Family Assessment / Support Services

Assessment Programme | Camellia House

Our structured parent and child assessments usually span a minimum of 12 weeks, though durations vary based on each family's circumstances. We employ evidence-based models including ParentAssess, CUBAS (Comprehensive and Dynamic Parenting Assessment) or bespoke parenting assessments as per Family Court Directive.

1. CUBAS: “A dynamic, tailored parenting assessment for Social Workers, designed to enhance practice and deliver meaningful ways of working with families”. Camellia House Residential Family Assessment Centre uses “Cubas Assessment” model. This is an adaptable and dynamic parenting assessment model and software assisted solution for our Social Workers. The tool is used for all families including those with special needs. Cubas encourages change and learning thus creating sustainable changes for families.
2. Parent Assess: “Parent Assess” is a framework developed in 2016 for assessing parents who have learning difficulties and other additional needs within childcare proceedings. It addresses both the emotional and practical aspects of parenting and seeks to identify both the strengths and concerns. The traffic light system means the assessment outcomes are measurable and easy to read, thus adding a positive level of transparency with families.
3. Bespoke Parenting Assessments: Parenting Assessments create by the Allocated Social Worker within a Local Authority using the “Assessment Triangle” and “Risk Assessment”. Theses Parenting Assessments have been developed and directed within Family Court proceedings to assess the parent and child/ren based on the individual family challenges.

Each assessment centres on the child’s lived experience—their "Wishes, Feelings, and View of their World". Families participate in "Weekly House Meetings", Midway Evaluations, and receive a detailed "Final Assessment Report".

Assessments may be concluded early only in rare and serious circumstances such as:

1. Non-Accidental Injury or Neglect
2. Violence or Drug Possession
3. Health or Safety Risks to Others
4. Persistent Non-Engagement or Refusal to participate

Some of our services include the following:

1. Facilitated Family Time Sessions:
   We undertake Family Time Sessions that are facilitated by Independent Social Workers, ASYEs (Assessed Year in employment, Final Year Social Work Students and experienced Support Workers up and down the country. This can be community based or at a designated Family Time Centre. We review referrals directly from the Family Court, Local Authorities, Solicitors, CAFCASS (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) and Fostering Agencies.


2. Reverse Residential Parenting Assessment with 24/7 Monitoring:
   Reverse Residential Parenting Assessments (RRPA) can be considered as an alternative to “Residential Parent and Child Assessment Units”. We can provide a specialist Independent Social Worker to complete a “Community Based Parenting Assessment, alongside 24/7 monitoring and practical parenting support from our team of Family Support Workers, Social Workers and Final Year Social Work Students.
   The assessment will be undertaken within the family home, enabling them to remain in the community that is familiar to them. This provides a family-friendly alternative to child/ren and parents moving to a Residential Assessment Unit, which is often located far away from their family, friends and professional support network which includes the allocated Social Worker and other professionals who offer ongoing support.


3. "Statutory Visits & Welfare Visits”:
   Our team of Independent Social Workers, ASYEs (Assessed Supported Year in Employment) can carry out Statutory Visits for Looked After Children and Child Protection, throughout the country. We provide this service specially to support Social Work Teams to keep up with statutory visits for children placed out of their area. Our experienced Support Work Team can undertake Welfare Visits for Local Authorities Child in Need cases or families with lower-level concerns during daytime, evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays.