The use of whole family assessment to identify the needs of families ...

Department for EducationThe Use of Whole Family Assessment to Identify the Needs of Families with MultipleProblemsKey Findings:Approaches to Assessment5. The assessment processes developed by local authorities testing familyfocused models of working both reflect the needs of the families they areworking with and the models of practice they have developed. There was noprescription as to which models of family assessment should be used andlocal authorities were free to pilot their own ideas. Most (17/21) based theirfamily assessment processes on the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) 1or existing social care/service level assessments of family need.6. A key distinguishing factor of such family assessment is that it looks at theinterrelationships between family members and how these impact onindividuals within the family. Whole family assessment uses the commonassessment principles of: identification; assessment; support and review.The Whole Family Assessment Process7. Identification: local authorities are working with families with complexneeds, frequently at risk of statutory intervention, but who may fall belowexisting service thresholds. Many families also have a history of nonengagementwith services.8. Assessment: local authorities have taken one of three approaches to wholefamily assessment: the Hybrid Model and the CAF+ Model based on the CAF form;the Service-led Assessment Model using existing assessment toolsdeveloped or used by their services;the Information Model using existing family data and information tomake an assessment of family need but not developing a new familyassessment tool.1 The CAF is a standardised approach to conducting assessments of children’s additional needs anddeciding how these should be met. Further information available at:http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/strategy/deliveringservices1/caf/cafframework/ii