Best Practice in Social Work Assessments with Children & Families

Participants will be offered the opportunity to:

• Understand the background and policy framework for assessments
• Consider all the factors that might affect the assessment process including attitudes, values and inter-agency relationships
• Develop confidence in gathering information needed from the family, child or young person (where appropriate) and other key agencies
• Develop skills in recognising where information is underpinned by assumptions and biases and where further information is needed in order to complete the assessment
• Know what assessment tools are available and how they may assist the assessment process
• Develop confidence in engaging with families in the assessment process and working with them to understand family history and context
• Understand the importance of being child focussed and working with children and young people (regardless of disability or ethnicity)
• Understand the impact of parenting capacity issues such as domestic abuse, substance misuse, parental learning disability and parental mental health and also consider the impact and risks associated with an interaction of these capacity issues
• Consider how to use evidenced based professional judgement when analysing information and reaching conclusions
• Understand the importance of supervision when undertaking assessments
• Understand the components of an outcome focused plan that effectively measures change for the child.