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Contents

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

Following a Referral, an Initial Assessment will be undertaken in the following circumstances:

• if there are indications that a child has low level needs, a manager may  decide that the referrer should set up a Professionals meeting and invite Duty to this before deciding if an Initial Assessment is required. A referral to SAFE should also be considered as an alternative to an Initial Assessment being completed.
• if there are indications that a child has moderate to high levels of need, the manager must authorise an Initial Assessment.
• if there are indications that a child is suffering or is likely to suffer from Significant Harm, an Initial Assessment must be authorised with a view to conducting a Strategy Discussion, prior to a Section 47 Enquiry and Core Assessment commencing

An Initial Assessment must also be authorised if new information or concerns are received about a child already receiving services, which indicates that a further Initial Assessment should be undertaken. 

Managers may also authorise an Initial Assessment upon a child in any other circumstances. 

2. Purpose of Initial Assessments

An Initial Assessment is defined as a brief assessment of each child referred to Children's Social Care 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 ten working days from the receipt of the referral.

Any extension to this time-scale may be authorised by the manager, with reasons recorded, for example where a delay is necessary to arrange an interpreter or to avoid a religious festival, provided that the delay is consistent with the welfare of the child.

The urgency of the situation may dictate that the timescale is much shorter than seven 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 Section 47 Enquiry.

At the end of the Initial Assessment, 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

Detailed guidance in relation to the undertaking of assessments is contained in Universal Assessments Procedures and Guidance.

The Initial Assessment should be led by a qualified and experienced social worker, who should carefully plan that the following are carried out:

• Open the Initial Assessment
• See/interview the child
• Interview the parents and any other relevant family members.
• Consider whether to see the child alone or with the parents
• Determine what the parents should be told of any concerns
• Consult with and consider contributions from all relevant agencies, including agencies covering previous addresses in the UK and abroad;

If it is determined that a child should not be seen as part of the Initial Assessment, this should be recorded by the manager with reasons, for example that a Section 47 Enquiry is to be initiated before which a Strategy Discussion will be held to plan the method of contact with the child.

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.  The authorisation should be recorded with reasons.

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 service to establish a reason for this.

If there is suspicion that a crime may have been committed including sexual or physical assault or neglect of the child, the Police must be notified immediately.

5. Outcome of Initial Assessments

Various records must be completed as part of the Initial Assessment process; they are set out in Section 1 of the Universal Assessment Procedures and Guidance.

There are 4 potential outcomes from an Initial Assessment, which must be authorised by the Manager:

1. That there are indicators that the child is suffering or likely to suffer Significant Harm, in which case a Strategy Discussion/Meeting must be conducted with a view to conducting a Core Assessment incorporating a Section 47 Enquiry. If there are indicators that immediate action is required to protect the child, consult the Duty Manager and consider Police Protection, applying for an Emergency Protection Order or arranging for the child to be Looked After.
2. That there are indicators that the child has other high level needs, in which case a Core Assessment must be initiated.
3. That the child has medium level needs, in which a Core Assessment may be initiated and/or services may be provided.
4. That the child is not a Child in Need or has low level needs requiring the provision of information, signposting to another agency and/or no further action.

If non Looked After Services are provided, a Child in Need Plan must be drawn up, and other records completed (as set out in Section 1, of the Universal Assessment Procedures and Guidance.).

If the child is Looked After, other records must be completed..

6. Recording of Initial Assessments

An Initial Assessment Record Form must be completed by the social worker. However, in completing the Initial Assessment, the social worker may decide (in order to avoid duplication), not to complete all sections of the Record if it is known that a Core Assessment will be required.

A copy should be provided to the parents, and, where appropriate, professional referrers and other agencies.

(Feedback on the outcome should be provided to non-professional referrers in a manner consistent with respecting the confidentiality of the child).

The Chronology must be set up or updated.

See also FrameworkI Training Guide.

End