Psychologist expert witnesses undertaking remote psychological assessments
This guidance is to assist psychologists who work as expert witnesses and are conducting remote psychological assessments within the civil, family and criminal judicial system.
05 August 2020
BPS GuidanceFor courts in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Social distancing restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in significant changes to working practices for psychologists acting as expert witnesses working within the judicial system across England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
As a consequence of travel restrictions arising out of COVID-19, the use of remote psychological assessments is being recognised as an acceptable method of assessment and has been sanctioned as such by HM Courts & Tribunal Service.
For practitioners working within the judicial system, it has been acknowledged that the reality is remote hearings for the foreseeable future, and by implication, remote psychological assessments within judicial proceedings will likely become the norm.
The British Psychological Society has published guidelines for Psychological Assessments Undertaken Remotely for UK practitioner psychologists conducting psychological assessments of individuals under the specific restrictions in practice which are in place during the Covid-19 pandemic.