(see also Framework of assessment of children in need and their families)

4.1 Assessing the needs of a child and the capacity of his or her parents or wider family network adequately to ensure their safety, health and development, very often depends on building a picture of the child’s situation on the basis of information from many sources. Enquiries may involve separate interviews with the child who is the subject of concern but where the concern is about criminal activity the child should not be subjected to questioning prior to a video interview other than to secure evidence or prevent an offender escaping. Separate interviews with parents and / or carers should take place noting the interactions between parents and child / children.

4.2 Enquiries may also include interviews with those who are personally and professionally connected with the child; specific examinations or assessments of the child by other professionals (eg. medical or developmental checks, assessment of emotional or psychological state); and interviews with those who are personally and professionally connected with the child’s parents and / or carers.

4.3 Individuals should always be enabled to participate fully in the enquiry process if they are not the abuser. Where a child or parent is disabled, it may be necessary to provide help with communication to enable the child or parent to express themselves to the best of their ability. Where a child or parent speaks a language other than that spoken by the interviewer an interpreter should be provided.

4.4 If the child is unable to take part in an interview because of age or understanding, alternative means of understanding the child’s perspective should be used, including observation of very young children.

4.5 Children are a key and sometimes the only source of information about what has happened to them, especially in child sexual abuse, but also in physical and other forms of abuse. Accurate and complete information is essential for taking action to promote the welfare of the child, as well as for any proceedings which may be instigated concerning an alleged or suspected perpetrator of abuse.

4.6 When children are first approached, the nature and extent of any harm suffered by them may not be clear, nor whether a criminal offence has been committed. It is important that even initial limited discussions with children are conducted in a way so as to minimise any distress caused to them and maximise the likelihood of their providing accurate and complete information.

4.7 It is important, wherever possible, to have separate communication with a child. Leading or suggestive communication should always be avoided and any questions or answers should be contemporaneously recorded. Children may need time, and more than one opportunity in order to develop sufficient trust to communicate any concerns they may have, especially if they have communication difficulties, learning difficulties, are very young or are experiencing mental health problems.

4.8 The fact that the incident may lead to a criminal investigation must always be considered although it may not immediately be apparent and it is possible that some initial questioning may have to take place before the Police are involved. Any early discussions with the child should, as far as possible, adhere to the following basic principles:

• Listen to the child rather than directly question them
• Never stop a child who is freely recalling significant events
• Make notes of the discussion, taking care to record the timing, setting and persons present as well as what was said
• Record all subsequent events up to the time of the substantive interview

4.9 It is always difficult to decide whether a child is ‘in need’ (as defined in Section 17 of The Children Act) as opposed to ‘in need of protection’ (as defined in Section 47 of The Children Act). (See Legal Definitions).

4.10 A list of criteria can give workers a false sense of security while at the same time failing to protect children whose families do not exhibit all the factors involved. It may also lead to the erroneous identification of 'dangerous' families.

4.11 The family context in which harmful or abusive behaviour by parents occurs is an important factor in assessing the risk to the child.

4.12 Professionals should take into account the following:

• Environmental factors such as housing and the condition and safety of the home.
• Family and community support systems.
• The vulnerability of the child in terms of age and special needs.
• The parents’ experiences of their own childhood. Many abusing parents have themselves been abused.
• The parents’ acceptance or not that their child has been or could be harmed and their ability to offer protection in the future.
• Identification of marital or other violence in the home.
• Whether or not the child has experienced a multiplicity of carers which may have interfered with the normal bonding process between parents and child.
• A chronology of events and history to assist and inform decision-making.
• What the child / children say, how they look and how they behave.
• Look beyond the most visible or pressing problem for other warning signs.
• The hard facts - do they support or refute the referral / allegation.

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