1.2.5 Core Assessments

SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER

A core assessment is an in-depth assessment, which addresses the central or most important aspects of the needs of the child and the capacity of his/her parents/caregivers to respond appropriately to these needs within the wider family and community context. While this assessment is led by social care, it is likely to involve other disciplines, either providing information they hold about the child or parents, contributing specialist knowledge or advice to social care or undertaking specialist assessments. At the conclusion of this phase there should be an analysis of the findings, which provides an understanding of the child's circumstances, identifies needs and informs planning, and the service provision required to meet the planned outcomes.

Core Assessments (Without Child Protection Enquiry)
Core Assessments (With Child Protection Enquiry)

1. Core Assessments (Without Child Protection Enquiry)

Note: This procedure relates to Core Assessments that do not incorporate a Child Protection Enquiry. Procedures for Core Assessments which do incorporate Child Protection Enquiries are contained in Section 2, Core Assessments (With Child Protection Enquiry).

1.1	Criteria for the Core Assessment (Without a Child Protection Enquiry)
1.2	Purpose of the Core Assessment (Without a Child Protection Enquiry)
1.3	Timescales of the Core Assessment (Without a Child Protection Enquiry)
1.4	Process of the Core Assessment (Without a Child Protection Enquiry)
1.5	Outcomes of the Core Assessment (Without a Child Protection Enquiry)
1.6	Recording of the Core Assessments (Without a Child Protection Enquiry)

1.1 Criteria for the Core Assessment (Without Child Protection Enquiry)

These procedures apply to Core Assessments completed for any child, whose needs are of a moderate to high level for a Child in Need. A Core Assessment will usually follow an Initial Assessment but may also be completed where new information is obtained on an open case and further assessment is required.

A Core Assessment shall also be commenced to determine the need for the child to become looked after by the local authority, or in circumstances of an emergency unplanned placement to commence at the end of the Initial Assessment that confirmed the need for the unplanned placement. This includes Regulation 38 Placements. See Placement with Relatives and Friends Procedure.

A Core Assessment shall also be commenced to determine and evidence the need for legal intervention (including a Section 37 Report) or in those circumstances when the Initial Assessment confirmed the need for immediate emergency legal intervention, a core assessment will commence at the end of that Initial Assessment.

A Core Assessment can be completed when further information is required on a case to better inform future planning for children with disabilities.

1.2 Purpose of the Core Assessment (Without Child Protection Enquiry)

The purpose of the Core Assessment is to conduct an in depth assessment of the child's needs, drawing on information provided by partner agencies, and to inform decisions about what services should be provided to meet them.

1.3 Timescales of the Core Assessment (Without Child Protection Enquiry)

The Core Assessment should be concluded within a maximum of 35 working days of the end of the Initial Assessment, or the decision to undertake a Core Assessment on an open case. A core assessment is deemed to have commenced at the point the initial assessment ended, or Strategy Discussion concluded the initiation of Section 47 enquiries.

In exceptional circumstances, this timescale may be extended if the parameters of the ongoing assessment are authorised by the manager and confirmed in writing at the end of the 35 day period.

1.4 Process of the Core Assessment (Without Child Protection Enquiry)

Children's Services is responsible for the co-ordination and completion of the Core Assessment.

During the first week of the Core Assessment, the social worker should meet the family to explain the reasons for the assessment and the way it will be conducted, and obtain consents as necessary to contact and obtain information from other agencies and see the child alone.

An interpreter may be required if the child's first language is not English.

In cases where the use of an interpreter is dispensed with, the reasons for doing so must be recorded on the child's records within the assessment.

Parent(s)/carer(s) and other family members will contribute to the core assessment. Their views will be recorded within the core assessment. An interpreter may be required if the parent/carer first language is not English.

In cases where the use of an interpreter is dispensed with, the reasons for doing so must be recorded on the child's record.

Consideration and support must be given to ensure children and young people with disabilities can contribute to their assessment and communicate their views.

