2.1.4 Initial Assessments

SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER

This chapter summarises the Initial Assessments Procedures for all children.

This Chapter should be read in conjunction with the following:

Assessments Guidance, which provides guidance on conducting an Initial Assessment

Police Units and Children's Social Work Team Joint Protocol

CAF Guidance

Thresholds of Need and Service Responses

Practice Standards for Initial Assessments

Practice Guidance for Children in Need ICS Transformation Program

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2010

AMENDMENTS

January 2011: This Chapter was substantially amended, staff should familiarise themselves with the whole Chapter.

Purpose and Criteria for an Initial Assessment
Timescales of an Initial Assessment
Process and Recording of an Initial Assessment
Outcome and Approval or the Initial Assessment and Plan

1. Purpose and Criteria for an Initial Assessment

This Section should be read in conjunction with Thresholds of Need and Service Responses.

The initial assessment is a brief assessment of each child referred to social care to determine whether the child is in need, the nature of any services required, and whether a further, more detailed Core Assessment should be undertaken. Working Together 2010 para 5.41 requires that Initial Assessments are led by Qualified Social Worker supervised by a highly experienced and qualified social work manager).

The initial assessment period may be very brief if the criteria for initiating section 47 enquiries are met, i.e. it is suspected that the child is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm.The manager may then decide to proceed to a Strategy Discussion/Meeting and Core Assessment Record for Child Protection. Proceed to Section 1, Core Assessments with a Section 47 Investigation/Enquiry (Core Assessments Procedure).

The manager has the discretion to proceed immediately to a Core Assessment where new information is received about a child already known to the authority which suggests a Core Assessment is necessary. In such circumstances, proceed to Section 2, Core Assessments (without a Section 47 Investigation/Enquiry) (Core Assessments Procedure).

2. Timescales of an Initial Assessment

Initial Assessments should be completed within 10 working days from the receipt of the referral.

The urgency of the situation may determine that the Initial Assessment is conducted very quickly e.g. where a family presents as homeless or in need of urgent financial assistance. The provision of services should not be delayed until the outcome of the assessment is completed if it is deemed services are essential to maintaining the welfare of the child.

3. Process and Recording of an Initial Assessment

Once a manager decides that the referral has met the threshold for an Initial Assessment, the case will be allocated to a Social Worker, and an appointment made with the parent(s) and child. The new Initial Assessment Record (as of 31.8.10) is a family document which takes into account the individual needs of each child subject to the assessment. Each child referred should be assessed within the form and a copy saved on each siblings Frameworki file.

If the parents and carers are proving difficult to engage and there is view that they may be avoiding contact, the manager should be consulted to discuss next steps.

Each child subject to the assessment should be seen before completing an Initial Assessment Record and confirmation of this should be provided within the assessment form on Frameworki. In exceptional circumstances a manager may authorise that an assessment can be completed without seeing the child(ren) and record this within the form. Managers should be mindful before authorising the completion of the assessment without seeing the child(ren).

During the Initial Assessment if it becomes evident that a more indepth assessment is required it is not necessary to complete each section of the Initial Assessment form before proceeding to a Core or Core Assessment Record for Child Protection. Social workers and managers should complete the relevant information clearly stating why the decision was taken not to undertake an Initial Assessment and proceed to a more in-depth assessment.

Please refer to Practice Standards for Initial Assessments and the Practice Guidance for Children in Need ICS Transformation Program

See Section 1, 'Recording' of Assessments Guidance

4. Outcome and Approval or the Initial Assessment and Plan

4.1 Outcomes from an Initial Assessment

There are 3 potential outcomes from an Initial Assessment, which must be authorised by a manager:

Not a Child in Need: The child is not a Child in Need or his/her needs only require the provision of information, signposting to another agency and/or no further action, in which case, the matter may be referred to the CAF Panel if the services of other agencies are required, which may lead to the setting up of a Team Around the Child - see CAF Guidance - Step 4 CAF Panel or Step 5, Team Around the Child. The manager will then choose two outcomes on Frameworki NFA Case Closed to social care and Referral to CAF.
Child in Need/Not Child Protection: There is no suspicion/indication of Significant Harm, but the child is a Child in Need sufficient to require the provision of services, in which case a child in need plan may need to be formulated or a decision made about whether to continue to a Core Assessment. A referral may also be made to the CAF Panel if additional services are required e.g. speech therapy (see last paragraph) or Family Support and it may be necessary to set up a Team Around the Child.
Child Protection Enquiry/Section 47: There are suspicions/indications that the child is suffering or likely to suffer Significant Harm,. In this situation a Strategy Discussion/Meeting must be conducted with a view to conducting a Core Assessment Record for Child Protection (Core Assessment incorporating a Section 47 Enquiry).

4.2 Immediate Protection of the Child

The Social Worker/Manager should consider if immediate action is necessary to protect the child(ren), as set out in Section 7.2 (Immediate Protection), London Child Protection Procedure.

Placement with other carers on a voluntary basis, under Section 20 of the Children Act 1989, in which case, the child may be placed with approved Foster Carers or with Relatives and Friends. The following relevant procedures apply:

For placement with relatives and friends see Section 1, (Emergency Placements) - Placement with Connected Persons Procedure
for placement with approved foster carers in normal working hours: Section 3, (Planned Placements), Placements Procedure,
for placement of children with approved foster carers outside normal working hours: Section 4, Emergency (out of hours) Placements: Placement Procedure.

If anyone with Parental Responsibility objects to the taking of voluntary action, the social worker and manager must consider Police Protection, an application for an Emergency Protection Order or an application for an Interim Care Order. In such circumstances, Legal Advice must be sought (see Court Business Procedure).

4.3 If the Child comes into Care

If the child is in care e.g. with relatives/family and friends or with approved foster carers, also see Decision to Look After Procedure.

4.4 Informing Family and Professional of the Outcome

Working Together 2010 para 5.39 states that an Initial Assessment is completed once it has been discussed with the child and family (or caregiver). Once an Initial Assessment has been completed the outcome and a copy of the assessment should be sent to the parents/carers and the child(ren), if they are of sufficient age and understanding. If there referral was from another professional a letter should be written to the referrer with the outcome of the assessment.

End