The Trust’s Assessment Service provides independent, multi-disciplinary assessments, with minimum delay, for:
• The Court in relation to parents/carers and their children who are currently the subject of Children Act proceedings; or
• Local authorities, to inform and assist with their future care plans for children and their parents/carers (see Day Service Programme).
The Trust’s assessment team can usually report on matters within 12 weeks of receiving an agreed agency Letter of Instruction or completed Referral Form. In exceptional circumstances, given the urgency of some matters, the Trust can often provide a range of expert assessments at shorter notice. Please contact the Trust for further information or to discuss your requirements.
As the Trust develops its Multi-disciplinary assessment services, it has become apparent that, whilst many of the professions we engage used recognised assessment models, these tend to be less frequently used by Social Work Practitioners. Therefore, the Trust’s Practice Managers, Social Work and Family Support Staff have adopted a number of assessment models that go some way to removing the professional subjectivity traditionally associated with Social Work Assessments.
As matters before the court in Family Proceedings become more complex, the Trust takes the view that structured assessments support more robust outcomes for decision makers involved in proceedings. The assessment models we use include Dr Sue McGaw’s Parenting Assessment Manual (PAMs), Parent Child Game, and Mellow Parenting strategies, to name but a few. The above models, whilst providing a framework for the assessment, do not, in any way, detract from the skill and experience the assessing practitioner must have when using the above tools. Therefore, many of the Trust’s Social Work Staff have extensive experience and specialist skills in the above areas, which are then put to good effect when combined with the above assessment models.
Please contact the Trust for further details.
The Assessment Service utilises the skills, knowledge and experience of experts from a range of disciplines including:
• Adult psychiatrists;
• Child and Adolescent psychiatrists;
• Adult and family psychologists;
• Social workers;
• Therapists;
• Psychotherapists;
• Mediators; and
• Counsellors.
Professionals undertaking assessments are recognised by the Court as experts in Family Law proceedings. All experts have the appropriate qualifications, experience and skills in relation to their respective discipline, and all experts report in line with the requirements of Appendix C (Code of Guidance for Expert Witnesses in Family proceedings) of the Protocol for Judicial Case Management in Public Law, Children Act Cases.
Commissioning agencies can request either
- An individual professional assessment, such as a psychological, psychiatric or social work assessment. An example would be where only a psychiatric report is required, if it has been identified that a parent/child may have an underlying mental illness that may be impacting on their childcare abilities/development; or
- A multi-disciplinary assessment. For example, psychiatric, psychological and social work reports may all be required to ensure that a holistic assessment of a family’s dynamics is made known.
-
Viability Assessments can be used to support a timely determination of the most appropriate way forward in complex Child Care Proceedings, especially when the parties disagree as to how the case should proceed. The Trust is mindful of the potential for delays to occur when applications are made in line with the requirements of Section 38 (6) Children Act 1989. Therefore, we seek to provide an independent service that assists both the court and the parties’ representatives in deciding on how the case should progress. Therefore, determining the most appropriate way forward for the child/ren involved in Statutory Childcare Proceedings
The Viability Assessment Service the Trust proposes seeks to consider a range of issues, from the parents’ motivation to change, through to any environmental issues that may impact on parenting capacity. We would also seek to identify if any of the parties would benefit from assessment by other disciplines, such as psychiatry or psychology. The Trust would then seek to identify, from our portfolio of experts, a range of professionals with the appropriate qualifications, skills and experience to engage with the family. Should the Trust then be instructed to progress the above assessments, it would do so without delay.
Where a multi-disciplinary assessment has been requested, the Trust ensures all experts liaise with each other prior to filing and serving their final reports. Such a meeting ensures that all disciplines are made aware of all other expert’s findings and matters that may influence any conclusions reached in their respective final reports. Therefore the risk of delay in proceedings is therefore considerably reduced, whilst ensuring that conclusions can be reached within the child’s timeframe.
The Trust manages, co-ordinates, administrates and facilitates the assessment process to ensure that expert reports are provided within the agreed timetable.
The Trust also provides a safe and comfortable environment at the centre in Herne Bay, Kent, for families to meet our experts in a non-threatening, neutral venue. There is a dining, kitchen area and cooking facilities which, if required, allows for service users to spend the day on site whilst experts observe the family functioning together for longer periods of time.
The Trust is also able to provide accommodation for families that need assessment, who do not reside locally, but who would benefit from staying together as a family group whilst the assessment is progressed. The accommodation provided is not a staffed resource. However, depending on the degree of risk or need, the Trust’s allocated social worker, other professionals and family support workers can visit on a daily basis if required. This service has been developed to bridge the gap between residential and community-based assessment. Examples of the appropriateness of this service include:
• where pre or post birth assessments have identified the need for a family to be assessed as a group as opposed to separating the family whilst a parent and baby assessment is progressed; and
• where there have been concerns raised that a child’s parents have been unable to meet the child’s global needs or prioritise maintaining the home environment to a safe standard.
These two examples illustrate how families can benefit from an intensive assessment period (generally between 6 to 12 weeks) away from their home environment and community.
Within the above timeframe and throughout the period that families remain in the Trust’s accommodation, they are supported in maintaining appropriate family relationships, whilst being seen by the expert(s) identified to assess their needs. The parents’ capacity to provide a safe environment and childcare routines will also be monitored and assessed through the duration of the assessment.
Work will not be undertaken with families that falls beyond the scope of the assessment, unless otherwise advised and agreed by the parties in writing prior to commencing further work.
Client Transport. Service Users can also be supported when attending appointments with the Trust, as we have a new and comfortable company vehicle, which is a large eight seater MPV. This will ensure all clients, including those with disabilities, can be transported safely and with dignity, whilst maintaining confidentiality, as the vehicle does not have signage and is fitted with privacy glass to the rear windows. Please contact the Trust if you wish to commission the use of this service, as we also offer escorts for vulnerable children and their families, if required.
