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Contents

1. Criteria for Initial Assessments  
2. Purpose of Initial Assessments 
3. Timescales of Initial Assessments 
4. Process of Initial Assessments 
5. Outcome of Initial Assessments 
6. Recording of Initial Assessments 

1. Criteria for Initial Assessments

An Initial Assessment must be undertaken in the following circumstances:

• Upon receipt of information which indicates a child meets the  prioritisation Criteria (See Children in Need, Definition and Criteria Guidance for a Child in Need at Level 2 or above: if it appears that a child may have moderate to high needs
• Upon obtaining new information or concerns about a child already receiving services, which indicates that a further Initial Assessment should be undertaken. (If an Initial Assessment has been undertaken in the preceding 6 months it is likely that an addendum to that assessment will suffice if the issues are similar)

Managers may also authorise an Initial Assessment upon a child in any other circumstances.

2. Purpose of Initial Assessments

An Initial Assessment is defined as a brief assessment of each child referred to Children and Family Care with a request for services to be provided.

The purpose of the Initial Assessment is to gather enough information, including information about the history and functioning of the family both currently and in the past, and adult problems such as domestic violence, substance misuse, mental illness and criminal behaviour/convictions to determine whether a child is in need of services, which may be provided by the authority.

3. Timescales of Initial Assessments

Initial Assessments should be undertaken as soon as practicable, depending on the circumstances of the case, but within a maximum of 10 working days from the receipt of the Referral.

Any extension to this time-scale may be authorised by the manager, with reasons recorded, for example where a delay is necessary to arrange an interpreter or to avoid a religious festival, provided that the delay is consistent with the welfare of the child. 

The urgency of the situation may dictate that the timescale is much shorter than ten days; for example, where it is immediately clear a child is suffering or likely to suffer Significant Harm. 

In such circumstances, the Initial Assessment may be completed on the same day as a Referral is received, and a decision reached to conduct a Strategy Discussion leading to a Core Assessment incorporating a Child Protection Enquiry.

At the end of ten days, the manager must decide whether to initiate a Core Assessment.

If information in relation to the assessment is outstanding, the manager should decide, on the basis of the information available, whether a Core Assessment is necessary. That decision can then be reviewed once further information comes to light.

4. Process of Initial Assessments

Detailed guidance in relation to the completion of Assessments can be found in: Initial and Core Assessment Guidance and the Assessment Framework  which explains the principles of the Framework for Assessment.

If a the Referral is in the form of a CAF (Common Assessment Framework), the social worker must liaise with the Lead Professional.

A qualified social worker supervised by a highly experienced and social work manager leads the Initial Assessment, and should carefully plan to carry out the following:

• The child should be seen by the Lead Social Worker without his or her caregivers when appropriate and this should be recorded in the Initial Assessment Record
• Interview the child
• Interview the parents and any other relevant family members
• Determine what the parents should be told of any concerns
• Consult with and consider contributions from all relevant agencies, including agencies covering previous addresses in the UK and abroad

If it is determined that a child should not be seen as part of the Initial Assessment, this should be recorded by the manager with reasons, for example that a Child Protection Enquiry is to be initiated before which a Strategy Discussion will be held to plan the method of contact with the child.

The parent's consent should usually be sought, before discussing a Referral about them with other agencies, unless this may place the child at risk of Significant Harm, in which case the manager should authorise the discussion of the referral with other agencies without parental knowledge or consent. The authorisation should be recorded with reasons.

If during the course of the Initial Assessment, it is discovered that a school age child is not attending an educational establishment, the social worker should contact the local education authority to establish a reason for this. 

If there is suspicion that a crime may have been committed including sexual or physical assault or Neglect, the Police must be notified immediately.

For Initial Assessments carried out in relation to a pre-birth referral, see the Local SCB Child Protection Procedures.

5. Outcome of Initial Assessments

The manager must authorise the outcome of the Initial Assessment which may be one of the following:

1. The child is not a Child in Need; which may result in the provision of information, signposting to another agency and/or no further action
2. The child is a Child in Need but does not appear to be suffering or likely to suffer Significant Harm. 
   
   In these circumstances the manager may authorise the immediate provision of services and a Core Assessment if it is thought that further information is required and further assessment is necessary
3. The child is a Child in Need and appears to be suffering or likely to suffer Significant Harm. In these circumstances a Strategy Discussion must be arranged with a view to conducting a Child Protection Enquiry and commencing a Core Assessment

If it is determined that the child is a Child in Need, whether or not a Core Assessment is initiated, the manager may authorise or recommend the provision of protective, family support, other services or referrals to the Looked After services within the authority or partner agencies. In all cases except where no further action is to be taken, the case will be transferred either to a Family Support Team or the Children's Disability Team.

Where services include financial assistance, the social worker should complete the appropriate Financial Commitment Form and send it to the appropriate manager. Details about this can be found in: Financial Assistance to Children in Need Procedure.

If the manager authorises the provision of services immediately or at a later date when they become available, a Child in Need Plan must be drawn up outlining the child's needs and the services to be provided.

Procedures regarding the accommodation of children in care can be found in: Decision to Look After Procedure.

6. Recording of Initial Assessments

An Initial Assessment Record Form must be completed by the social worker. However, in completing the Initial Assessment, the social worker may decide (in order to avoid duplication), not to complete all sections of the Record if it is known that a Core Assessment will be required. An Initial Assessment is deemed completed once the assessment has been discussed with the child and family and authorised by the manager.

A copy should be provided to the parents, and, where appropriate, professional referrers (including Lead Professionals where a CAF has been completed) and other agencies.

(Feedback on the outcome should be provided to non-professional referrers in a manner consistent with respecting the confidentiality of the child). 

The chronology must be updated. 

End