Care and support

Understanding Assessments

What is an assessment?

Either you, or someone else on your behalf, has asked Children, Schools and Families for a service to help with some difficulty which affects your child or children.

Before we can help you, we need to know more about you and your family. This will involve collecting information, talking this through with you and agreeing what might be done. We call this an assessment.

Why is an assessment necessary?

By making an assessment we will try to find out what help and support you and your family may need and who could best give that help. What we find out will need to be written down and recorded electronically.

Although social workers and other professionals will normally take the lead completing the assessment, this should always be done in a way which helps you have your say, and encourages you to take part.

Anything you tell us will be held in confidence within Children, Schools and Families. If there is a need to discuss this information with anyone else, we will normally ask your permission. The only exception to this is if information comes to light which, in the social worker's view, may indicate a serious threat to the welfare of your child. If this is the case
you will be told what your rights are in this new situation.