A Comprehensive
Range of
Assessments

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Through our panel of highly experienced independent social workers, we can provide a comprehensive range of social work services including ParentAssess, PAMS, risk and parenting, viability, high-risk and connected persons assessments.

Working to strict deadlines, we deliver evidence-based reports at competitive rates to provide a fair assessment of the case and achieve the best possible outcome.

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Learning Difficulty/
Additional Needs
Assessments

A ParentAssess Assessment is a comprehensive, practical, evidenced-based assessment of parents or carers who have a learning disability.


A PAMS (Parent Assessment Manual) Assessment is a practical-based assessment undertaken when a parent or carer has a degree of learning need. This assessment focuses on a parent’s practical capabilities to meet the needs of the child.


ACCA’s Single Assessment is completed in accordance with section 17 of the Children Act 1989/ 2004/ 2017, which states that it shall be the general duty of every local authority “to safeguard and promote the welfare of children within their area who are in need”.

Under section 17 of the Children Act 1989/ 2004/ 2017, the responsible Local Authority has an ongoing general duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in their area who are ‘in need’ and promote the upbringing of those children by their families as long as this is consistent with the children’s welfare.

A short, focused, adult-based assessment that considers the merits in further assessment work being undertaken, focusing on a person’s history, their strengths, identified risks, their capacity to engage and the aspects required to be considered in the context of a fuller assessment of parenting or contact risk.

Our standard Comprehensive Parenting and Risk Assessment follows the Department of Health Framework for the Assessment of Children and Families.

It examines identified risks, the family history, adverse childhood experiences, family & environmental factors, the child’s needs and the parent’s capacity to meet those needs.

There are several circumstances in which the court may be invited to discharge a care order. Such applications can be made by a Local Authority, parent, child or person with parental responsibility (or any other person with leave of the court).

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Risk and Parenting Assessments

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Advanced High-risk Assessments

The AAA Risk Assessment broadly mirrors the Resolutions Model of assessment. The ‘Assessment Analysis Achievement’ risk assessment (or ‘AAA’ assessment for short) is used to assess parents or carers where findings have been made as to their responsibility for causing or failing to protect a child from physical injury.

The AIM3 Assessment Model is used to assess adolescents (aged 12-18) who are displaying harmful sexual behaviours and where there are corresponding risks of harm to others and themselves.

A Viability Assessment is a relatively brief assessment undertaken with a ‘connected person’ such as relative or friend who wishes to be considered to care, or is providing emergency care under Regulation 24, for a child that is known to them.

Connected Persons Assessments are completed in accordance with the relevant Local Authority’s templates & practice. In the event that parents are unable to provide primary care, assessments will be undertaken to explore kinship placements with connected persons.

Each assessment is prepared as per the Local Authorities specific template to ensure compliance with individual policies, procedures, and panel requirements. Assessments can recommend that the child is fostered under a care order, made the subject of a Special Guardianship Order in favour of the applicants or a Child Arrangement Order in favour of the applicants.

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Connected Persons Assessments

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Statutory Services

The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations (England) 2010 set out common requirements for the visiting of all looked after children supplemented by additional visiting requirements in respect of specific types of placement.

The Department of Education’s 2014 Statutory guidance on children who run away or go missing from home or care states that on every occasion a child goes missing, on their return they should be should be offered an independent Return Home Interview (IRHI) by someone who is not involved in caring for the child or young person or from the responsible Local Authority itself (unless the child has a strong relationship with a carer or social worker and has expressed a preference to talk to them rather than an independent person). The interview should be conducted within 72 hours of the child returning to their home or care setting.

Part 6 of The Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations (England) 2010 sets out requirements for the review of all looked-after children’s cases by Local Authorities.

A looked-after child (LAC) review is a regular meeting, chaired by an Independent Reviewing Officer, that brings together professionals and those people who are closely concerned with the care of a child to discuss the current and future arrangements for the child’s care and all aspects of his/her care plan and welfare.

A Child In Need Assessment under Section 58 of the Care Act 2014 assesses the needs of a child as they make the transition to adulthood. It ensures that they are supported to make that transition smoothly.

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Early Help and Intervention

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SEND Assessments

A holistic review of educational, health, and social care needs.

Our Children’s Needs Assessments provide a comprehensive, holistic review of a child’s educational, health, and social care requirements. We work closely with families, schools, and professionals to identify strengths, challenges, and the support needed to help children thrive.

 Supporting families and carers to maintain wellbeing and resilience.

Caring for a loved one can be rewarding but also demanding. Our Carers’ and Young Carers’ Needs Assessments focus on understanding the unique pressures faced by carers and their families, ensuring they receive the right support to maintain wellbeing and resilience.

Identifying sensory and functional needs to promote independence.

Our Occupational Therapy assessments explore sensory processing and functional skills to help individuals achieve independence in daily life. We assess how sensory challenges impact participation at home, school, or work and provide tailored strategies to overcome barriers.

Addressing communication challenges to support learning and social interaction.

Communication is key to learning and social interaction. Our Speech and Language Assessments identify difficulties in speech, language, and communication, providing a clear picture of needs and strengths.

Gold-standard multidisciplinary diagnostic assessments in line with NICE guidelines 

Our ADHD and Autism assessments are gold-standard, multidisciplinary diagnostic assessments in line with NICE guidelines. They are carried out by a team of psychologists, psychiatrists, and speech and language therapists.

Our expert Tribunal Reports provide clear, evidence-based assessments for SEND Tribunals and legal proceedings. We combine professional expertise with thorough analysis to support fair and informed decision-making.

Preparing young people for adulthood with clear planning and support.

Preparing for adulthood can be challenging. Our Transition Assessments help young people and their families plan for the future with confidence. We assess educational, vocational, and social needs to create a clear roadmap for independence.

A Re W Assessment gathers evidence on the merits and risks of a young person giving testimony, and the impact this may have on them.

Our Private Law Assessments include section 7 welfare reports and section 37 reports. Our assessment services within private law matters are complemented by a range of support services which aim to resolve or reduce identified risks. 

Our immigration social work assessments and reports fully comply with Practice Direction 35 on Experts and Assessors and Practice Direction 10 for Expert Evidence in the Immigration & Asylum Chamber.

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Immigration Social Work Assessments

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Psychology Assessments

We understand the critical role of thorough psychological evaluations in providing essential evidence for legal proceedings. Our specialised psychological assessments are tailored to deliver comprehensive insights, especially to help guide court decisions. 

Utilise our psychological assessments to gather vital evidence for legal cases, ensuring you’re fully prepared before reaching the courtroom.

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Additional Assessments

A detailed assessment of the individual and collective developmental needs of children is undertaken when there is a sibling group that may require separation, and the parties involved require expert assistance in how to formulate that separation.

A bespoke assessment of a young person’s behaviours and needs to assess the parent’s ability to keep a child free from harm.

A Child Permanence Report (‘CPR’)/Annex B Report is required where the Local Authority considers, in the light of all the information it has gathered, that adoption is the preferred option for the child’s permanence.

An Adoption Assessment (Annex A report) is completed in circumstances where an application has been filed by a child’s prospective adoptive carer(s) for an Adoption Order and the court requires evidence as to whether the order sought is consistent with the welfare of the child (throughout his life) having regard to the welfare checklist set out in section 1(4) of the Adoption and Children Act 2002).

Undertaken by two fully trained, independent social workers we can provide both Home Office and local authority age assessments.

The Children Act 1989 imposes a duty upon Local Authorities to promote ‘reasonable contact’ between a looked after child and his/her parents and specified others providing this is consistent with the child’s welfare and it is reasonably practical to do so.

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