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1.2.8 Core Assessments

RELATED READING

This chapter should be read in conjunction with Section 4.21 of the Knowsley Safeguarding Children Procedures Manual.

Guidance on the Core Assessments can be found in Framework for Assessment Guidance.

For detailed guidance on recording Core Assessments see ICS Guidance, section 4.0.

AMENDMENTS

This chapter was slightly amended, see Section 1, Definition in August 2011.


Contents

  1. Definition
  2. Timescale
  3. Conducting a Core Assessment
  4. Communication
  5. Categories of Cases for Core Assessment
  6. Planning and Conducting all Core Assessments
  7. Conducting Section 47 Enquiries/Core Assessments
  8. Recording Core Assessments
  9. Conclusions and Outcomes of Core Assessments
  10. Outcomes of a Section 47 Enquiry


1. Definition

1.1

A Core Assessment is an in-depth assessment that addresses the central or most important aspects of the needs of a child and the capacity of his or her parents or caregivers to respond appropriately to these needs within the wider family and community context.

When a child becomes Looked After they should always be the subject of a Core Assessment. If there is not already one in place it should be initiated immediately. Where a core assessment was completed less than three months prior to the date of the child becoming looked after, this can be updated, however where it is longer than three months a new core assessment must be initiated. For detailed guidance on recording, see Section 4.1 ICS guidance.
1.2 While the Core Assessment is led by the Children's Social Care, it will involve other agencies or independent professionals, who will provide information they hold about the child or parents, contribute specialist knowledge and/or give advice/undertake specialist assessments.
1.3

Core assessments should be undertaken with the consent of and in partnership with the child and his or her parent/s unless this is a S47 investigation, where consent is not required however should be sought, as this is good practice.


2. Timescale

2.1 The decision to undertake a Core Assessment should be made by the responsible Children’s Social Care Manager (CSCM) on the completion of an Initial Assessment or when any Strategy Discussion/Meeting concludes that a Section 47 Enquiry is required.
2.2 Core Assessments should be completed within 35 working days of the conclusion of the Initial Assessment or of any Strategy Discussion/Meeting. However, it is acknowledged that specialist assessments commissioned by the Children's Social Care from other agencies or independent professionals may not be completed within this timescale.
2.3 In some cases Core Assessments may be started but the parents or child may decide to withdraw their co-operation or move away before all the information had been gathered. In such cases, the Children’s Social Care Manager (CSCM) may deem the assessment as complete. The CSCM must record this decision and its rationale.  The CSCM should ensure that the decision is shared with the parent and child (depending on his or her understanding) and other agencies involved.  Services provided following the Initial Assessment may still be provided or arranged.
2.4

However, where a Section 47 Enquiry is being conducted as part of the Core Assessment and the parents or child withdraw their co-operation or move away, the assessment cannot be deemed complete unless the CSCM is satisfied that arrangements are in place to safeguard the child concerned. The response may include:

  • A further Strategy Discussion/Meeting;
  • Seeking legal advice about compulsory intervention;
  • Negotiation with the local authority into whose area the family has moved.


3. Conducting a Core Assessment

3.1

Core assessments will usually be led by an appropriately skilled and qualified social worker in the team responsible for the initial assessment. The exceptions will be when:

  • The Initial Assessment has concluded that the child has specific social needs arising out of:
    • Severe learning disabilities;
    • Severe physical difficulties;
    • Severe sensory impairment;
    • A complex disabling medical condition; or
    • An autistic spectrum disorder with associated behavioural difficulties.

In which case, the Core Assessment should be led by a worker from the relevant Children with Disabilities Team. In which case, the Core Assessment should be led by a worker from the relevant Children with Disabilities Team. See Transfer Policy Section 8, Transfer of Children with Disabilities.
 