As soon as it is identified that a Core Assessment is required the social worker will convene a meeting involving the family and the relevant agencies in order to clarify the parameters of the assessment, plan the work to be carried out.and complete and endorse the child in need plan. This must be completed within two weeks from the start of the assessment.

The plan outlining the roles and responsibilities to complete the Core Assessment will be put into writing and, wherever possible, agreed with the child and family. At this stage, a date will be fixed for a final meeting to ensure the Core Assessment is completed within the required time-scales.

The assessment method will vary dependent on the child and family's situation but opportunities to work directly with the child and the child's family must be incorporated at every stage.

At the meeting the social worker will provide Forms or headings for the professionals involved to complete and return within agreed time scales so that any existing assessments can be integrated into the Core Assessment. If practitioners other than the Lead Social Worker are required to undertake aspects of the assessment the Team Manager (for the specific requested practitioner's team) will provide a name and will add the name to the involvements. The Lead Social Worker will make the new involved practitioner responsible for specific dimensions of the assessment by using the recording method in the child's record. Where a practitioner is required from another team to assist the Lead Social Worker with the core assessment, the Team Manager for the Lead Social Worker will send an action to notify the Team Manager who in turn will allocate the resource adding the name to the involvements on the child's record.

This will mean that, where information has already been gathered by other agencies as part of their assessments, there is no need to duplicate the information gathering - although the social worker should check with the child and family that the information gained from Forms completed by the other agencies is correct.

The child/young person must be seen and spoken to when completing the core assessment. Children should always be seen and communicated with alone by the Lead Social Worker (WT 2010 section 5.64). If this is not possible a record of this will be made in the case notes following supervision or discussion between the Lead Social Worker and manager.

Where the children are from Overseas or where they have lived abroad for any time as Forces Children, information should be obtained in relation to that period. In order to achieve this, assistance may be obtained from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, or the appropriate embassy or consulate.

During the course of the Core Assessment it may be necessary to provide or refer the child for services or to commission additional specialist assessments.

If, during a Core Assessment, information comes to light that suggests that a child is suffering or likely to suffer Significant Harm, a Strategy Discussion must be convened with a view to incorporating a Child Protection Enquiry into the Core Assessment. (See Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Board Procedures, Section 47 Enquiries and Core Assessments).

Where attempts to engage the child and parent in the Core Assessment are unsuccessful, the social worker and manager must consider what action or approach is required to safeguard the child and take legal advice as necessary.

The Lead Social Worker will ensure that a Genogram is completed as part of the Core Assessment.

1.5 Outcomes of the Core Assessment (Without Child Protection Enquiry)

The following outcomes can be chosen at the end of the core assessment:

Initiated strategy discussion;
Immediate legal action to protect the child;
Commission a specialist assessment;
Provide accommodation (including respite and short breaks);
Provision of service (s17);
Referral to other agency (ies);
No further action.

The outcome of the core assessment cannot be ‘cancelled’ or ‘terminated’.

At the end of the Core Assessment the Lead Social Worker’s Team Manager will authorise/not authorise the core assessment within two working days of being sent the action by the Lead Social Worker. If it is not authorised the Team Manager will initiate actions/tasks/timescales to those practitioners/ those areas that require further attention.

Before the Core Assessment is concluded, a final meeting should be held involving the family and relevant professionals. The social worker will report to the meeting a summary of the information obtained and the overall analysis.

During the course and upon completion of the Core Assessment it will be necessary to decide what services should be provided and these should be set out in a Child in Need Plan, or where the child needs to be Looked After, a Care Plan and a Placement Plan/Placement Information Record will be required. See Decision to Look After Procedure and Permanence Plans Procedure - to follow.

Where services in a Child in Need Plan include financial assistance, the social worker must have the agreement of the Team Manager who will then gain the approval of the relevant Manager before a payment can be made, see Financial Assistance to Children in Need Procedure.

