Opus Psychology

Dr Mike Drayton is an accredited Expert Witness (Cardiff University Law School/Bond Solon).

My main area of work is within the family Courts although I do prepare reports on cases that interest me for the Civil Courts (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and Employment Tribunals.

My main area of interest is personality disorder, intellectual impairment, and its impact on famililies and parenting ability.

Here is how I can help you... 

THE FAMILY COURTS:

• This includes an assessment of cognitive functioning (using WAIS III) and psychometric evaluation of personality (MMPI 2 or MCMI III)and  a risk assessment.
  
  

• My reports are written in plain English and contain practical advice on how professional can maximise the persons ability to parent.

Please click here, to read what Lord Justice Thorpe, Court of Appeal
March 2007 said about one of my reports.

• This includes an assessment of cognitive functioning (using WAIS III)

• Again my reports are written in plain English and (if necessary) contain practical advice for the Court on how to maximise the person's ability to understand and actively participate in the hearing.

THE CIVIL COURTS:

• Assessment of psychological effects of trauma for both Claimant and Defendant.
  
  
  

EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNALS:

• I have prepared many Psychological Reports for Employment Tribunals. I have a particular interest in: workplace bullying, destructive individuals in the organization ('white collar psychopaths') and organizational politics/conflict. 

Dr Mike Drayton

AFBPsS CPsychol FRSM ClinPsyD CUEW BSc Hons
Consultant Clinical Psychologist

I have been working as an independent expert witness since 1997. I have experience of Care matters, criminal and civil cases.  I have been accredited as an expert witness by Cardiff University Law School.

My principle area of clinical interest is personality disorder psychological trauma. In particular, how personality impacts on the ability to care for children.  I have prepared many reports for and given oral evidence in care proceedings. I also have expertise in post-traumatic stress disorder and personal injury. I have an interest in employment related stress and have given evidence at the Birmingham Employment Tribunal. I am a member of the British Association for the Study and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.  I was previously the Chair of the West Midlands Division of Clinical Psychology of the British Psychological Society (the professional body clinical psychologists), and I am currently a branch committee member.  I am qualified and experienced in the administration and interpretation of the Wechlser Adult Intelligence Scale Version III (WAIS III), which is the gold standard assessment of cognitive ability and general intelligence.  I have assessed hundreds of patients for intellectual capacity and for the presence of learning disabilities.  I have provided evidence (written and oral) in both criminal and care matters related to parenting capacity, personality and intellectual capacity.

My Qualifications

I am a Chartered Clinical Psychologist (CPsychol) an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (AFBPsS), and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine (FRSM). I hold the following degrees: Doctor of Clinical Psychology (ClinPsychD), University of Birmingham), Bachelor of Science in Social Psychology with Honours (BScHons),  (University of London – London School of Economics and Political Science), Certificate of Expert Witness Accreditation (Cardiff Law School, Cardiff University).

Some comments on Dr Drayton’s work.

Lord Justice Thorpe, Court of Appeal
March 2007

“This [psychological assessment] had been carried out, on joint instructions, by Dr. Michael Drayton, a consultant clinical psychologist, whose report is dated 26 October 2006. Dr Drayton also gave evidence to the judge. In my judgment, his report is an impressive piece of work.

The thoroughness of Dr. Drayton's work is demonstrated, in my judgment, not just by the length of his report and the detail which it contains, but also by the range of issues which he discussed with those whom he was assessing. Thus, in the report on the mother, in addition to undertaking psychometric testing and reporting on the results, Dr Drayton reports on the detailed discussion he had with her about the relationships she had with the fathers of her children.

There are also headings dealing with domestic violence; contraception; the mother's understanding of the reasons for SA being taken into care; her history of self-harming and overdosing; her understanding of her parenting difficulties; her attitude to social services; her experience of a previous, non-residential assessment; her perception of SA's needs; her perception of her own need for therapy; her experience of sexual abuse; her personal history, including her childhood and education; her history of employment and drug abuse; and her mental state”.

To read the full judgment, please click below...

L (A Child) and H (A Child) [2007] EWCA Civ 213. Case No: B4/2007/0335
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE, COURT OF APPEAL (CIVIL DIVISION)
Royal Courts of Justice Strand, London, WC2A 2LL. Date: 14/03/2007
Before : LORD JUSTICE THORPE LORD JUSTICE WALL
 

My Experience

• Opus Psychology Practice - Director and founder.
  
  
• University of Birmingham – Honorary Clinical Tutor  & Honorary Lecturer in Clinical Psychology (School of Psychology) (1997-present)
  
  
• St Andrew’s Hospital. Consultant Clinical Psychologist (Psychiatric Intensive Care) (2004-2006)
  
  
• South Birmingham Mental Health (NHS) Trust Consultant Clinical Psychologist - Queen Elizabeth Psychiatric Hospital (2003 - 2004)
  
  
• Previous appointment – National Service for the Treatment of Severe Personality Disorders (Main House, Birmingham) – Consultant Clinical Psychologist (2000-2003).
  
  
• Previous appointment – Wolverhampton Healthcare NHS Trust - Head of Psychology Service to Adults with Severe and Enduring Mental Health Problems.