Care and support

Getting your Child Assessed

All new referrals will have an initial assessment. This is a short assessment, which will take place within 7 working days of the referral. The nature of the assessment will determine how detailed the initial assessment needs to be, and whether there is a need for the child and the family to be seen quickly.

Initial assessments are based on the following:

• The level of intervention will be in direct proportion to the needs of the child or young person.
• The assessment will deal with all the key areas of need for the child/young person’s point of view.
• The views and feelings of the child/young person and their parents will be taken into account.
• Information collected by one member of the Children, Schools and Families staff may be shared with other staff engaged in the assessment process to ensure the assessment is completed as quickly and thoroughly as possible. This is obviously subject to confidentiality protocols.

Complex Needs Assessment

This is a detailed assessment and should take place within 35 working days (Children Act) or 90 days of the initial referral (Education Act) when:

• The initial assessment and inter agency discussion confirm the risk of significant harm to the child.
• Imminent risk of family breakdown that will have significant consequences to the child.
• Continuing intervention is needed to avoid damage to the child’s health.
• A request for assessment under the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice has been agreed.
• A child is accommodated, or is subject to care proceedings, or has complex disabilities.
• The referral concerns unaccompanied asylum-seeking or refugee children, or reports for Court i.e. care proceedings, Section 37 or an application for a Parenting Order.
• If an assessment leads to the conclusion that a family does not qualify for a service or some form of additional provision, the reason for this decision will be discussed with the family and other forms of help will be signposted as appropriate.
• When deciding what form of support should be built into an individual case plan, CSF staff will take into account the nature, frequency, intensity and duration of the child's needs. They will look for the best possible match between identified need and the resources available within CSF.
• The provision made for each child, young person or family will be agreed with them. This will then be built into an Individual Case Plan that is reviewed at least annually.