Clinical expertise for complex systems, people, and decisions.
Clinical expertise for complex systems, people, and decisions.
Who do we work with?
SAL Consulting’s Specialist Services are designed for individuals, organisations, and systems navigating complex care, legal, or behavioural contexts. Our multidisciplinary team delivers independent, evidence-informed assessments and consultation to support sound decision-making, improve service delivery, and safeguard the wellbeing of individuals and families.
We work with:
Guardians, case managers, and multidisciplinary teams
Child protection and family law systems
Disability, justice, and forensic settings
Organisations delivering services to people with high and complex needs
Respected as leaders in the Australian human services sector, SAL Consulting is recognised for our ability to bring clinical insight, professionalism, and person-centred practice to the most nuanced and sensitive scenarios.
How does it work?
Our approach is holistic, trauma-informed, and grounded in evidence. We build a full understanding of the individual or system context through:
Thorough file reviews and collateral gathering
Clinical interviews and observation
Use of validated psychometric tools
Multidisciplinary consultation and formulation
Our team offers a range of specialist services, including:
Parenting Capacity Assessments – Exploring a caregiver’s ability to meet a child’s needs, including observations, interviews, and psychometric measures to support decisions about contact, restoration, or care planning.
Specialised Assessments for Legal Matters – Including capacity assessments, assessments related to mental health and disability in legal contexts, and expert opinion reports tailored for court or tribunal processes.
Risk Assessments & Management Plans – Evaluating ecological, behavioural, and forensic risk (including sexual or physical violence), with structured recommendations to reduce harm and increase safety.
Each service includes a clear, professionally written report with practical, actionable recommendations. Our clinicians can also provide expert testimony or follow-up consultation where needed.
Contact us to get started:
Parenting Capacity Assessments
Evidence-informed assessments to support decisions around parenting, contact, and restoration.
Who is this for?
Parenting Capacity Assessments are designed for use in child protection, family law, and care-related contexts—particularly where there are concerns or complexities around parenting ability, family functioning, or the safety and wellbeing of children.
These assessments are commonly sought by:
Child protection authorities
Family courts and legal representatives
Guardians or case managers
Services involved in planning for contact, restoration, or alternative care arrangements
How does it work?
SAL Consulting conducts comprehensive, trauma-informed assessments that explore the strengths and vulnerabilities within a family system, with a focus on the capacity of the parent or caregiver to meet the developmental, emotional, and safety needs of the child.
Our process includes:
Review of relevant documentation and background material
Clinical interviews with parents, carers, and other significant individuals
Observation of family interactions
Use of standardised psychometric tools, where appropriate, to support formulation
The final report includes:
A clear overview of the individual’s or family’s functioning
Identification of risk and protective factors
Assessment of the parent’s insight, responsiveness, and capacity to change
Recommendations to inform decisions regarding contact, restoration, intervention planning, or court proceedings
These assessments aim to support safe, informed, and child-centred decision-making, with sensitivity to the complexity of each family’s context.
Specialised Assessment for Legal Matters
Independent, professional assessments to inform court processes and support fair outcomes.
Who is this for?
This service is for individuals involved in legal proceedings where mental health, disability, cognitive functioning, or parenting capacity are relevant factors. Our assessments are often requested by legal representatives, courts, guardianship tribunals, or service providers seeking expert opinion in complex cases.
Assessments are particularly useful in matters relating to:
Capacity to make informed decisions (e.g. financial, personal, or medical)
Home-alone assessments and functional safety evaluations
Parental responsibility and family court proceedings
Mental health or disability as it relates to legal rights, risk, or support needs
How does it work?
SAL Consulting’s clinicians bring clinical rigour, trauma-informed practice, and extensive experience in preparing materials for court.
