Applied Clinical Psychology Services (ACPS) Ltd was established in 2018 by Dr Frank Beesley, Consultant Clinical Psychologist & Chartered Psychologist.
We offer a number of services including:
Applied Clinical Psychology Services (ACPS) Ltd provides medico-legal psychological assessments at clinic venues that cover most of the North West of England (see clinics).
Dr Frank Beesley, Consultant Clinical Psychologist & Chartered Psychologist.
Dr Beesley has 30 years experience of working with adult mental health problems, starting in the NHS in 1994. He qualified as a clinical psychologist in 2000. He has worked as a Consultant Clinical Psychologist since 2005. This involved leading teams of clinical psychologists and other mental health practitioners, such as cognitive-behavioural therapists.
Since 2012 Dr Beesley has provided psychological assessment reports for the court, approximately 240 reports a year, completed numerous Joint Statements and has not been required to attend court to date.
He receives claimant, defendant and joint instructions (60:35:5 ratio) for medical / clinical negligence and personal injury cases (Civil Law cases).
Areas of expertise: The assessment of psychological difficulties (adults), at all levels of severity; following incidents such as medical negligence, road traffic collisions, injuries at work, falls and other traumatic experiences.
Extensive experience in assessing psychological difficulties, including:
Psychological problems such as those covered by the following diagnoses:
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
- Adjustments Disorders (with anxiety and / or depression).
- Specific Phobias (e.g. car travel, fear of falling).
- Major Depressive Disorders.
- Generalised Anxiety Disorder.
- Panic Disorder.
Dr Beesley is also experienced in assessing difficulties such as:
Psychological adjustment to life changing events (e.g. following medical negligence).
- Psychological adjustment to chronic pain.
- Psychological adjustment to physical scarring.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Dr Frank Beesley attends relevant courses to maintain his CPD requirements.
He has passed the Bond Solon Civil Procedure Rules for Expert Witnesses Certificate, Part 1.
He has also passed the Cardiff university Law School Bond Solon Civil Expert Certificate (CUBS) in 2017. This is the first university certificated expert witness programme in the UK. This training is made up of the following five full days of training:
- Excellence in Report Writing (One Day)
- Courtroom Skills (One Day)
- Cross Examination (One Day)
- Civil Law & Procedure (Two Days)
The above also includes a written exam on The Civil Procedure Rules, Practice Directions & Protocols, Part 35.
Dr Frank Beesley is also a Certified Fellow (FEWI), Cert of the Expert Witness Institute. He was one of the original members to be certified in 2017, (valid until 31 July 2023), he renewed certification and became a Fellow of the EWI in 2023, valid until 17 July 2028, having completed the relevant assessments such as:
This was following the completion and independent assessment of the relevant aspects of The Civil Procedure Rules, Practice Directions & Protocols, Part 35. This included:
- The assessment of a mock Joint Statement meeting
- Subsequent production of a Joint Statement
- Courtroom skills, including cross examination in a mock courtroom
- The submission of an anonymised report suitable for use in civil cases.
Professional Bodies Registered With:
Registered Clinical Psychologist with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC). Registration Number: PYL02459
Chartered Consultant Clinical Psychologist & Associate Fellow (AFBPsS) with The British Psychological Society (BPS). Membership Number 172523
Certified Fellow of the Expert Witness Institute, FEWI (Cert).
Dr Frank Beesley has also worked in the NHS in various setting including forensic in-patient high security settings and also in community-based adult mental health teams.
Dr Frank Beesley’s previous NHS work is summarised below:
December 2021 to August 2022: Cheshire & Wirral Partnership NHS Trust. Consultant Clinical Psychologist – Clinical Lead for Complex Needs Service. This is a service for clients with a complex trauma history and often they have a diagnosis of personality disorder. The service offers psychological assessments, individual and group therapy, consultation and training to other Teams Trust wide.
May 2021 to October 2021: Merseycare NHS Trust. Providing psychological assessments, psychological therapy, supervision of both clinical psychologists and other disciplines.
December 2012 to September 2016: 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Warrington Recovery Team: Lead Consultant Clinical Psychologist (Warrington). Provided psychological assessments, individual and group therapy, supervision of both clinical psychologists and other disciplines and specialist training in several areas of mental health (e.g. personality disorder, DBT).
November 2009 to December 2012: 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Personality Disorder Hub Service: Specialist personality disorder assessments, consultation for other staff and teams, Trustwide. Provided personality disorder training for all grades and disciplines of staff, Trustwide.
February 2002 to November 2009: Cheshire & Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, lead clinician for Step 5 Services (from 2005). Assessments, consultation, individual and group interventions, management of several staff and service development work. Clinical supervisor for several staff including clinical psychologists, CBT therapists, trainee clinical psychologists and IAPT Trainees.
December 2000 to February 2002: Merseycare NHS Trust, Ashworth Special Hospital: Psychological assessments and therapy with clients in a high security setting.
Dr Helen Beesley, Clinical Psychologist & Chartered Psychologist.
Dr Helen Beesley qualified as a clinical psychologist in 2004. She offers 1-1 psychological therapy in clinics in Liverpool and Wirral. Remote based video consultations are also available. Please contact us for more information.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Dr Helen Beesley attends relevant courses to maintain her CPD requirements.
Professional Bodies Registered With:
Registered clinical psychologist with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC). Registration Number: PYL02460
Chartered Clinical Psychologist & Associate Fellow (AFBPsS) with The British Psychological Society (BPS). Membership Number 84234
Dr Helen Beesley has also worked in NHS & University settings. She has extensive experience in clinical health psychology; where people’s psychological difficulties are related to physical illness or injury.
