CASE STUDY 1 - Parenting Capacity Assessment
Jill and Graham were referred for a full parenting capacity assessment by their Social Work Department. The relationship between Social Work and the family was difficult and the Children’s Panel recommended an independent assessment in order to get a detailed view of the situation.
The parents were experiencing significant difficulties in caring for their 6 month old son Nathan, who had been accommodated in foster care following concerns for his wellbeing and safety.
Jill had been diagnosed with a personality disorder and suffered from problematic alcohol use. Graham was known to use drugs. The assessment took place over 8 weeks and was structured to provide Graham with learning opportunities that matched his learning needs.
As part of the assessment there were joint sessions with Jill and Graham as well as together and separately with Nathan. It emerged that Graham and Jill were unable to reflect on the impact their violent relationship and drug use could have on the care of Nathan.
Neither parent had shown the capacity to change their risk-taking behaviours during the assessment period. The risk to Nathan was assessed as being significantly high and a recommendation was made that permanency planning should be progressed.
Nathan was subsequently adopted and was able to form secure and healthy attachments within his new family unit.
CASE STUDY 2 – Sibling Assessment
Jemma and her brother Scott were referred for a sibling assessment by their local authority social work department. Both children were the subject of permanency planning as their parents were unable to care for them.
An independent assessment was requested by the solicitor acting for one of the parents who wanted the children to be placed together.
Jemma and Scott had been in foster care both together and separately over a number of years but Scott was becoming increasingly violent and aggressive towards his sister.
The purpose of the assessment was to explore their relationship with each other, including the nature and quality of their attachment to each other. Scott was able to explore the traumatic experiences of his past. It emerged that although Scott loved and cared for his sister he felt responsible for her care and he resented and blamed her at times for them being in care.
At the end of the assessment a recommendation was made for both children to be placed separately to meet the children’s different needs and that ongoing contact was maintained.
Scott and Jemma were successfully adopted into separate families. The children keep in touch with one another and see each other regularly.
CASE STUDY 3 - Parenting Capacity Assessment
Craig was three years old when he was referred to Scotland’s Child and Family Assessment Centre along with his mum, Claire (aged 21), by a local authority Social Work Department. They wanted an independent assessment of Claire’s ability to adequately meet all of Craig’s longer term needs and a risk assessment on her capacity to keep him safe.
Both of Claire’s parents died when she was 12 years old and she went to live with her grandmother. Gran had struggled to cope with Claire’s behaviour as she was growing up and when she got pregnant at 16, Claire did not want the baby. This child lives with her paternal grandmother and has done so since she was 6 months old.
When Claire’s second child, Craig, was born 3 years ago she again struggled to cope. Despite this, she built a loving and affectionate relationship with Craig. However Social Services became involved following concerns about Craig’s physical care when he was 12 months old. Gran initially took Craig into her care but she struggled due to her own ill health. Craig was subsequently taken into foster care.
When referred for assessment, Craig and his mum were having contact for two hours a week. They appeared to have a good relationship during contact time although sometimes Claire appeared very low and distracted.
The assessment took place over 8 weeks. During the assessment, Claire demonstrated a good understanding of Craig’s needs and showed an ability to keep him safe and prioritise his needs appropriately.
At the end of the assessment a recommendation of rehabilitation was made and findings from the assessment informed the multi agency plan put in place to support Craig and his mum. Contact was gradually increased until Craig was successfully returned to the full time care of his mum.