Services Offered
Single Expert Reports and Family Reports
Comprehensive, independent assessments addressing the questions identified in the referral or Court appointment. The process includes review of relevant documentation, interviews with adults and children, observations where appropriate, evaluation of the principal issues, and preparation of a detailed written report with recommendations. Interviews are generally held in person, and over videoconference as may be appropriate.
Private Child Impact and Child Inclusive Reports
Focused assessments and short report designed to identify the issues affecting a child early in a parenting dispute and provide a clearer understanding of the child’s experiences, relationships and needs. The process includes parent interviews, child interviews or observations, review of initial documentation, and a written report addressing relevant risks and considerations. These reports focus on risk identification and preliminary analysis as is possible within the limited scope of these reports. Considerations and suggestions for direction are included.
Mental health assessments
Mental health assessments may be undertaken where an adult’s psychological functioning is particularly relevant to the questions being considered. Assessments are informed by the available material, clinical interviews, collateral information and the broader family and legal context.
Update and addendum reports
An update or addendum may be prepared when circumstances have changed, further information has become available, or specific issues require additional consideration following an earlier assessment.
Expert evidence
Where required, Louise is available to provide evidence in relation to her reports and to assist the Court by responding to questioning, explaining her assessment, reasoning and recommendations.
Professional supervision and mentoring
Louise provides individual professional consultation and professional supervision for social workers and other practitioners working with children, families, mental health concerns, trauma and complex family circumstances in the context of separation and family law proceedings.
Clinical consultations
Louise offers individual clinical consultations to parents related to their personal concerns, their children, mental health concerns, trauma and complex family circumstances in the context of separation and family law proceedings.
Areas of Expertise
Louise’s principal areas of professional expertise include:
- infants, children and adolescents experiencing parental separation
- parenting arrangements individualised to the development and circumstances of children and families
- child and adolescent mental health and development
- parenting capacity and parent-child relationships
- attachment, reflective functioning and family relationships
- trauma-informed practice
- family violence and its effects on children and parenting
- infant and perinatal mental health
- risk and protective factors within complex family systems
- the intersection of mental health and family law
- forensic mental health assessment.
Enquiries and Referrals
Enquiries are welcome regarding the suitability and scope of an assessment, current availability, anticipated timeframes and fee arrangements.
St James Trust Building
Room 1017, 185 Elizabeth Street
Sydney CBD NSW 2000
Telephone: 0417 817 098
Email: lsalmonprofessional@gmail.com
