Assessment Of Children In Need & Their Families

Assessment Of Children
In Need & Their Families
What is an assessment
An assessment will be undertaken to identify the needs of children
and their families when a referral is received by Social Services that
indicates that a child may be ‘in need’ of support or protection. It will
involve gathering information about you and your family to help us
make the right decisions with you.
Community Services
Directorate
Social Services
Anyone can ‘refer’ a child to Social Services if they believe they are
in need of support or protection. This can include teachers, health
visitors, police, parents or the child.
Why is an assessment being
carried out
Assessments are carried out to see what needs
your child and family may have, and to identify
the help and support that could best assist you.
The help that is provided may not be provided by
Social Services but by another agency such as the
Health Authority or Education. An assessment is
a way of working with you to decide how we can
improve things for you and your family.
What does having an assessment
involve
There are two types of assessment - an initial (or first) assessment
and core assessment. Both types of assessment will require the
social worker to discuss with you and other professionals a range of
issues that affect your family. This will always be done in a way that
helps you to have your say, and encourages you to take part. The
assessment may produce a plan to address the needs of your child
(or children) or you may be directed to other agencies for services.
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What is the initial assessment
An initial assessment should normally be completed within 7 working
days. You will probably only have to tell us some basic things about
your child for this assessment to be made. If other people are
already helping you and your family, it is likely that the social worker
will talk to them too.
What is a core assessment
A core assessment is made when we think your child has more
complex needs that require a more detailed assessment. This is
likely to involve other organisations such as Health, Education or in
some cases the Police. The core assessment should normally be
completed within 35 working days.
How is information used
Information gathered is used to obtain a clear understanding of the:
• Needs of your child.
• Challenges you face in being a parent.
• Family and living circumstances.
Once we have the information we need, we will then call a meeting
with you and those professionals involved with your family to agree
a ‘plan’. This meeting will discuss:
• What your child’s needs are.
• What services may be appropriate.
• If, or how much, you and your family may be able to help.
Sharing information and consent
Social Services take the lead in assessments and may need
personal information about your family to fully understand your
child’s needs and respond properly.
To do this job, we may have to get personal information from
a number of different organisations that may include health
professionals, including health visitors and doctors, teachers, police
and other local authority staff.
The Data Protection Act 1998 says that we must ask you to let us
request and/or share information about you and your child with
others. This is called consent. Each agency
will have its own procedures for sharing
information. We will tell you what we want to
use the information for and ask you to sign a
Consent Form. If you do not let us request this
information the social worker will not be able to
ask other agencies/professionals for information
we need and the assessment will be affected.
This means that we may not be able to properly help your child and
family.
Can agencies share personal
information without my consent
This can only happen in exceptional circumstances. These are
usually in situations where there are concerns about children being
at risk of significant harm and where their safety or welfare may be
at risk.
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Social Services will only do this after careful consideration of the
case. If this happens, you will be told about what information has
been asked for and shared, as well as what action is being taken as
soon as possible.
Your involvement in the assessment
You and your family will need to play an active part in the
assessment and you will be given the opportunity to express your
views and comments. The assessment will take into consideration
your ethnic and cultural background where appropriate.
What happens at the end of the
assessment
Contact us
If you have any questions about the assessment of you and your
family, or about the process of information sharing, please feel free
to contact us.
C2BG
The Contact Centre
Central Depot
Barleyfield Industrial Estate
Brynmawr
NP23 4YF
Tel: (01495) 315700
When the assessment is completed a plan will be put together,
which states in detail who will be involved in providing services to
your family, what the aims of this are and when they will do this.
For you to play an active part in the assessment you will be
required to attend meetings. When your child
(or children) are old enough to take part in the
assessment, the social worker will encourage
and help them to do so. Advocacy Services are
available to offer support to those children who
wish to attend.
To receive this information in Braille, large
print, electronically or on audio tape please
contact the Information Officer
on (01495) 354630.
Leaflet CS005-1 March 2009
www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk
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