Focusing on the needs and views of the child

Every assessment should be child centered. Where there is a conflict between the needs of the child and their parents/carers, decisions should be made in the child’s best interests.

Each child who has been referred into local authority children’s social care should have an individual assessment to respond to their needs and to understand the impact of any parental behavior on them as an individual. Local authorities have to give due regard to a child’s age and understanding when determining what (if any) services to provide under section 17 of the Children Act 1989, and before making decisions about action to be taken to protect individual children under section 47 of the Children Act 1989.

Every assessment must be informed by the views of the child as well as the family. Children should, wherever possible, be seen alone and local authority children’s social care has a duty to ascertain the child’s wishes and feelings regarding the provision of services to be delivered. It is important to understand the resilience of the individual child when planning appropriate services.

Every assessment should reflect the unique characteristics of the child within their family and community context. For example, a young carer’s needs assessment must consider the impact of the child’s caring role on their health and development; and reach a view about whether, in view of the child’s needs and personal circumstances, any care tasks are “inappropriate” or excessive. The Children Act 1989 promotes the view that all children and their parents should be considered as individuals and that family structures, culture, religion, ethnic origins and other characteristics should be respected. Where the child has links to a foreign country, a social worker may also need to work with colleagues abroad.

Every assessment, including young carer, parent carer and non-parent carer assessments, should draw together relevant information gathered from the child and their family and from relevant professionals including teachers, early years workers, health professionals, the police and adult social care. Where a child has been looked after and has returned home, information from previous assessments and case records should also be reviewed.

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