Core Assessments Cannot be Completed by Family Support Workers
3.2 A core assessment is always a multi agency assessment. The agencies involved with a child who is subject of a core assessment should expect to make a significant contribution to it. Their role in doing so should be discussed at the core assessment planning meeting (or Core Group when the child has a Child Protection Plan) and the relevant part of the printed versions of the ICS core assessment should be given to them. Each agency will have a contribution document that the social worker should ensure their representative in the meeting receives. It is their responsibility to complete it and they should return it within 21 days of the initiation of the Core Assessment. If this request is refused or not complied with this should be reported to the social worker's manager and they should query it with the agency concerned. If there are still difficulties refer to the Escalation Process for agencies The information contained in a contribution from another agency should be typed into Protocol by a Business Support Assistant in the social work team, which will require the Social worker to reassign the task of completing the core assessment temporarily to the Business Support Assistant. Once this task is completed, the Business Support Assistant should reassign the core assessment to the social worker immediately.


4.  Communication

4.1 In planning the Core Assessment and in providing the parent and Fraser Competent child with feedback, the CSCM or social worker will need to consider and address any communication issues, for example language or impairment.
4.2 Where a child or parent speaks a language other than that spoken by the social worker, an interpreter should be provided via the Borough’s translation and interpreting service. Any decision not to use an interpreter in such circumstances must be approved by the Children's Social Care Manager and recorded.
4.3

In addition to agencies already involved with the child, the social worker should consult the police, probation service and NSPCC using the agency enquiries form on the forms tab in Protocol. This is an absolute requirement for cases under s47 when it must be undertaken with or without parental agreement. For core assessments undertaken under s17, parental consent to these checks should be sought.
4.4

Where a child meets the criteria for the Children's Disability Team, a Core Assessment must be completed. See Transfer Policy Section 8, Transfer of Children with Disabilities

Where a child or parent with disabilities has communication difficulties it may be necessary to use alternatives to speech. In communicating with a child with such an impairment, it may be particularly useful to involve a person who knows the child well and is familiar with the child’s communication methods. Where the child has had a communication assessment, its conclusions and recommendations should be observed.


5. Categories of Cases for Core Assessment

5.1

Core Assessments will always be completed in the following circumstances:

  • Where a Section 47 Enquiry confirms Significant Harm;
  • Where there is the potential for a child to become Looked After;
  • Where a child is looked after by Children's Social Care;
  • Where complex family support services, including allocation to a social worker, are to be arranged or provided for longer than 3 months;
  • Where the child is the subject of Care Proceedings;
  • Where a disabled child has complex needs.

See ICS detailed guidance, Core assessments CSICS4S
5.2

These are minimum thresholds. Core Assessments should be completed in all cases where the Initial Assessment concludes that a Core Assessment is needed or where professional judgement is that one would be helpful. This will include all cases where a Strategy Discussion/Meeting concludes that a Section 47 Enquiry is not required. It will also include all cases involving asylum seeking children and families where continued support is to be provided even if this is only on a financial basis. The needs of the children must also be fully assessed.

Where a Child is to become Looked After

A core assessment should always have been undertaken when a child becomes, or is about to become looked after. It can be initiated as an outcome of an initial assessment or can be started by selecting the Core Assessment box in the main Pathway diagram. If a child becomes looked after without a core assessment having been undertaken, a core assessment should be initiated immediately. For those cases where a young person has been looked after for over 9 months, the completion of an Assessment and Progress Record will be the form by which the Core Assessment is monitored and updated. See Section 21 of detailed ICS Guidance, Assessment and Progress Record.
5.3 A separate Core Assessment must be recorded in respect of each child.
5.4

Core Assessments, or a review and up-dating of a previous Core Assessment, will also be required at specific stages in the life of a child looked after to inform planning and to ensure all needs have been identified and are being met. Such stages include:

  • When a young person reaches an age where a Pathway Plan is required (i.e. rising 16 years);
  • Prior to the return home of a child whose Care Plan is for reunification with his/her family;
  • Where an application to discharge a Care Order is being considered;
  • When an Adoption Plan is being considered;
  • Where a placement has disrupted.


