1. PRINCIPLES FOR INITIAL AND CORE ASSESSMENT All systems and processes will be underpinned by assessments which are:
- Child focused;
- Rooted in child development;
- Ecological( holistic) in approach;
- Promote equality of opportunity;
- Involve working with children and families;
- Build on strengths as well as identifying difficulties;
- Interagecy in approach and the provision of services;
- Based on the three dimensions – child’s developmental needs, parenting capacity, family and environmental factors;
- A continuing process, not a single event;
- Carried out in parallel with other action and provision of services;
- Grounded in evidence based knowledge.
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STANDARD A broad objective – describes the level of quality that assessments are expected to meet or to aspire to. Performance can be assessed against this level. |
CRITERIA Ways of demonstrating compliance with the standard. They establish specific objective expectations. |
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Standard 1 Core assessments will follow the process outlined in LSCB Procedures (2009) Section 5. |
1. A core assessments will be undertaken for all child protection cases and before children become looked after by the local authority. 2. Core assessments will be undertaken for all children and young people in need where the case remains open beyond four months. 3. Core assessments will be completed within 35 working days from completion of the 7 day initial assessment. 4. Core assessments will be signed off by the relevant Children’s Social Care Deputy Service Manager /Service Manager. |
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Standard 2 A qualified social worker will take lead responsibility for the completion of an assessment.
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A qualified social worker will coordinate the completion of a core assessment. |
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Standard 3 Each assessment will be planned with the family, with a realistic work plan and timescale.
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Parents, children and young people will receive written information before the core assessment informing about:
2. A Planning Meeting will be held to plan the process. 3. Parents and young people will be invited to the Planning Meeting
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Standard 4 Children and families communication needs will be addressed.
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1. Communication will be facilitated in the language or format of the family.
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Standard 5 Children and young people will participate in their assessment All children will be seen in their home situation, seen alone and purpose of the assessment explained to them.
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1. Social workers will communicate directly with the child or young person – by seeing children, observing children, engaging children, talking to children, activities with children. 2. Children’s views will be recorded clearly. |
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Standard 6 Parents and significant family members will participate in the child’s assessment |
1. Parents views will be recorded. |
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Standard 7 Information gathered will be relevant, proportionate and factual.
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Information will include all of the following:
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Standard 8 Analysis of information will be structured in the three domains and judgements will be informed by a professional knowledge base. |
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Standard 9 Feedback will be given to those involved in the process.
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1. Parent(s) and child/young person will receive feedback verbally and also in writing. 2. The comments of parent(s) and child/young people will then be recorded. 3. Agencies and individuals involved in the assessment will receive the summary, analysis and plan as a minimum, subject to consent.
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Standard 10 Recommendations from the core assessment will be outcome focussed and SMART. |
1) Strengths & risks identified 2) Define what needs to change to achieve desired outcomes 3) Agree and decide who will support the family to achieve the desired outcomes 4) Plans for mentoring and reviewing will be put in place. |
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Standard 11. Review of the core assessment where children continue to receive a service from Children’s Social Care. |
The date and time of the review will be recorded as a decision in a core assessment.
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INITIAL ASSESSMENT STANDARDS
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STANDARD
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CRITERIA |
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Standard 1 Core assessments will follow the process outlined in LSCB Procedures (2009) Section 5. |
1. Initial assessments will be undertaken for all children referred to children’s social care for a service (unless it is decided to undertake a core assessment from the outset). 2. Initial assessments will be completed within 7 working days from the date of referral. 3. Initial assessments will be signed off by the relevant Children’s Social Care Deputy Service Manager /Service Manager. |
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Standard 2 A qualified social worker will take lead responsibility for the completion of an assessment. |
A qualified social worker will coordinate the completion of an initial assessment.
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Standard 3 Each assessment will be discussed with the family, with a realistic work plan and within the timescale.
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Parents, children and young people will receive written information before the initial assessment informing about:
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Standard 4 Children and families communication needs will be addressed.
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1. Communication will be facilitated in the language or format of the family.
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Standard 5 Children and young people will participate in their assessment All children will be seen in their home situation, seen alone and the purpose of the assessment explained to them.
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1. Social workers will communicate directly with the child or young person and where appropriate, see the child on their own. 2. Children’s views will be recorded clearly. |
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Standard 6 Parents will participate in the child’s assessment |
1. Parents views will be recorded. |
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Standard 7 Information gathered will be relevant, proportionate and factual.
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Information will include all of the following:
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Standard 8 Analysis of information will be structured in the three domains and judgements will be informed by a professional knowledge base. |
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Standard 9 Feedback will be given to those involved in the process.
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1. Parent(s) and child/young person will receive feedback verbally and also in writing. 2. The comments of parent(s) and child/young people will then be recorded. 3. Agencies and individuals involved in the assessment will receive the summary, subject to consent and information about the plan if one is made. |
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Standard 10 Recommendations from the initial assessment will be outcome focussed and SMART. |
1) Strengths & risks identified 2) Define what needs to happen to achieve desired outcomes
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Standard 11. Where children continue to receive a service from Children’s Social Care decide on the need for a more in depth assessment or plan to review the assessment. |
The date and time of the review will be recorded or decision to continue with a core assessment.
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