INITIAL ASSESSMENT RECORD 1 of 4

INITIAL ASSESSMENT RECORD 1 of 4

Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families

INITIAL ASSESSMENT RECORD

In completing this initial assessment, if it is known a core assessment will be required,

social work staff should make a professional judgement about whether it is necessary to

complete all sections before beginning a Core Assessment.

The Government’s Objectives for Children’s Social Services (1999) requires an initial

assessment to be completed within 7 working days.

Name

Gender Date of birth

Address

Telephone number

Date Initial Assessment commenced Date completed

Reason for Initial Assessment, including views of child/ young person and parents/carers

Agencies contacted/involved during Initial Assessment (please tick)

G.P. n H.V. n Nursery n E.W.O. n School n

Community n Community n Dentist n Y.O.T. n Police n

Mental Health Paediatrician

School Nurse n Other n Other n

2 of 4 INITIAL ASSESSMENT RECORD

Please give details including strengths and current needs

Health

Education

Emotional and behavioural development: Selfcare skills

Identity and social presentation

Family and social relationships

Child/young person’s developmental needs

All children change and develop over time. Parents have a responsibility to respond appropriately to the child’s

needs. The purpose of this section is to identify areas of strength and areas of developmental need, in order for

resources to be allocated appropriately to ensure the optimum development of this particular child/young person.

INITIAL ASSESSMENT RECORD 3 of 3

Basic care

Ensuring safety

Emotional warmth

Stimulation

Guidance and Boundaries

Stability

Parents’/carers’ capacities to respond appropriately to the child/young person’s needs

Please record strengths as well as difficulties/problems.

Family history and

functioning

Social resources:

wider family; community

resources; social integration

Housing

Employment, income

(please include information

concerning financial

difficulties)

Family and environmental factors which impact on the child and family

Please give details of history and current situation

Issues affecting parents’/carers’ capacities to respond appropriately to the

child/young person’s needs

It is important to be aware of parent(s)/carer(s) strengths as well as any difficulties they are experiencing.

Research shows that the following are most likely to affect parenting capacity: Physical illness, mental illness,

learning disability; Substance/alcohol misuse; Domestic violence; Childhood abuse; History of abusing children.

4 of 4 INITIAL ASSESSMENT RECORD

Summary

Further action

Summary of developmental needs of child or young person, parents’/carers’ capacities to respond to the child’s

needs appropriately, and any family or environmental factors impacting on the child/family

Allocated to Team Date

Signed Team Manager

Allocation of specific services Date service provided: Referral to other agencies Date of referral:

Service: Agency:

Hold strategy discussion n Initiate s47 enquiries n

Date Date

Practice note: Core assessment should be commenced at the point s47 enquiries are initiated.

Immediate legal action to protect child n

Type of legal action Date

Core assessment n Date Core assessment commenced

Specialist assessment(s) commissioned Yes n No n

Reason(s) for Further Action:

Signature of worker completing assessment Date

Signature of Team Manager Date

Copy of Assessment given to family members as appropriate n Date sent/given

Document available

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Policyandguidance/Healthandsocialcaretopics/ChildrenServices/index.htm