What is an assessment?
Either you, or someone on your behalf, has asked for help with some difficulty which affects your child or children. Before we can help we need to know more about you and your family. We need to collect information, talk it over with you and agree what needs to be done. This is an assessment.
Who does the assessment?
A social worker from Children’s Social Care will carry out the assessment.
What happens?
Firstly a social worker will meet with you and your family and hear what you have to say. They will also need to see the child or children, ideally on their own to get their views. They may meet other important people to the family, such as grandparents if they are close. This helps us to understand the whole picture.
Who else will you talk to?
The social worker will talk to other people who know you and your family, such as teachers, health visitors and doctors.
What if I do not want you to talk to someone?
You should tell the social worker if there is someone you do not want them to contact.
Will we know what is said about us?
You will be asked for your written consent to obtain and share information. The leaflet ‘About Social Care Records’ explains how we collect and look after information that is personal to you and about your rights to see this information and have copies made. It also explains that there may be information that cannot be shared but that you will be informed of this and that there is a process to appeal.
Can we have our say?
Yes. You have a right to have your say and we welcome your views at every stage. Your views and those of your family will be clearly recorded in the assessment.
What happened when the assessment is finished?
The information is put together into a report. This will be shared with you and the social worker will give you a copy. If we think we can help, we will sit down with you to agree how we can do this. Together we will agree a plan or what we want to achieve and how we will go about it.
What you can expect from our staff
- we will listen with an open mind and be honest with you – we hope you will do the same
- we will always put your child’s safety first - we will tell you openly if we have concerns and support you keeping your children safe
- we will focus on strengths and positives as well as things that need to change
- we hope that we can work with you to do this assessment - if there is anything that you do not understand, or you have any questions, please ask the social worker
If you wish to call in personally with your social care enquiry, general information and direct contact to customer services is available in the following locations:
Harrogate
Harrogate Library and Information Centre, Victoria Avenue, Harrogate. HG1 1EG Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 9.30am to 7pm, Thursday & Saturday 9.30am to 5pm
Ripon
Ripon Library and Information Centre, The Arcade, Ripon. HG4 1AG Monday and Friday 9.30am to 8.00pm, Tuesday 9.30am to 1pm, Wednesday & Thursday 9.30am to 5.30pm, Saturday 9.30am to 5pm
Northallerton
Civic Centre, Stone Cross, Northallerton. DL6 2UU Monday to Thursday 8.45am to 5.15pm, Friday 8.45am to 4.45pm
Scarborough
Customer First Centre, Town Hall, St. Nicholas Street, Scarborough. YO11 2HG Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8.30am to 5pm, Wednesday 9.30am to 5pm
Selby
Housing Reception, Civic Centre, Portholme Road, Selby. YO8 4SB Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 8.30am to 5pm, Wednesday 10am to 5pm, Friday 8.30am to 4pm
Skipton
Belle Vue Square, Broughton Road, Skipton, BD23 1FJ, Monday to Friday 9.30am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4.30pm
or
Youth and Community Centre, Otley Street, Skipton, BD23 1ET
Contact us
Please contact us here.
If you would like this information in another language or format such as Braille, large print or audio, please contact us.