When we carry out a child and family assessment

When you're referred for a child and family assessment, it's important that we understand what help you need.

We have a duty to prioritise children who are most in need.

One of our staff will complete an initial assessment in the circumstances listed below.

If a child:

  • is at risk of direct harm from physical, emotional or sexual abuse
  • is experiencing significant wellbeing or development harm due to neglectful parenting
  • is disturbed and difficult, and a parent or carer cannot manage them
  • is self-harming
  • is beyond parental control
  • is 16 or 17, has no parent or carer and is unable to lead an independent life
  • is under 16 and has no interested adult to exercise appropriate parenting responsibilities
  • parents abuse alcohol or drugs, which significantly affects their parenting ability
  • has been sexually exploited or is at risk of exploitation
  • up to the age of 18 acts as a carer because of incapacity of parents or carers
  • is infected or affected by HIV or AIDS
  • is a threat to themselves or others
  • has mental health difficulties and is not engaged with other services
  • has persistent unexplained health problems
  • is re-referred to us within 12 months of being the subject of a child protection plan
  • is the subject of an Anti-social Behaviour Order (ASBO)
  • is re-referred to us because of 'low' key concerns within 12 months of the removal of a statutory order such as a supervision or care order
  • has a significant disability or chronic health problems

If a parent or carer:

  • is under 18 and is isolated from appropriate support networks
  • is prevented from carrying out their parental role due to disability, learning disability, mental illness or social exclusion
  • has no recourse to public funds
  • has HIV or AIDS
  • of an unborn child previously had children who were the subjects of child protection plans or who have been removed from their care
  • of an unborn child behaves in a way that appears to compromise their ability to safely parent in the future

If:

  • another adult who may present a risk to children moves into a household where there are children aged under 18
  • there are 2 or more reports of domestic violence where there are children in the family