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Contents

1. What is a Core Assessment?
2. Timescales for a Core Assessment
3. Refusal to Co-operate
4. Child Protection Concerns
5. Contributions of Other SSD Staff
6. Outcome of a Core Assessment
7. Recording a Core Assessment

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 as set out in Core Assessment (Child Protection) Procedures;
2. Core Assessments without a Child Protection Enquiry, where there are no Child Protection Concerns; which are set out in this Chapter.

2. Timescales

A Core Assessment is deemed to have commenced.

• At the point the Initial Assessment ends; or
• When new information obtained on an open case indicates a Core Assessment should be undertaken.

The timescale for completion of the Core Assessment is a maximum of 35 working days. 

3. Refusal to Co-operate

There will be occasions when an assessment is needed but a parent or child refuses to become involved.  In these instances, the social worker must:

1. Read carefully any case files, particularly noting the type and level of concerns expressed in previous referrals and including the most recent referral;
2. Discuss the circumstance of the child with the Team Manager in order to decide whether:
   1. Carry out lateral checks without consent;
   2. Hold a Network Meeting in order to inform other professionals of the situation and to negotiate with them the level of safeguards that can be put in place and/or;
   3. Undertake a Core Assessment (with a Child Protection Enquiry). 

Where a parent is refusing to co-operate, the social worker should endeavour to have a face-to-face meeting with that parent to explain the potential consequences of refusal and to see whether the reasons for refusal can be overcome.  Written communication should accompany attempts to open up a dialogue with the parent rather than replace it.

4. Child Protection Concerns

If, at any stage, there are suspicions or allegations that the child is suffering or likely to suffer from Significant Harm, a Strategy Discussion must be convened with a view to conducting a Child Protection Enquiry. 

See relevant Walsall Safeguarding Children Board Procedures;

Strategy Discussions and Strategy Meetings

Section 47 Enquiries and Core Assessments

5. Contributions of Other SSD Staff

Residential workers/foster carers/Outreach Team Workers

When a child becomes Looked After by the Local Authority, the Placement Planning Meeting provides the opportunity to plan roles and responsibilities in any ongoing assessment processes. 

Family Centre workers

At any stage in an assessment process, Family Centre workers may be involved.  It would be expected that they would play an active role in contributing to the assessment.  The extent of their role will depend on the particular circumstances and needs of the child and family.  In some cases, when they have considerable knowledge of and contact with a child and family, they may be the main contributors to the assessment.  Roles and responsibilities will need to be clarified at the Assessment Planning Meeting chaired by the Team Manager or Senior Practitioner. Timescales for completion of the work should be set and consideration should be given to a meeting towards the end of the assessment to share outcomes and to plan for any further work. 

6. Outcome

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

A manager must approve the outcome of all assessments and authorise any plan to provide services or seek assistance from other providers/agencies.

Where the outcome of the assessment is that the child needs to be Looked After, see Decision to Look After and Care Planning Procedure.

For a Looked After Child, a Care Plan and Placement Information Record will be required.

Where other services are provided, a Child in Need Service Plan will be required.

All assessments and plans must be reviewed as determined by relevant procedures or within six months. 

For Looked After Children see Looked After Reviews Procedure

For other Children in Need see Children in Need Service Planning and Working Agreements Procedure

All Reviews must involve the service user and a systematic check to see if the plan has been carried out and whether it has been successful.

7. Recording

See detailed guidance on recording of Core Assessments in Section 8, Recording, Assessment Framework Guidance.

Relevant, age appropriate, Core Assessment Records should be completed on ICS during the course of a Core Assessment.

Upon completion of the Core Assessment, the worker must ensure the a detailed Exit Plan showing the clear intentions for any services being offered to the individual child and/or their family.

End