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Contents

See Flowchart: Contained in Initial and Core Assessments Guidance

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 is a Child in Need, meeting the eligibility criteria (‘Access to Services’ leaflet) at the level of High or Medium Priority;
• Upon obtaining new information about a child already receiving services which indicates that a further Initial Assessment should be undertaken. 

2. Purpose of Initial Assessments

An Initial Assessment is defined as a brief assessment of each child referred to Social Services with a request for services to be provided.

The purpose of the Initial Assessment is to gather enough information 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 7 working days from the receipt of the referral.

The 7 working days should not be compromised unless there are exceptional circumstances and the manager approves it.  Under normal circumstances, the assessment should be completed within the required timescale and if new information comes to light later, the manager must consider what actions to take.

The urgency of the situation may dictate that the timescale is much shorter than 7 working 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 seven 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

Children in Specific Circumstances Disabled Children: If the child appears to be a Disabled Child, the Disabled Children’s Team should be consulted and the case may be transferred to them or a joint assessment may be appropriate.  See Disabled Children Transition Protocol Domestic Violence:  If there are concerns regarding Domestic Violence within the child’s family, see Domestic Violence Protocol Mental Health: If the child and/or the child’s parent(s) appear to have mental health needs, see Mental Health (CHMT) Protocol. Intentionally Homeless Children/Families: If the child and/or child’s parent(s) appear to be intentionally homeless, see Intentionally Homeless Children and Families Protocol. Travellers, Gypsies and Unauthorised Camping:  If the child and/or family appear to be Travellers, Gypsies or are unauthorised campers, see Travellers, Gypsies and Unauthorised Camping Protocol.

A decision should be reached about the following:

• Notifying, consulting and interviewing the parent(s) or other family members (see Note 1 below);
• How the child will be interviewed/consulted; including whether to see the child alone or with the parents (see Note 2 below);
• Consultation and involvement with other relevant agencies, including health, education (see Note 3 below) and agencies covering previous addresses in the UK and Overseas or where the family may have been associated with the Forces (see Note 4 below).

Note 1:  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.  This should be authorised and recorded by the manager.

Note 2:  It is expected that the child should be seen alone with out his or her care givers during the Initial Assessment.  If it this is not possible, the manager must authorise, in writing, the reasons for this decision.

Note 3:  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.

Note 4:  Where the child has previously lived overseas (outside the UK) or members of the family have been in the forces (Army, Navy or RAF) information should be obtained in relation to that period. 

For Initial Assessments carried out in relation to a pre-birth referral, see Section 6.8, Pre-birth Referral and Assessment of the London Child Protection Procedures.

There are various records to be completed during an Initial Assessment, See Section 6, Recording of Initial Assessments.

All relevant 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) should be taken into account.

The Initial Assessment is always led by qualified social worker and supervised by a highly experienced and qualified social work manager.

5. Outcome of Initial Assessments

At the completion of the Initial Assessment the manager should determine whether the initial assessment has provided sufficient information to determine whether short term services will be sufficient to meet the child's needs. If so then an Initial or Child's Plan should be developed detailing the objectives for intervention. If the manager decides that further assessment is required then a Core Assessment should be completed. The manager may authorise the provision of services, whilst this assessment is completed and the objectives of these services should be detailed in an Initial Plan.

Where the child is a Child in Need with a high level of priority as set out in the ‘Access to Services’ leaflet, including suspected Significant Harm, the manager must authorise a Strategy Discussion with a view to conducting a Core Assessment and Child Protection Enquiry.

An Initial Assessment is deemed completed once the assessment has been discussed with the child and family and authorised by the manager.

6. Recording of Initial Assessments

The following records must be completed/updated:

• An Initial Assessment Record;
• The child’s Referral Information Record;
• A Chronology Record.

 A copy the Initial Assessment Record should be provided to the child, his/her parents and professional/agency referrers (feedback on the outcome should be provided to non-professional referrers so long as the rules of confidentiality are not breached).

If services are provided, it will be necessary to draw up a relevant plan (e.g. Child Plan, Care Plan, Placement Plan / Placement Information Record).

End