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.
Whereas standardised assessments tend to rely on the parent’s knowledge base, the PAMS Assessment offers a wider and more evidence-based measure of capacity. Parenting is a complex task and parenting styles are as diverse as professional opinion. Assessments rely on judgements and are subjective and whilst the PAMS Assessment also relies on the judgement of the practitioner, it offers a more measured approach to assessment.
It has been developed to present complex information within a format that interfaces well with the current Framework for Assessment (2000). The assessment covers:
- childcare and development,
- behaviour management,
- independent living skills,
- safety and hygiene,
- parent’s health,
- relationships and support
- and the impact of the environment and community on parenting.
Each parenting skill is assessed through the use of discussion, observation, written tasks, practical tasks and visual aids.
Each parenting skill is assessed for parental knowledge, quality of the parent’s skills and the frequency of parenting practice. By breaking these elements into testable components, the PAMS Assessment makes for an assessment that is measured and evidence-based.
After completion, the assessor will have a clear, visual family profile that targets parenting support needs, as well as child protection issues. Our highly experienced Family Support Workers can additionally deliver our TOP (Teaching, Observe and Practice) bespoke teaching programme, undertaking direct work with parents that are based on specific recommendations within the report.
Identifying services for vulnerable parents who have temporary, long-term or transitional support needs whilst safeguarding their children from abuse and neglect can be challenging and the PAMS Assessment is central to the identification and targeting of support required by those families where parents or children have additional or complex needs.
We undertake both software and non-software PAMS Reports, both of which utilise all of the PAMS Tools. We believe the non-software assessment allows additional time with parents, usually spent completing the complicated, computerise scoring process. We have a large number of Independent Social Worker’s on our panel who are trained to undertake PAMS Assessments. These types of assessments are generally completed in a timeframe of between 6 – 8 weeks. Our Family Support Workers can additionally undertake the teaching element of the PAMS Assessment, using our TOP Parenting Programme, which involves direct work sessions for the parents, based on the specific recommendations within the PAMS report.
