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Contents

1. What is a Core Assessment? 
2. Purpose of the Assessment/Enquiry  
3. Initiating the Assessment (Child Protection) 
4. Timescales 
5. Process 
6. Outcome  
7. Recording 

1. What is a Core Assessment?

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 or her parents or caregivers to respond appropriately to these needs within the wider family and community context.

There are two types of Core Assessment:

1. Core Assessments with a Child Protection Enquiry, where there are Child Protection Concerns; which are set out in this Chapter;
2. Core Assessments without a Child Protection Enquiry, where there are no Child Protection Concerns; which are contained in Core Assessments (Not Child Protection).

2. Purpose of the Assessment/Enquiry

The purpose of the 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  is incorporated into the Core Assessment.

3. Initiating a Core Assessment (Child Protection)

Also see the following Walsall Safeguarding Children Board Procedures:

• Strategy Discussions and Strategy Meetings;
• Section 47 Enquiries and Core Assessments.

A decision to initiate a Core Assessment with a Child Protection Enquiry is normally reached after an Initial Assessment and a Strategy Discussion.  However, if it appears that there is sufficient information available at the point of referral to indicate that a child is suffering or likely to suffer from Significant Harm, the manager can authorise an immediate Strategy Discussion with the information obtained to that point recorded within  an Initial Assessment. An Initial Assessment is complete when sufficient information to make a decision about services required by the child has been obtained, and the outcome has been approved by a manager.

4. Timescales

A Core Assessment is deemed to have commenced when a decision is made to start a Child Protection Enquiry, after a Strategy Discussion.

Where a Core Assessment incorporates a Child Protection Enquiry, it will be concluded in time for the Initial Child Protection Conference which will be convened within 15 working days of the Strategy Discussion which confirms the necessity of such a Child Protection Enquiry. 

5. Process

If, at any stage, there appears to be a risk that the child may suffer from Significant Harm, immediate action must be taken to safeguard the child.

The Authority is responsible for the coordination and completion of the assessments, which must be undertaken by a Social Worker.

The children who are the focus of concern should be seen and communicated with alone by the Lead Social Worker, subject to their age and willingness.

Detail of the procedures for a Child Protection Enquiry, including the arrangements for Video Recorded or other interviews and medical assessments are contained in The Walsall LSCB Manual Section 47 Enquiries and Core Assessment Procedure.

The Police/Crown Prosecution Service should not and cannot prevent a child from having pre-trial therapy, even if this may jeopardise a criminal prosecution.

Appropriate preparation should be undertaken by children’s services and the police, prior to interviewing a disabled child. This should include seeking advice and information on the child’s method of communication, their conceptual understanding, concentration span and the impact of a particular impairment on the alleged child protection concern.

6. Outcome

A Core Assessment is deemed completed once the assessment has been discussed with the child and family and authorised by a suitably experienced and qualified social work manager.

Following a Core Assessment with a Child Protection Enquiry, the team manager will make a decision from the following range:

1. Concerns substantiated, judged at continuing risk of Significant Harm;
2. Concerns substantiated, not judged at continuing risk of Significant Harm;
3. Concerns not substantiated.

The Team Manager will then choose from a range of actions:

1. Convene an Initial Child Protection Conference, in line with Walsall SCB Procedures Initial Child Protection Conferences Procedure.
   
   See also Facilitating the Participation of Children and Young People in Child Protection Conferences Procedure;
2. Continue with a Child Protection Plan, where it is already in place;
3. No further Child Protection action, (this can deal with situations where the case will close and the child will use only universal services or reversion to whatever plan was in place prior to the Child Protection Enquiry or to formulating a relevant plan). See Step Down: Framework for Continuing Support to Vulnerable Children Procedure.

If it is decided that an Initial Child Protection Conference is not needed but that the child’s needs require further focused assessment (relating to the domains of the Assessment Framework) or services, agreement should be sought from the family for this work to be undertaken. Planning to meet the child's needs and to achieve better outcomes for the child will then follow in the usual way and will be recorded within the Child's Plan. 

7. Recording

See detailed guidance on recording of Core Assessments with a Child Protection Enquiry in Section 8, Recording, Assessment Framework Guidance.

The outcome of the Strategy Discussion must be authorised by the team manager.

Discussion and reasons for a Child Protection Enquiry incorporating a Core Assessment will be recorded within the Strategy Discussion Record on Paris.

The Record of Outcome of a Section 47 Enquiry should be completed during the course of an investigation, including the date the child was seen alone by the Lead Social Worker or if not alone, who was present and the reasons for their presence. All the core assessment areas contained within it should be completed also. This Record must be authorised by the team manager.

Activity carried out during the course of the investigation should be recorded within the child protection case note on Paris

In cases going to an Initial Child Protection Conference, the date when the child was seen alone by the Lead Social Worker or if not alone who was present and the reasons for their presence. An outline Child Protection Plan should be drawn up and the Social Worker should identify what work is still needed (including any areas of further focused assessment) to achieve the best outcomes for the child.

The Record of Outcome of Section 47 Enquiry and Part 1 of the Initial Conference Report will be considered a complete Core Assessment.

End