Understanding Assessment of Children and Families

Either you or someone else on your behalf, has asked social services for help with some difficulty you are having which affects your child (or children).

Before we can help you, we need to know more about you and your family. This will involve collecting information, talking this through with you and agreeing what might be done. We call this an assessment.

Through making an assessment of your situation, it would be possible to see what help and support you and your family might need, and who could best give that help.

Information will be gathered and written down. Although social workers and other professionals will normally take the lead in completing the assessment, this should always be done in a way which helps you to have your say, and encourages you to take part.

Any information you give to us will be held in confidence within the social services department. If there is a need to discuss this information with anyone else, we will normally ask for your permission. The only exception to this is if information comes to light which, in the social worker’s view may indicate a serious threat to the welfare of your child or other young people. If this is the case, you will be told what your rights are in this new situation.

Completing an assessment usually means that the social worker will meet with you and your family. The number of times will depend on the situation.

When children are old enough to take part in the assessment, the social worker will encourage and help them to do so.

The assessment will take into consideration your ethnic and cultural background. If required, help will be provided in your first language.

When other people are already helping you and your family, it is likely the social worker will talk to them too. We shall discuss this with you.

If you do not agree with what the social worker says in the assessment, there will be an opportunity for you to record your point of view on the assessment record.

The purpose of assessment is to draw up a plan of action to address the needs of your child (or children) and how you might need help to respond to these. You will be given a copy of the plan.

We know that almost all parents want to do their best for their children, and completing the assessment will help the social workers recognise the strengths you and your family have, as well as your difficulties.

We can help you best if you tell us about what you do well in your family and your difficulties. We will keep you informed about what we are doing and what we plan to do.

An assessment is an important part of our working with you. In a very small number of cases, there are serious concerns about the child’s safety. Making sure the child is safe will be our first concern. Please ask your social worker to explain this to you. You have a right to know.

We will listen carefully to what you have to say, offer advice and, if necessary, support to help you bring up your children and resolve your difficulties.

We know that with a little help most families can sort out their own problems, and our aim is to help you to do that.

We will try our best to offer you any services you need as soon as possible. But there are often many more people needing services than there are services to give. This means that sometimes although everyone has agreed that you need a Service, it may not be available at the time. If this happens, we will always look to find an alternative, but we cannot guarantee to provide a particular service.