If the Local Authority have concerns about a parent’s ability to care for a child, they may request or complete an assessment of that parent’s ability for care for them. The concerns may arise from an injury to a child, the parent’s mental health difficulties, substance misuse, domestic abuse and violence, or any other concerns.
The type of assessments which may be completed of a parent’s ability to care may include:
- Parenting Assessments
- Drug and Alcohol Testing
- Psychological Assessments
- Psychiatric Assessments
- Persons Posing Risk Assessments
- Capacity to Protect Assessments
- Cognitive Assessments
A parent may also be asked by the Local Authority to engage with a number of support services to reduce their concerns, such as engaging with substance misuse services, like Turning Point, mental health support, such as Vitaminds, or domestic abuse and violence work with the Jenkins Centre or other agency.
Whilst an assessment is being completed, the Local Authority may state that it is not appropriate or safe for the parent to be caring for a child, or spend time with a child, unsupervised, as they pose a risk of harm to that child. This is common when a child has suffered an injury suspected to be caused by one or either parent. In this situation, the other parent or family members may assist with the supervision of the care for the children pending further medical information, police investigations or the outcome of assessments.
This would mean that all care tasks that the parent undertakes would be supervised by the identified safety person. The arrangement may be subject to a strict safety plan which details what is allowed or not allowed and what is expected and the people who are part of the safety plan may be asked to sign a written agreement to that effect. A written agreement is not legally binding, but any breach of the safety plan or written agreement will be a cause of concern for the Local Authority, and they will question the protective ability of the supervisor.
The Local Authority will sometimes produce a trajectory plan to detail what steps need to be taken for the level of supervision to be reduced. There may be a requirement for a negative drug and alcohol test or a positive parenting assessment to be completed before the level of supervision is reduced depending on the concerns in the case.
How can we help?
If your child or children have been made subject to a Child Protection Plan, Pre-Proceedings or Care Proceedings, we understand that this can be very stressful and that is why we are here to help and provide advice. We have experience in assisting parents at all stages of Local Authority involvement. Please contact Johnson Astills at either our Leicester office on 0116 255 4855 or our Loughborough office on 01509 610 312 and ask or a member of the Care Team. Alternatively you contact us through our free online enquiry form or email us at careteam@johnsonastills.com and a member of our team will be happy to assist you.
