Assessment: when does it help and when does it hinder? Parents' experiences of the assessment process

Abstract

It is widely acknowledged that there are significant benefits when statutory child protection agencies and parents are able to engage cooperatively with one another to ensure the well‐being of children. Despite promising innovations there are ongoing concerns that the current child protection model alienates and confuses many parents. It is hypothesized that a significant reason for this is that statutory agencies have become reliant on formalistic assessment, and as a consequence interactions with parents have become dominated by a focus on assessment‐compliance. A qualitative study of 40 parents who had recently been investigated in Australia is reported. The analysis suggests that many parents find characteristics of assessment processes intrusive and that this undermines engagement. It is concluded that there should be greater debate about the role that assessment plays in child protection practice.

Re-visioning Child Protection Management Embedded in Family Empowerment

“…This section examines the concept of empowerment and describes its relevance for this research, which offered arguments for service development in terms of lived experiences of families (Harris, 2012;Johnson and Sullivan, 2008;Platt, 2008;Wiffin, 2010;Ivec, Braithwaite and Harris, 2012;Khan, 2015). Exploring the perspectives of the parents about their wellbeing and empowerment needs can reflect deeper insight and contribute to the discussion regarding the concept and process of their empowerment (Dumbrill, 2006;D'Cruz and Gillingham, 2014;Ghaffar et al, 2012).…”

“…The outcome of changing approaches to risk management, which is empirically based due to evidence of reliability (rather than risk driven clinically oriented) and long-term safety and care were effectively integrated into the empowerment of the child and the family welfare (Lonne, Parton, Thompson and Harris, 2009;Ghaffar, Manby and Race, 2012;Harris, 2012;Johnson and Sullivan, 2008).…”

“…Despite some difficulties in the differential approach, there was no evidence that children considered to be at risk of maltreatment are best protected by emphasising forensic and investigatory approaches alone (Cameron and Freymond, 2014). In response to the increasing criticism of the forensic assessment policy, the focus shifted to a family empowerment approach using an assessment process with a long-term focus (Harris, 2012). The Ontario Ministry of Child and Youth…”

“…Family is the natural place where children are born and grow up to become future men and women of the society. The family 22 empowerment focused agenda is widely acknowledged in the Children's Chartered Rights (OHCHR, 2007), as well as by the policy makers and academics internationally regarding the significant role of families in the long-term care and protection of children (Department of Health, 2000;Laming, 2003Laming, & 2009Dumbrill, 2006;Ghaffar et al, 2012;Harris, 2012).…”

“…This policy response can be considered as a recognition of some of the criticisms on the differential response approach, which also articulates a transparent and responsive practice embedded in family empowerment (Dumbrill, 2010;Harris;Wiffin, 2010). However, while the change in the policy directions is acknowledged, the earlier policy has subjected to criticism considering its negative impact in the families.…”