Prepare for and carry out assessment of children and young people
Overview
This standard is about gathering information to prepare plans to assess the likelihood, nature and imminence of risk associated with the behaviour of children and young people.
It involves collating and recording information to plan and carry out assessment of children and young people.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
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| 1. gather up-to-date information on children and young people, their family or carers including whether they have participated in any previous assessments
2. provide children and young people with relevant information needed to prepare for meetings
3. assess the risks or needs and identify any protective factors for yourself, children, young people, their families or carers in line with organisational policies and procedures
4. explain in ways that meet the needs of children, young people, their family or carers:
your role and that of your organisation
the information sought and reasons for seeking it
5. explain what information needs to be shared with others including the reasons for sharing and the limits of confidentiality
6. identify through observation:
- the nature of the home environment
- the relationships within the family unit
- the social functioning and development of children, young people and their family or carer
- if the child or young person needs any specialist assessment - or access to intervention or treatment services
· areas of social deprivation
· the strength of community resources
· their fear of crime
8. confirm families' and carers' rights to make their own decisions whilst alerting them to decisions and actions that may impact others
9. identify the networks which children, young people, their families or carers have within the wider community
10. arrange any specialist assessment, if identified
11. assess the child or young person’s desistance readiness using available information and promoting a strengths-based approach
12. identify actions to address risk factors and enhance protective factors for children and young people:
13. establish the opportunity for restorative practice and the involvement of others in line with organisational policies and procedures
14. prepare plans and consider the perspective of the child or young person on the change process
15. involve children, young people, their families or carers at appropriate times during the planning process
16. review and agree plans with appropriate others
17. provide information about the support and associated services available in line with individual and organisational processes
18. establish whether plans need to align with other organisations or services
19. agree with relevant others the review points for plans, and responsibilities for making these happen
20. agree appropriate and preferred options with children, young people, their families or carers in ways that meet their needs
21. provide appropriate support and encouragement to families or carers in their relationships with children and young people
22. maintain accurate and up to date records, in line with legal and organisational requirements |
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
1. relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures that apply to your own organisation for the work being undertaken
2. the relevant assessment tools used in making assessments of children and young people
3. local and national strategies for developing plans and the impact of these on your own plans
4. the information required towards assessing children and young people, appropriate to managing their risk of offending or reoffending
5. the principles of risk-led practice based upon specific descriptions of risk in terms of behaviour and circumstances
6. sources of relevant information regarding children and young people and how to access these
7. methods for verifying and corroborating the information received
8. how to distinguish between directly observed evidence, evidence from reliable sources and hearsay
9. how to design and develop plans and programmes for children and young people
10. the key notions that underpin desistance and the process of change
11. factors to consider when developing and agreeing plans
12. procedures and methods to assess and manage risk factors including the use of risk assessment systems
13. issues children and young people may face with plans and strategies for addressing these
14. the range of available options for supervision and management of children and young people in the community
15. your role and responsibilities and where to seek advice or assistance if required
16. the nature and structure of families and carers and the diversity of these in different contexts and cultures
17. the significance of the relationship between families and carers and children and young people, and particularly between parents and children
18. the general, personal, socio-cultural, economic and psychological influences that affect both the experience and process of parenting including how children and young peoples' experiences of being parented affect how they will parent themselves
19. the impact of the broader social environment on families and carers and children and young people, including:
· areas of material deprivation crime and the fear of crime
· poor housing
· poverty
20. the needs of family members including mental health and substance use, and the effect of these needs on children and young people
21. the nature of adolescent behaviour and ways of seeing this positively
22. the role of your organisation and its services and how they relate to other agencies and services in the sector
23. development and parenting skills including physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and communication skills
24 how to identify and respond to safeguarding concerns
25 types of additional support children and young people might require
26 how to communicate with individuals in ways that meet their needs
27 how to create an environment that puts individuals at ease
28 the impact of trauma on children and young people and how to ensure your practice takes this into consideration
29 how to apply trauma informed practice in your area of work
30 the principles of trauma informed and strengths-based practice
31 the principles of restorative justice
32 behaviours which demonstrate value for others
33 where to seek advice on up to date practice on neurodivergence
34 why it is important to agree aims, objectives and deadlines
35 how to manage hostility and aggression in ways that promote good working relationships and protect your personal safety
36 how culture, gender and beliefs can affect attitudes and behaviour and how they may be perceived by others
37 why you should adhere to professional codes or standards of practice
38 how to organise information in ways that will help you analyse it, and the format required when reporting information
39 organisational policies and procedures for record keeping