The child/young person and parents/carers will be informed of the outcome of the core assessment. The method by which this is done and whether they will be provided with a copy of the Core Assessment, will be discussed and agreed between the Lead Social Worker and the team manager and recorded in case notes. The justification for not informing /providing the individuals with a copy or only part of the assessment will be also be discussed/agreed and recorded. If they have not already been given information about the Complaints and Representations Procedure this must also be made available to them. Agencies and individuals involved in the assessment process should also be appropriately informed, with reasons made clear for the decisions.

Within 7 days of completion of the Core Assessment the Lead Social Worker, child, family and agencies will meet the review the Child Plan.

1.6 Recording of the Core Assessment (Without Child Protection Enquiry)

A Core Assessment must be completed for each individual child.

Where the Core Assessment concludes that it may be appropriate for the child to be Looked After, a Care Plan and Placement Plan/Placement Information Record will be required.

See Decision to Look After Procedure. Otherwise, a Child in Need Plan should be drawn up if services are provided. If there are no needs identified within the Initial or Core Assessment this must be recorded in the analysis of the assessment. In these circumstances a plan will not be required and the case may be closed.

2. Core Assessments (With a Child Protection Enquiry)

Note: This procedure relates to Core Assessments incorporating a Child Protection Enquiry conducted upon a Child in Need believed to be suffering or likely to suffer from Significant Harm.

This chapter should be read in conjunction with the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Board Procedures, Appendix 2, A Model for Assessment.

The core assessment is the means by which a Section 47 Enquiry is carried out. See Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Board Procedures, Section 47 Enquiries and Core Assessments.

2.1	Criteria for the Core Assessment (With a Child Protection Enquiry)
2.2	Purpose of the Core Assessment (With a Child Protection Enquiry)
2.3	Timescales of the Core Assessment (With a Child Protection Enquiry)
2.4	Process of the Core Assessment (With a Child Protection Enquiry)
2.5	Outcome of the Core Assessment (With a Child Protection Enquiry)
2.6	Recording of the Core Assessment (With a Child Protection Enquiry)

2.1 Criteria for the Core Assessment (With a Child Protection Enquiry)

This procedure applies to Core Assessments incorporating a Child Protection Enquiry, conducted upon a Child in Need believed to be suffering or likely to suffer from Significant Harm following a Strategy Discussion which determines that a Section 47 Enquiry should be undertaken.

2.2 Purpose of the Core Assessment (With a Child Protection Enquiry)

The purpose of the Core Assessment is to determine whether there is a continuing risk of Significant Harm to the child. The assessment will draw on information obtained during the assessment including that provided by partner agencies.

A Child Protection Enquiry, as required by the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Board Procedures, Section C:7, The Outcome of S.47 Enquiries, is incorporated into this Core Assessment.

2.3 Timescales of the Core Assessment (With a Child Protection Enquiry)

Where a Core Assessment incorporates a Child Protection Enquiry, the Core Assessment, as far as it has been completed, will be presented as the report to the Initial Child Protection Conference, which must be convened within 15 days of the Strategy Discussion.

Where more than one Strategy Discussion has been held, the time-scale of 15 days starts from the date of the Strategy Discussion where a decision to commence a section 47 enquiry.

The Initial Child Protection Conference will outline what further action is required to complete the core assessment. The first Core Group meeting will be held within 10 working days of the Initial Child Protection Conference.

2.4 Process of the Core Assessment (With a Child Protection Enquiry)

The child's allocated social worker is responsible for the coordination and completion of the Core Assessment.

The child/young person must be seen and spoken to when completing the core assessment. Children should always be seen and communicated with alone by the Lead Social Worker (WT 2010 section 5.64. If this is not possible a record of this will be made in the Case Notes following consultation between the social worker and manager.

An interpreter may be required if the child's first language is not English.

In cases where the use of an interpreter is dispensed with, the reasons for doing so must be recorded on the child's records within the assessment.

In cases where the use of an interpreter is dispensed with, the reasons for doing so must be recorded on the child's record.

Consideration and support must be given to ensure children and young people with disabilities can contribute to their assessment and communicate their views.

If practitioners other than the Lead Social Worker are required to undertake aspects of the assessment the Team Manager (for the specific requested practitioner's team) will provide a name and will add the name to the involvements. The Lead Social Worker will make the new involved practitioner responsible for specific dimensions of the assessment by using the recording method in the child's record. Where a practitioner is required from another team to assist the Lead Social Worker with the core assessment, the Team Manager for the Lead Social Worker will send an action to notify the Team Manager who in turn will allocate the resource adding the name to the involvements on the child's record.

The Core Assessment incorporating a Child Protection Enquiry will be undertaken by the Social Worker jointly with the Police where it is suspected that a crime may have been committed. The process of gathering information is as set out in paragraph 1.4, Process of the Core Assessment (Without Child Protection Enquiry).

For Core Assessments carried out in relation to pre-birth referrals, see the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Board Procedures, Model for Assessment.

Detail of the procedures for Child Protection Enquiries, including the arrangements for Video Recorded or other interviews and medical assessments are also contained in the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Procedures, Procedures for Video Recording Interviews with Children.

The Lead Social Worker will ensure that a Genogram is completed as part of the Core Assessment.

2.5 Outcomes of the Core Assessment (With a Child Protection Enquiry)

The following outcomes can be chosen at the end of the core assessment

Initiate strategy discussion;
Immediate legal action to protect the child;
Commission a specialist assessment;
Provide accommodation (including respite);
Provision of service (s17);
Referral to other agency (ies);
No further action.

The outcome of the core assessment cannot be ‘cancelled’ or ‘terminated’.

Following a S47 Child Protection Enquiry a number of outcomes may take place or be authorised by the social worker's team manager; they are:

That an Initial Child Protection Conference is convened and a decision reached to make the child the subject of a Child Protection Plan.

Where the agencies involved judge that a child may continue to suffer, or to be at risk of suffering, Significant Harm, an Initial Child Protection Conference must be convened. If a decision is reached to make the child the subject of a Child Protection Plan, a Core Group will be established and a Child Protection Plan formulated;
That an Initial Child Protection Conference is convened but the child does not become the subject of a Child Protection Plan. Consideration 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 (WT 2010 section 5.74)

If there are indicators that Significant Harm has taken place or is likely to take place an Initial Child Protection Conference must be convened but the child may not become the subject of a Child Protection Plan;
That there are strong indicators that Significant Harm has not taken place and is not likely to; in which case, the agencies involved may judge that an Initial Child Protection Conference is not convened. In these circumstances the agencies, allocated social worker and the manager must consider whether or not sufficient information has been obtained to conclude the Core Assessment or continue it up to a maximum of 35 days.

During the course and upon completion of the Core Assessment it will be necessary to decide what services should be provided. The services that will be appropriate will be different for each child, depending on his/her needs and should be set out in a Child in Need Plan, or where the child needs to be Looked After, a Care Plan and Placement Plan/Placement Information Record will be required. See Decision to Look After Procedure and Permanence Plans Procedure - to follow.

Where services in a Child in Need Plan include financial assistance, the social worker should complete the appropriate Financial Commitment Form and send it to the appropriate manager. See also Financial Assistance to Children in Need Procedure.

A Core Assessment is deemed completed once the assessment has been discussed with the child and family and authorised by the manager (WT 2010 section 5.120).

2.6 Recording Of The Core Assessment (With a Child Protection Enquiry)

During the course of the Core Assessment, an age appropriate Core Assessment Record must be completed for each child.

Where the Core Assessment concludes that it may be appropriate for the child to be Looked After, a Care Plan and Placement Plan/Placement Information Record will be required. See Decision to Look After, Care Plans and Permanence Plans.

Otherwise, a Child in Need Plan or Child Protection Plan should be drawn up if services are provided.

If there are no needs identified within the Initial or Core Assessment this must be recorded in the analysis of the assessment. In these circumstances a plan will not be required and the case may be closed.

Records of Section 47 Enquiry and any Reports to Child Protection Conferences 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 (WT 2010 sections 5.74 and 5.91).

End