Our assessments are designed to meet the differing needs of each family. Before the assessment starts we hold a work agreement meeting with the parents and social worker to plan the proposed work and an agreement is negotiated and signed. There are regular planned reviews and contact with other professionals involved with the family.

Each family has a key worker who coordinates the plan and arranges regular meetings to discuss the progress of the assessment. The key worker gathers all the information and completes reports. This is overseen by a Principal Social Worker who chairs reviews and agreement meetings. The assessments can include input from an educational or clinical psychologist, and/or substance misuse worker.

Our assessments address children’s developmental and care needs, focussing on agreed areas where change is needed. The workers will use a variety of methods to gather information including questionnaires, genograms, chronologies and family history, observations and play sessions. We have staff accredited to use Parent Assessment Manual Software (PAMs) and the Triple P parenting programme.