24/7 in the Home Programme
Undertaken by an Independent Social Worker and a team of experienced Parenting Practitioners, our 24/7 In the Home Programme and Community Based Supervision is delivered within the family home and in the local community, over a level and period of time that is determined by the instructing Local Authority.
The Assessment is a two-stage process. Following referral, a suitability/risk assessment is undertaken by an Independent Social Worker over a period of 4 weeks. (This can be expedited in some instances and upon reaching the necessary criteria). This assessment will conclude with one of three outcomes:
- A recommendation that the family is suitable to progress to the full ‘In the Home’ part of the assessment;
- A recommendation that the family is not suitable to progress to the ‘In the Home’ part of the assessment;
- A recommendation that the family is not fully suitable to progress to the ‘In the Home’ part of the assessment at that stage however, that this could be reviewed over a further agreed period of time in which there are extended periods of observation of the parents exercising care of the child.
A 24/7 In the Home Programme is a viable and commercially attractive alternative to other traditional assessments of parents conducted in protected environments (such as residential or parent/child foster placements) which offers safeguards beyond those usually associated with community-based assessments to ensure the safety of the child in the parents’ ongoing care. It offers a unique opportunity for parents to demonstrate their parenting and access their support network and local resources and makes for a better-informed assessment process.
The full programme observes the parents’ care of the child in their home and within the community with a 24 hour a day package of protective support, guidance and monitoring, provided by a team of experienced Parenting Practitioners, in order to manage and reduce identified risks to the child. The Community Based Supervision allows for increased period of observed contact or incremental increases, to allow an inexperience parent or a parent with learning needs, to develop the necessary parenting skills that will determine whether a plan for rehabilitation is viable and safe. Both options can be supplemented by our TOP (Teaching, Observe and Practice) bespoke teaching Programme.
Daily logs, prepared by the Parenting Practitioners, support the preparation of a final, comprehensive, Independent Social Worker Assessment.
As part of the 24/7 In the Home Programme, we have introduced an additional element, which aims to provide the Local Authority and the Independent assessor with a strengths and needs analysis on the basis of our extensive opportunity to observe consistency of practice.
Our SNAP (Strengths and Needs Analysis Programme) Programme, incorporates 15 sessions of one-to-one direct work, using a pictorial aid, specifically designed by ACCA, which aim to identify areas of particular need by exploring a parents understanding of areas of parenting and independence and can be complimented by extensive observations.
The 24/7 in the Home Programme…
Facilitates a seamless approach, enabling all appropriate assessment work to be undertaken within the home.
Is flexible in terms of the level of monitoring and support needed as this is reviewed regularly during the assessment process, so as to minimise the necessity for intrusion, but is available, if required, for as long as the Local Authority considers necessary.
Avoids multiple placement moves for the parent and child, thereby facilitating emotional stability for all, and as the parents will retain access to their usual support networks this allows for a realistic assessment of the nature, extent and effectiveness of these in supporting the parents to meet the child’s needs.
Allows an appropriate and comprehensive assessment to be completed by a qualified Independent Social Worker whose assessment is informed by first hand evidence of the support team’s direct and full-time involvement with the family and the use of our SNAP Programme, providing the best quality evidence.
Safeguards the child through the presence of our trained Parenting Practitioners who not only monitor and intervene if needed but are also able to support and guide the family. ACCA can additionally provide our TOP (Teaching, Observe and Practice) Programme, to deliver bespoke teaching in areas of specific identified need.
Avoids the stresses associated with removal from the comfort and familiarity of the parents’ home environment. This improves the parents’ emotional wellbeing, allowing them to more fully engage in the assessment process, and avoids the distractions, intensity and ‘hot house’ dynamics of residing with other families that can arise within other protected placements (allowing parents to focus on meeting the child’s needs).
Adopts a multi-agency approach - universal services will not need to change ensuring consistency for both parent and child and ease of intervention and support by the relevant Children’s Services department.
Minimises delay and drift as the assessment takes place within the community – as such, the need to complete successive assessments (as might arise post residential or parent/baby foster placement) is minimised.
Provides the family with the best possible chance of demonstrating capacity to care for the child or achieving change and the child remaining in the care of his/her birth parents.
