Parent assessment?

[Basil]

Hi could someone explain to me what a parent assessment consists off please, as I was told my parenting was not a problem, thank you

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Hi Basil

Is the parenting assessment being done as part of care proceedings or a child protection plan? Furthermore, is it an in house one being conducted by the Local Authority or an Independent social worker?


Suzie

[Basil]

Hi thank you for reply, my child is under a child protection plan, but this assessment is written on my sons care plan as he is in foster care under s20, hope this makes sense and will be carried out by our sw

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Hi Basil

Under normal circumstances, a parenting assessment is a twelve week assessment of your parenting capacity, as part of care proceedings or pre proceedings agreement, because sadly, the Local Authority rarely have extensive funds to complete them outside of this remit.

Most parenting assessments are conducted within a local Family Centre, by practitioners with experience in completing similar pieces of work. Your written agreement is normally required, before the work commences, but then you would have chance to seek legal advice, first. An Independent social worker, may be involved where the first assessment is being challenged, and a second opinion is required, for cases in court.

In your case, you say that the allocated social worker will be completing this work, as part of the child protection plan. It sounds like you will be having a community based parenting assessment, unless a referral to a specialist residential facility has been made.

I recommend you request a written copy of the assessment schedule in advance, request a review meeting, so you can see what your strengths or areas to develop are at an early stage, then address these as they unfold. It is also an opportunity to negotiate any family support you may require to keep your child (ren) safe. Ensure you make a written request for a copy of the final report within two weeks of the parenting assessment being completed.

Do you know if the social worker will be assessing specific areas of your parenting, where previous concerns have been raised? Or will they be using a Local Authority template in the parenting assessment? This way you will have an indication of the areas to be covered, and get the opportunity to prepare yourself in the same way, as if it was being completed by a worker, more independent of your ‘case’. These factors help you to know what is being asked of you from the start. Furthermore, the outcome could have implications for LA future decision making.

In the meantime, I suggest you fully engage with the assessment. Whilst it may not be necessary, to seek legal advice, where care proceedings are not likely. That said, if you do have one, it may be an idea to consult with your solicitor, so they can advise you about the best way forward, in your particular circumstances.

Best Wishes


Suzie

[Basil]

The parenting assessment is being carried out by sw and my childs adolescent support worker, this is what is written on part 2 of care plan, the term of a specific parenting assessment need to be drafted and the required sessions to carry this out timetabled. The assessment to involve xxx,xxx and any other members of extended family who carry out caring tasks. Sessions will be planned over the next 6-8 weeks. Parenting assessment to be completed by end of September. By whom sw adolescent worker. Planned outcome. To continue to develop an understanding of family dynamics and functioning as well as the role xxxx has played in the past and what he is able to offer the family in the future.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Hi Basil

The child protection plan suggests that the parenting assessment be subject to a written plan or agreement that clearly sets out expectations, by you over a 6 -8 week timeframe. What appears to be lacking however, is the following:-

*the proposed start and end date, venue and types of sessions. For instance parental-child observations or 1:1 sessions, what specific tasks will be assessed?
*how will you/ Local Authority/ others know if you have passed or failed the parenting assessment?
*what evidence will there be of this?
*what support will you be given to address any concerns
*how will progress be reviewed, and by whom?
*what actions will be taken, if you are assessed as having a negative parenting assessment?
*your rights to challenge the final report

Just one more thing, is the assessment being done, purely as part of the child protection plan, in addition to a core assessment or pre proceedings agreement? Whilst you may not have answers to all of these questions, it would be useful to know. As stated in my earlier post, I recommend you consider getting legal advice before signing any agreement, because if it has not started already, the parenting assessment is already behind timescale, so could have implications for the outcome of the next review child protection conference. Furthermore, if the delay is raised at that meeting, it will be important that it is clear, to those present, whether this is due to lack of resources or cooperation on your part.

Best Wishes

Suzie

[Basil]

Thanks suzie
This is on the care plan placement not child protection plan, now been giving assessment plan which is to start tomorrow Thursday this is how it is written
Timexxx datexxxplace xxx plan parenting session one, experiences of being parented-early life and child hood. Relationships with wider family today. We will explore this through completing a timeline. Experiences of parenting the children. Completing timelines for the children. Styles of communication.
To do before session think about how your experiences relate to your parenting techniques.
Identify a few examples of what you feel you do best as a parent and what you feel you could work on.

I have two more dates given with the above, and been told they will let me know on first appointment if there is anything else they can include. No talk about any core assessment being carried out. And no legal proceedings taking place as far as I'm aware, even my solicitor can't understand any of it, and just say work along with them. Please help any one

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Thanks Basil

I suggest you take on board your solicitor's advice, and cooperate with the assessment, especially if they have no specific concerns about the process so far?

Best Wishes


Suzie

[Basil]

surley they cant do this, all it is doing is causing me stress which i dont need. I feel as if they are trying to find something to use to keep my child away from me. and then take my other.
they have now cancelled the first one due to sw being ill, they rang 15 mins before the appointment. really dont no what they are playing at. so are you telling me this is normal process of a parent assessment?

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Basil
I am sorry that the start of your assessment was delayed, through no fault of your own. Have Children's Services given you a further date, in order to compensate for the missed session.

I refer to my previous advice, did you manage to obtain a copy of the assessment schedule, so you are very clear what dates and times you can expect to be seen? I think this is particularly important, becuase the child protection plan is unlikely to end, whilst this piece of work remains outstanding.

Best Wishes

Suzie