6. Planning and Conducting all Core Assessments

6.1 The CSCM should convene a Core Assessment Planning Meeting within 10 working days of the start of the Core Assessment. The Assessment Framework provides detailed advice about key questions to be considered in the planning process. :
6.2

The planning meeting should consider the following:

  • The timescale for the various elements of the assessment, enabling it to be completed within the required 35 working days;
  • Has the issue of consent been discussed and obtained?
  • The areas to be focused upon within the assessment;
  • Who will undertake the assessment and what resources will be needed?
  • Who in the family will be included and how will they be involved?
  • In what groupings will the child and family members be seen and in what order?
  • Are there communication issues, if so, how will these be met?
  • What methods of collecting information will be used, which questionnaires, scales or other tools or methods will be used?
  • Where will particular assessment tasks take place?
  • How will information be recorded?
  • Contribution of each agency and relevant person and how this will be fed into the completion of the core assessment;
  • Are there any services which need to be provided whilst the Core Assessment is being undertaken.
6.3 The need for any specialist assessments should be considered. These will include those undertaken by the Family Centre, for example Parenting Assessments as well as those provided by or commissioned from other agencies.
6.4 Participants should include agencies or individuals who will contribute to the assessment, including the family and child, where appropriate. It may be possible to include this assessment planning in another meeting concerning the child, for example a family support or Placement Planning Meeting.
6.5 The planning process provides an opportunity to define the parameters of the assessment, by agreeing the central or most important aspects of the needs of a child. It may not be relevant for information to be gathered in respect of every dimension of each domain.
6.6 The Core Assessment should be undertaken in partnership with the child and family. The allocated worker should make every effort actively to engage the child and his/her family in the process and the child should always be seen and communicated with alone by the Lead Social Worker (Working Together 2010, 5.64). When arranging meetings/appointments consideration should be given to the time, venue, and any support that the family may require in respect of childcare or finance for transport costs.
6.7

Children from Overseas

Where information comes to light during the course of the assessment that the child has previously lived overseas information should be obtained from the parent/carer as to where they lived. Subsequently enquiries should be made via the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or the relevant Embassy or Consulate and/or International Social Services. Translation Services would be obtained via Language Line and S17 budget used to fund this service.
6.8

Children not in School

Where information comes to light during the course of the assessment that a child of school age is not registered with a school, or is not attending, the education service should be informed.


7. Conducting Section 47 Enquiries/Core Assessments

This should be read in conjunction with the Knowsley Safeguarding Children Procedures section 4.21, The Child Protection review Conference

7.1 The social worker, when conducting section 47 enquiries, must assess the potential needs and safety of any other children in the household of the child in question. Furthermore, enquiries may be required concerning any children in other households with whom the alleged abuser may have contact.
7.2 Visits to the child and their family should be undertaken by two professionals. If a joint investigation is to take place this will involve a police officer and a social worker. In some circumstances the professionals involved may be the social worker and the health visitor/school health practitioner. Family Support Centre workers may also assist a social worker in the process of the enquiry but should not be given lead responsibility.
7.3 In determining who should be involved in a section 47 enquiry, consideration should include with whom the family is most likely to co-operate, and whether there are any risks. In all cases where there is a known propensity to violence within the family household Police assistance must be sought prior to the visit taking place.


Seeing the Child
7.4 The child must always be seen and communicated with alone by the Lead Social Worker (Working Together 2010, 5.64) in the course of a section 47 enquiry. Children are the key, and sometimes only, source of Information about what has happened to them, especially in child sexual abuse, but also in physical and other forms of abuse. It is important, wherever possible, to have a separate interview with the child.
7.5 Leading or suggestive communication should always be avoided. However, children should be encouraged to speak openly and they should be allowed to follow their own train of thought.
7.6 All discussions with the child should be conducted in a way that minimises any distress caused to them, and maximises the likelihood that s/he will provide accurate and complete information.
7.7 Before a child is seen or interviewed parental permission must be gained unless there are exceptional circumstances that demonstrate that it would not be in the child’s interests and to do so may jeopardise their safety and welfare.
7.8

