Pre-Birth Assessment Framework: Case Study

The assessment framework used for this case comes under The Children Act (1989),which enforces local authorities to provide services for children in need for the purposes of safeguarding and promoting their welfare. Local Authorities undertake assessments of the needs of individual children to determine what services to provide and action to take. Though the Children Act 1989 stipulates the philosophy is that the child should be bought up with the child’s family and the Local Authority should provide support to the end. (HM Government, 2015)

Unborn babies can be placed at risk due to the behaviour of the mother, such as, maternal substance misuse. They can also be deemed at risk due to the circumstances in which the mother is living, for

These arrangements must be completed on the Birth Arrangements Form. A report from the Social Worker, which should include an outline of the pre-birth assessment process, the conclusions and recommendations for future action, is to be made available to the conference. This must be comprehensive and effectively communicated in order to facilitate fluid team working with other professionals.

The SW explained about the Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015 guidance (HM Government). This is a guide that outlines how organisations and individuals, including SW’s should work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and how practitioners should conduct the assessment of children. Crucial in the guidance is the focus on children’s needs which are paramount (para 6) and should be prioritised at the earliest opportunity to reduce risk and prevent a problem from escalating. (Holt,

SWs need to be able to communicate clearly, thoughtfully and effectively using best evidence methods with children of different abilities and ages, as well as their families and the professional system in ways which are engaging, encouraging, respectfully challenging and effective even when people are perceived to be irritated, hostile and resistant to change.

SW’s need to demonstrate the principles of social work through professional judgement, decision-making and actions within a framework of professional accountability. SW’s also need to recognise their own professional limitations and how and when to seek advice from other sources, including supervisors, senior social workers and other clinical practitioners such as psychiatry. You need to demonstrate effective use of opportunities to discuss, debate, reflect upon and test hypotheses about what is happening within families, for children; and how to resolve tensions emerging (Department for Education,