A viability assessment is a short, focused, adult-based assessment that considers the merits in further assessment work being undertaken.
These are now most commonly undertaken within the context of determining whether there should be full assessment of a connected carer but can be undertaken as a precursor to full parenting or contact risk assessments.
Such assessments focus 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.
Whilst the imposition of a statutory time limit for the disposal of proceedings has seen a move away from using viability assessments within the context of parenting or contact risk (with the court simply directing full assessment to limit the potential need for successive assessments), there may be cases, for example, involving chronic parental disengagement where such an assessment might be effectively used.
In the right circumstances, a viability assessment can prevent significant delay in the permanency planning for a child by negating the need for the fuller and lengthier assessment process. This might be achieved through either a recommendation for no further assessment or, alternatively, a recommendation for fuller but more focused assessment.
These assessments can be completed within a 4-week timescale.
