The Proper Evaluation of Access Assessments

When confronted with questionable recommendations in access assessments, a competent evaluator may be asked to write a critique to counter them. The critique must be able to present valid arguments which clearly point out the incompatibility of the data and the recommendations, the violations in procedures, or the apparent assessor bias. If done properly, these opinions may be enough to discredit the assessments which will open the door to a review and perhaps more favorable results.

Evaluation Standards for Access Assessments

The assessments are not guided by any rigid guidelines. However, most disciplines have formulated their own standards of practice in the creation of these assessments. Professional assessors must adhere to these in order to maintain their credibility and that of their work. Meanwhile, evaluators must familiarize themselves with these standards of practice so as to make proper critiques. They will have to check if each of these has been met and highlight deviations, if any. Using the set standards of the assessor’s own profession as basis for critique enhances the position of the evaluators and strengthens the relevance of their findings.

Using Research to Evaluate Access Assessments

In addition to the standards of practice analysis, evaluators should dig up the sources of the data presented and check whether these are support the conclusions made. Sometimes recommendations seem to come out of the blue without any sensible link to the data at hand. It is the job of the evaluators to show the cognitive dissonance when they find it. The recommendations must also take the most recent studies regarding parental conflict, child developments, and related subjects into consideration. Any incongruence found presents an opportunity to inject an opinion that is different from that of the assessor. Leaning on research is an excellent way of presenting arguments in an objective manner.

The Reputation of the Evaluator

Evaluators must be above reproach. They must have an impeccable reputation to stand on such that their opinions will be taken seriously and given considerable weight. Individuals who are known to be biased against access assessments by way of their professional history will not be very effective. Even if they present valid arguments in the present case, their status will be severely compromised. It is critical that the evaluators appear to be credible experts with an independent mindset. They must be seen as objective professionals who are immune to outside influence. Their character must be unassailable such that their integrity rubs off on their opinions.

Note that a case consultation is different from an assessment critique. Consultations are usually private and serve the purpose of enlightening the lawyer on pertinent issues. Assessment critiques are requested for public consumption with a great chance of being used in a court trial. They should contain impartial opinions on access assessments to have merit.

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