Our process includes:
Review of relevant documents and background materials
Direct assessment with the individual (in clinic or a suitable community setting)
Interviews with key stakeholders, where appropriate
Use of standardised assessment tools and clinical judgement
A clear, detailed written report addressing the specific legal context, with professional findings and recommendations
We are experienced in providing objective, balanced assessments that are appropriate for legal and tribunal settings, and our staff are able to prepare professional reports and provide expert witness testimony when required.
Risk Assessments & Management Plans
Structured, evidence-based assessments to identify, understand, and manage complex risk.
Who is this for?
This service is for organisations, guardians, case managers, or professionals supporting individuals where risk-related concerns are present or emerging. It is particularly valuable when working with people who have complex support needs, forensic histories, or behaviours of concern that may place themselves or others at risk.
Common referral reasons include:
Ecological or environmental risk assessment (e.g. risks related to living arrangements or support settings)
Offending risk assessment, including potential for physical or sexual violence
Support planning for individuals transitioning from justice, hospital, or crisis settings
How does it work?
SAL Consulting’s clinicians conduct a comprehensive, structured assessment process, incorporating:
File and documentation review
Interviews with the individual and key stakeholders
Use of validated psychometric tools (where appropriate)
Consideration of contextual and relational factors contributing to risk
What is the outcome?
A detailed written report is provided, outlining:
Level and type of risk
Identified triggers or risk indicators
Recommendations to reduce, manage, or mitigate identified risks
Suggested strategies for ongoing monitoring, planning, and team response
Our approach is trauma-informed, person-centred, and focused on promoting safety, dignity, and sustainable outcomes.
Forensic Disability Practice
Supporting individuals with disability involved in or at risk of entering the justice system.
Who is this for?
SAL Consulting’s Forensic Disability Practice is designed for children, young people, and adults with disability who are currently involved with—or at risk of entering—the criminal justice system.
This service supports individuals with:
Cognitive impairment or intellectual disability
Autism or other neurodevelopmental conditions
Complex communication or sensory needs
Behaviours of concern or known risk indicators
Existing involvement in youth justice, adult corrections, or forensic disability services
Our approach recognises the over-representation of people with disability in the justice system, and the systemic, environmental, and support-related challenges they face.
How does it work?
We offer individualised, trauma-informed assessment and intervention, with a focus on supporting both the individual and their service system to reduce risk and improve outcomes.
Our services include:
Risk assessments (including offending risk and behavioural risk)
Forensic behaviour assessments
Service model planning assessments to ensure support environments are fit-for-purpose
Offence-specific and offence-related intervention
Specialist behaviour support within a forensic framework
What is the outcome?
All assessments include a comprehensive report with clear formulation and practical, evidence-informed recommendations. Where required, we can work closely with legal representatives, guardians, support providers, and relevant justice system professionals to ensure recommendations are integrated into planning.
Our goal is to support individuals with disability to live safely, with dignity, and free from unnecessary criminalisation, through a combination of clinical insight, systemic awareness, and person-centred intervention.
Early Childhood Practice
Supporting children’s development and relationships through responsive, family-led practice
Who is this for?
SAL Consulting’s Early Childhood Practice is designed for children aged pre-birth to 8 years, along with their families, carers, and educators. We support children with:
Developmental delays or differences
Complex disability
Social, emotional, or relational challenges
Histories of early adversity or developmental trauma
Our work is grounded in the belief that early relationships and environments shape lifelong outcomes, and that families are central to the support process.
How does it work?
Our team uses a transdisciplinary, relationship-based approach that is:
Evidence-informed and aligned with best practice in early childhood development
Flexible and family-led, adapting to the needs and priorities of each child and their support network
Delivered in natural settings where children live, learn, and play
We provide support through:
Collaborative work with parents, carers, and educators to build capacity and connection
Observation and developmental assessment
Intervention and planning that is play-based, strengths-focused, and culturally responsive
Specialised strategies for working within the context of complex disability and trauma
Our team brings deep experience in working with children and families where needs may be multifaceted and evolving, ensuring each child has the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive in safe and connected relationships.