SPECIALIST ASSESSMENT

​

Introduction to Assessment 

​

Our assessment includes input from a Chartered Psychologist, a reliable CAPA coder and MIM assessor. 

 

At eQuiPT, we recognise that one of the most helpful ways we can support children and families is through our specialist assessments. This specialist assessment is designed to provide an in-depth assessment of a child and family’s individual, dyadic and systemic support needs. We consider how this family-approach to assessment helps us understand: 

• children’s attachment relationships 

• social communication and interaction skills 

• emotional regulation 

• cognitive development  

• physical and sensory needs. 

Our assessment aim is to help produce positive outcomes for families by establishing their needs and identifying the areas that therapeutic support can be offered. The information we collate is carefully analysed to identify underlying difficulties, develop a psychological formulation and make recommendations. 

 

A Neurosequential Approach to Assessment and Therapeutic Support 

 

We structure assessment reports to align with the ‘Neuro-Sequential Model of Therapeutics’ (Perry, 2006). This is a developmentally sensitive and neurobiologically informed approaches that emphasise the need to follow the organisation of the brain when trying to assess and understand an individual. With the way our brains develop at such a young age, early developmental trauma, prenatal experiences and life circumstances have a disproportionate influence on the way our brains are organised and how they function. Research from multiple areas of expertise shows us that experiencing adverse life events in childhood impacts the way their brain develops, and neural systems are wired. 

 

A ‘Bottom-up’ Approach to Assessment and Recommendations 

 

As the diagram shows, the brain is organised in a hierarchical way. This report is structured to reflect this hierarchical structure, however, it is important to remember that this is a simplistic view of our development and the way the brain works, and in reality, it works in a much more complex and integrated way. We use the following 3 levels to help consider a child’s needs in a hierarchical way.   

 

We structure reports at the following three levels: 

​

● Level 1: The Survival Brain:  

The brainstem, cerebellum, midbrain, thalamus are responsible for our survival. In this section, we will consider core survival functions of the brain, that relate to survival, motor, sensory processing, attention, regulation and arousal. 

 

● Level 2: The Emotional Brain: 

The limbic system, amygdala, hippocampus, basal ganglia are responsible for our emotions, memories and feelings of connectedness. In this section, we will consider emotions, attachment and behaviour. 

 

● Level 3: The Thinking Brain: 

The cortex, frontal lobe, where we look at our skills, this part of the brain is responsible for thinking, planning, inhibiting, learning & reflecting. 

​