Qualifications: BSc, MSc, ClinPsyD, AFBPsS, C.Psychol, HCPC Registered Practitioner Psychologist

Current Position: Clinical Director / Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Until 2011, Dr Silver ran the NHS service for Looked After and Adopted children within Northamptonshire's county-wide Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, linking closely to local Social Services to meet the needs of children removed from their family of origin after maltreatment. After taking voluntary redundancy from the NHS she spent six months as the founding clinical director of a parenting charity, and two years as Clinical Director of Keys Child Care group. Dr Silver is now the Director of LifePsychol.

Over her 25 years experience in psychology she has gained expertise about a wide range of mental health problems that affect children and families. Her interests relate particularly to neuro-developmental conditions and children who have experienced adversity, as well as linking research and practise. She was the Chair of the national network of Clinical Psychologists working with Looked After and Adopted Children (CPLAAC) for five years, and on the Child Faculty Committee of the British Psychological Society for four years, where she edited a special issue of Child and Family Clinical Psychology about attachment and was a chapter lead in What Good Looks Like in Psychological Services for Children, Young People and their Families, writing about the needs of children known to social care services and/or the courts. She was also on the committee for the NICE guidance for Attachment, and the SCIE guidance for the mental health needs of Looked After Children, as well as the FJC/BPS group that wrote the best practice standards for psychologists as expert witnesses in the family courts.

Her critically acclaimed book 'Attachment in Common Sense and Doodles' is published by Jessica Kingsley. She has active research interests with regard to risk and resilience factors in adoptive matching, the quality of provision in residential care for Looked After Children, and outcome measurement with this population. She has several published articles in professional journals, and presents regularly at a number of national conferences. Dr Silver developed the BERRI outcome metrics and tools (see www.BERRI.org.uk).

Dr Silver’s passion is in improving the lives of children with complex needs or a history of adversity through research, training and therapy. Within LifePsychol Dr Silver offers strategic leadership and supervision. She offers expert witness court reports for the family court. She also offers consultation and training to professionals, and conducts a portfolio of research relevant to this client group. Feedback from her conference keynotes and training sessions for professionals in the health, social care, education and legal sectors is consistently excellent (see feedback section).

Areas of interest: Attachment relationships, parenting capacity, children and families, Children Looked After in the Care system, intellectual assessment, diagnosis of developmental disorders (eg. autistic spectrum), learning difficulties, mental health issues, parenting assessments, assessments of the effects of abuse or trauma (including personal injury or bullying). Service development, consultancy and research.

Additional Information: Dr Silver has written numerous reports for the court over the last 15 years. She is known for her clear, insightful and comprehensive reports as well as her ability to give evidence in the witness box. She has attended two specialist training courses for Clinical Psychologists working as Expert Witnesses, and has a peer supervision arrangement with another experienced Clinical Psychologist expert witness.

Email us at emma@lifepsychol.co.uk for Dr Silver's curriculum vitae.