Assessment Of Children In Need & Their Families

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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. 2 3
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 4 5
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Assessment Of Children In Need & Their Families

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