Relevant exceptional circumstances would include:

  • The possibility that a child would be threatened or otherwise coerced into silence;
  • A strong likelihood that important evidence would be destroyed; or
  • That the child in question did not wish the parent to be involved at that stage, and is competent to take that decision.
7.9

The social worker should carefully note and record the child’s:

  • General condition and any apparent observable injuries;
  • Attitude and response towards the questions being asked and to the visiting professionals;
  • Explanation of how any injuries occurred.
7.10 In situations where there is alleged bruising to a child it may be necessary to request that the injury is shown to the social worker/police officer. This should only occur if the parent is present.


Seeing the Parent
7.11 In the majority of cases it will be appropriate to involve the parents/carers from the outset. The powers, duties and roles of the agencies involved should be explained, as should the parents’/carers’ own legal rights. The social worker should answer questions openly and honestly unless to do so would affect the safety and welfare of the child.
7.12 The social worker should discuss the allegation with the parent and note the explanation/s given. The parent should be given the opportunity to refute or disprove the allegation.


Medical Examinations
7.13 The consent of both the child and the parent, or person with parental responsibility, should be sought before a medical examination is arranged. In non-emergency situations if parental consent is refused and the child is not capable of giving informed consent, legal advice should be sought with regard to seeking an order to allow the medical to proceed.
7.14 A child under the age of 16 years is able to give valid consent for a medical examination/treatment if s/he is capable of understanding the proposed action (and is therefore regarded as “Fraser competent”). Young people of 16 years and over are able to give valid consent for all medical examinations/treatment.
7.15 Should the child consent to medical examination but the parent withhold their consent, legal advice should be sought.
7.16 Should the child withhold consent to a medical examination the medical should not take place. The situation should be reassessed and the need for an examination considered. Legal advice should be sought, as necessary.
7.17 Where the development of a young child is in question and consequently a paediatric assessment is required, the social worker should contact the local duty paediatrician.
7.18 Parents should accompany the child unless there are specific reasons as to why this would not be in the child’s interests.
7.19 In cases of sexual abuse a forensic examination will be necessary; this is undertaken by a Police Surgeon. The Police Public Protection Unit will make arrangements for this medical.
7.20 A written report should always be requested from the health professional carrying out the medical examination.
7.21 Medical examinations should not take place early in the morning or late at night unless there are exceptional circumstances or medical need.


Joint Investigative Interview
7.22 The primary purpose of a joint social work and police investigative interview is to ascertain what, if anything, has happened to the child and gather evidence for criminal proceedings. The social worker involved in any joint investigative interview must be trained to comply with the Achieving Best Evidence guidelines.
7.23 If the alleged perpetrator is a member of the family, consent to interview the child should be sought from a non-abusing parent. If it is suspected that both parents are implicated and the safety of the child would be jeopardised by seeking consent, legal advice should be sought.
7.24 The Achieving Best Evidence Guidance should be followed as a recognised good practice guide for all investigative interviews with children/young people. The planning and undertaking of interviews should be tailored to the child’s circumstances, including consideration as to the person to act in the role of supporting adult. A child should never be interviewed in the presence of an alleged or suspected perpetrator of abuse, or somebody who may be colluding with a perpetrator.
7.25 Formal interviews should not take place early in the morning or late at night unless there are exceptional circumstances.


8. Recording Core Assessments

8.1 The social worker should record the Core Assessment on the ICS Core Assessment Record. The record must include the views of the child and parent and other agencies who have an involvement with the family. All cases requiring Core Assessments will also require a Chronology.

