Family Assessment (Parent & Child) Service Review Outcome

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APPENDIX AService Review Title:Family Assessment (Parent & Child)Version: 2.0Status FinalDocument Name:Author: Karen KralOwner: Steve TannerLast Review:Next Review Due:Name Signature Title Revision history Date VersionSteveTannerKarenKralOperationsDirector forChildren &FamiliesGroup ManagerResidential,CommissioningPlacementsand EmergencyIntervention15.6.12 2.015.6.12 2.0Vision Statement for this serviceTo deliver a range of local resources that provide good quality, cost effective and timelyassessment options to meet the needs of all children and parents whose background,lifestyle or circumstances give rise to serious concerns about child safety.Note:Throughout this document the use of the term parent and child also refers to familieswhere there are two parents and more than one child.OBC for Family Assessment (Parent & Child) Service Review Page 1 of 20 vs 2.0 15.6.12
Executive SummaryThis review concerns court requested assessments of parenting. When there is asufficient level of concern about the ability of a parent to care for their child safely thesecases are put before a court in care proceedings. Where the court believes there isinsufficient information to make a decision about the child’s future it can request anassessment under the Children Act 1989 38(6).In Somerset the number of these requests has risen steadily in recent years with totalnumber in 2011/12 being sixty-three. In addition there has been an increase in the lengthof placements (average 10 to 16 weeks) and in the number of repeat placements. Thishas added to delay for the child in deciding a permanent plan about where they will live.The costs of these assessments used to be shared, but under legal changes now fallsolely on the local authority. The assessment usually involves the parent and childmoving to live at either a residential centre or with a foster carer for a number of weeks.The costs of these placements range between £1,263 and £5,500 per week.Since 2010 Somerset County Council has developed its own service with a small group ofstaff working with specifically trained foster carers. Demand had outstripped availableplacements with these carers and increasingly placements have been purchased from theindependent sector. In the last year there has been an increase in the use of residentialplacements. These are very expensive and not necessarily the placement of choice.Given the budget pressure and need to find Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) savings(expectation to find £250k from this review), this review has therefore considered how toboth reduce the need for these assessments and at the same time to develop costeffective options where such assessments are necessary.The work needed to reduce the number of assessments requested by the court iscomplex and involves: -a) Building capacity within the establishment of practitioners to provide sufficientanalysis and assessment at an early stage in care proceedingsb) Developing the skills, experience and therefore confidence of the establishment ofsocial work practitioners to argue the case against the need for further assessmentc) Working with legal colleagues to ensure opposing views in care proceedings arerobustly challenged.Where parenting assessments are requested by the court the review has considered thepotential ways for undertaking these assessments.These are: -a) Development of ‘community assessments’ where the parent and child remain livingat home and intensive analysis of parenting capacity is undertaken in conjunctionwith children’s centres and day care with foster carersb) Increase in the capacity of the Somerset County Council foster care schemec) Use of independent sector foster care if the Somerset County Council schemedoes not have a vacancyd) Reduced use of independent sector residential centres for a small number ofparents for whom foster carer is not appropriatee) Separation of the parent and child during the assessment. This would involve thechild being cared for by a foster carer and the parent remaining at home. Theassessment would take place as in (a) above. This would be appropriate wherethe concerns about child safety are high and prevent any unsupervised contact atall during the assessment.Family Assessment Service Review – Outline Business Case Page 2 of 20 vs. 2.0 15.6.12
Page 1 and 2: (Cabinet Member Decision - 29 Octob
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Page 11 and 12: 1. Scope and contextBackgroundAs se
Page 13 and 14: The increases in costs are due to:
Page 15 and 16: 2. Options for ChangeConsidered by
Page 17 and 18: 3. Options AppraisalIn carrying out
Page 19 and 20: • Independent / voluntary provide
Page 21 and 22: The initial costings of changing th
Page 23 and 24: SustainabilityPrivacyBusiness Risk
Page 25 and 26: Description of Risk Impact Likeliho
Page 27 and 28: 6. InterdependenciesLocal• Ofsted
Page 29 and 30: SustainabilityThe proposed option d
Page 31 and 32: DisabilityParents and childrenvery
Page 33 and 34: SexEnsure the servicehas placements
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Family Assessment (Parent & Child) Service Review Outcome

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