This is taken from the adult, parent, or main care giver. Additional history is obtained from the child’s educational placement or an adult who knows you well. This is in the form of a standardised report and a questionnaire but can require a school observation.
Standardised Assessment Tools
The tools we use include:
-Autism Mental Status Examination- This is an observational assessment conducted
by the examiner.
-Social Responsiveness Scales-These are questionnaires completed by parents, educational worker. In the case of adults both themselves and an adult who knows them well.
-Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule- This is an assessment administered by the examiner and observed by a member of the team.
Completion of the Assessment
On completion of the assessment we will hold a feedback meeting where the clinical findings will be discussed. You will then be provided with a copy of the report, and this can be shared with professionals involved with your child or as an adult.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders
Dr Mockett is an expert in ADHD assessment and treatment and speaks nationally on the subject. His special interest is in ADHD combined with other neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD and Intellectual Disability. He has extensive experience in assessing and treating ADHD in girls and women. This assessment is in line with the National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidelines on ADHD.
The assessment is a collaborative approach examining the child or adult’s strengths and difficulties. It includes a full psychiatric history.
Standardised tests involved include:
-ADHD Rating Scale-IV (for under 18s)
-SNAP long and short versions (for under 18s)
-Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale-IV
-Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in adults (DIVA)
-Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in adults with Intellectual Disability (DIVA-ID)
Assessment takes place in liaison with the child’s school.
A variety of up-to-date treatment modalities and recommendations are made in a final report and feedback session.
Assessment
Choosing CM Medico-legal means a comprehensive, collaborative assessment. There are multiple types of assessment that vary according to individual need:
Forensic Assessment
Forensic assessment considers risk and the young person’s psychiatric well-being (i.e. the presence of ADHD, ASD, Psychosis, Mood Disorder, Conduct Disorder). Specifically, it considers the risk that an individual poses to their own well being and that of others so that opinion can be given about the relationship between the individual’s mental health and the risk of future offending behaviour. Dr Mockett has significant court room experience.
This type of assessment can influence:
– Fitness to Plead decisions
If a young person has been charged with a crime, however, there are known or potential pre-existing mental health problem(s) a forensic assessment can help to establish whether the young person has capacity to stand trial.
– Sentencing decisions
Forensic assessment might also inform a courts sentencing decision; in some circumstances presence of mental health problems at the time of the offence can be a mitigating factor.
Medical Legal Assessment
This form of assessment can be required during the process of civil litigation including complex clinical negligence. Medico-legal assessments can influence decisions such as the amount of financial compensation that is awarded. Dr Mockett accepts a limited number of complex high value cases. He is an expert in the relationship between trauma for example birth trauma and neurodevelopmental conditions. Dr Mockett is highly experienced in attending court and giving evidence as well as experience in the preparation of joint expert statements. He completes desk top reports for NHS resolution services. Dr Mockett has expertise in the link between psychological distress and trauma in people with Neurodevelopmental conditions such as ASD and Intellectual Disability.