See Section 7.0 ICS Guidance
8.2 The completed Core Assessment should be signed by the social worker and CSCM. The child (depending on age and understanding) and parent should be given a copy.
8.3 Where a Section 47 Enquiry is conducted alongside the Core Assessment, the social worker should record their actions/information gathered during the course of the enquiry and its outcomes on a Record of Section 47 Enquiries. The record should be signed by the social worker and the CSCM.
8.4 Records of Section 47 Enquiry and any Reports to Child Protection Conference should include the date(s) when the child was seen alone by the Lead Social Worker and, if not seen alone, who was present and the reasons for their presence. (Working Together 5.74 and 5.91).


9. Conclusions and Outcomes of Core Assessments

9.1

Core Assessments should result in:

  • An analysis of the needs of the child and the parenting capacity to respond appropriately to those needs within the family context;
  • Identification of whether and, if so, where intervention will be required to secure the wellbeing of the child;
  • A realistic plan of action (including services to be provided) detailing who has responsibility for action, a timetable and a process for review.
9.2

The outcomes of Core Assessments may include:

  • No further action;
  • Referral to other agency or services;
  • Immediate legal action to protect the child;
  • Provision of a simple service or services under Section 17 of the 1989 Children Act, within a Family Support Plan, not involving continuing allocation to a social worker;
  • Complex Section 17 services involving continuing allocation to a social worker within a Child in Need Plan;
  • Specialist assessment;
  • A Child in Need Plan incorporating a Child Protection Plan; (see Section 10, Outcomes of a Section 47 Enquiry);
  • Care Plan;
  • Initiation of a Strategy Meeting (see Strategy Discussion Procedure);
  • When the Core Assessment represents the end of the service, an end of service customer service feedback form should be given to the service user.
9.3 Note that Section 17 services may be put in place or commissioned before the Core Assessment is completed.
9.4 The responsible Children's Social Care Manager should agree the outcome and ensure that the necessary documentation is complete.


10. Outcomes of a Section 47 Enquiry

A section 47 enquiry may conclude that concerns were unsubstantiated, concerns were substantiated but the child is not judged to be at continuing risk of significant harm, or the concerns are substantiated and the child is judged to be at continuing risk of significant harm.

Considerations should be given by the date of the Initial Child Protection Conference where one is convened to whether the Core Assessment has been completed or what further work is required before it is completed (Working Together 2010, 5.74).

The core assessment should be the subject of regular discussion with the Team Management during it’s completion. Once completed the core assessment must be finalised by the social worker, whereupon it will pass to the CSCM for authorisation. The  child and family concerned must be made aware of the conclusions reached by the core assessment, and their views in response recorded. A printed version can then be produced to share with the family. The implications of the core assessment for the child’s plan must be considered. This may involve a revision of the planned outcomes. See ICS Guidance, section 10 for detailed information on recording the Outcome of a Core Assessment.

The social worker must ensure that there is feedback to the relevant agencies concerned who have contributed to the assessment process. This should be in the form of a further multi-agency meeting to ensure that the conclusions of an assessment are shared and action plans for all agencies in relation to their role to safeguard children are clearly understood.

10.1 Concerns not Substantiated

  1. No Further Action

    Enquiries have revealed that there are no causes for concern. The child may be a Child in Need but the family do not wish for services to be provided, in which case the case will be closed.

  2. Family Support to be provided

    Enquiries have revealed that there are no causes for concern but that there are needs that could be met by the short term provision of services under section 17 of the Children Act 1989. The family are willing for a short-term package of support to be provided, or continue to be provided.

    A Child in Need Planning Meeting should be convened within 7 working days to agree a Child in Need Plan.

10.2 Concerns Substantiated but no Continuing Risk

Enquiries have confirmed that the child suffered Significant Harm, but it has been agreed between the agencies most involved and the child and their family that a plan for safeguarding the child’s future safety and welfare can be developed and implemented without having a Child Protection Conference or a Child Protection Plan.

If the outcome of a Section 47 Enquiry is that the concerns are substantiated but the child is judged not to be at continuing risk of Significant Harm, this decision must be endorsed by a suitably experienced and qualified social work manager (Working Together 2010, 5.80).

End