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
© Crown Copyright 2000 ISBN 0 11 322437 0
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:
Service: Agency:
Service: Agency:
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
SS Initaal Record Document available.
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