Parenting Assessment

Many of you will be familiar with recent press coverage of abused and neglected children. It often makes difficult reading, and you may wonder how these tragedies are allowed to happen?

In truth, making decisions about removing children from their birth families is an emotive and complex process. Taking a child into care should be a last resort, but of course leaving a child exposed to significant risk or danger is also unacceptable.

Making safe decisions on children and their families is not easy and the Unique Contact and Community (UCCS) Services Parenting Assessment service is designed to help the Local Authority and the Courts make a judgement on a birth parents ability to care for their child. This work is vital both to protect the child but also to give the birth parent(s) the best chance of proving they have the necessary skills and motivations to nurture the child.

Mother and child bonding during a session

Our Parenting Assessments are undertaken over a 12 week period in the home of an experienced and specially trained assessing Foster Carer who receives high levels of supervision and support.

Parenting Assessment Foster Carers enjoy a close working relationship with a range of professionals and have the opportunity to develop and use new skills as a part of this highly motivated and experienced team.

For experienced Foster Carers, this is an opportunity to benefit from additional training, enhanced fostering allowances and a retainer. Others who may be suited to this specialist type of work include people already working in childcare settings. This is another service that sets UCCS apart from other agencies. Currently Parenting Assessment is a part of at our centre in London.

If you feel that you may have the necessary skills and want to learn more about undertaking this important work then call 0208 221 4539