Assessment is a key process that allows social workers to make sense of the child’s situation and the nature and extent of their needs, so they can make a professional judgement on the best intervention to safeguard and promote the child’s welfare.
The key assessment carried out by CSFH is the child and family assessment that establishes the child's needs and level of intervention and provides the key information for developing the child's plan.
The CSFH assessment practice guidance sets out the procedural framework for carrying out child and family social work assessments and when to update or repeat these assessments whilst working with the family.
For guidance on recording assessments on MOSAIC please see the Child and family assessment MOSAIC guidance.
If social workers need to add information to a child and family assessment prior to an initial CIN, CP or CLA meeting please refer to the Addendum to the child and family assessment guidance.
Families should be given a copy of the Listening to you leaflet that explains why and how we carry out assessments.