Children and family assessment
If you are a child or young person in difficulty or if you are a parent or carer needing support, we and the agencies we work with will be able to give you help and advice. Before we can help you, we need to know more about you and your family. This is called a children and family assessment.
Before we can complete an assessment, you need to have applied for children and family services.
What is a children and family assessment?
It involves collecting information, talking this through with you and agreeing what might be done. By completing an assessment, you will help us recognise the strengths you and your family have, as well as your difficulties. We know that with a little help most families can sort out their own problems, and our aim is to help you do that.
What will happen during the assessment?
Social workers will arrange to meet you and members of your family to find out more about you. If your child (or children) is old enough to take part in the assessment, the social worker will encourage and help them to do so.
During the assessment you will be able to tell us about anything that is worrying you and how you think we can help. Any information you give us is confidential and will only be shared with agencies working closely with your family. If for any reason we want to discuss your assessment with anyone else, we will always ask for your permission first.
If there is a serious threat to the welfare of your child, we will not ask permission but your social worker will explain your rights and help you through this new situation.
At the end of the assessment, and with your help, the social worker will draw up a plan of what needs be done. If you disagree with anything your point of view will be recorded.
Who is involved?
We employ trained people called ‘social workers’ who will meet with you and members of your family a number of times. The social worker will look at the problems you may be having and help you find solutions.
If other people are already helping you and your family, they maybe involved in your assessment.
What information do I need to give?
When the social worker is completing the assessment, you will be encouraged to play an active part and have your say. We can help you best if you tell us about what you do well in your family as well as what you are finding difficult. We will keep you informed about what we are doing at all times, and all the information we collect will be written down.
How are my needs assessed?
With your help, the social worker will draw up a plan of what should be done to help your child (or children) and what help you might need. The assessment process lets you record your point of view if you disagree with the social worker.
In a very small number of cases there may be serious concerns about a child’s safety, and a need for them to be protected. Please ask your social worker to explain this to you. You have a right to know.
What happens if my needs change?
If your family or child’s circumstances change you can contact us and ask us to assess your needs again. This might be because you feel you need more help, or you did not previously qualify for help.
How are services arranged?
Once it has been agreed that you and your family need help, we will either arrange the services for you, or advise you how you can arrange your own from private or voluntary organisations.
We will try our best to offer you the support you need as soon as possible. There are often many more people needing help than there are services to give. Sometimes, even though everyone agrees that you need a service, it might not be available at the time. If this happens we will always try to find an alternative but we cannot guarantee to provide a particular service.
How can I apply?
You can also contact one of our regional Duty and Assessment teams.
