PAMS Assessments
‘Parent Assessment Manual’ known as PAMS is an assessment tool used to assess parents with learning differences who require a specialist approach to understand their parenting strengths, any areas of risk, alongside areas of recommended teaching. PAMS assessments are recognised by the court, solicitors and local authorities as one of the most comprehensive methods to assess parents with learning differences.
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The assessment covers childcare and development, behaviour management, independent living skills, safety and hygiene, parent’s health, relationships and support and the impact of the environment and community on parenting. Parenting skills are assessed through the use of discussion, observation, written tasks, practical tasks and visual aids with a focus on Knowledge and skill.
By breaking the above elements of parenting down into small and testable components, PAMS produces an assessment that is a measured, evidence-based and provides a clear visual profile of functioning that targets support needs, as well as any areas of risk and vulnerability.
All our assessments provide a comprehensive assessment of parent's social history in line with the Framework for the Assessment of Children and their Families (2000).
CUBAS Assessments
CUBAS is a licensed model of assessment that was launched in 2021 by Clair Chamberlain and Geraldine Wetherell (experienced social workers) to provide a modern approach to chid and family assessments.
CUBAS can be used as an alternative to PAMS and is a six faceted dynamic model of assessment that is created by social workers, for social workers and families to promote high quality assessments undertaken with integrity. CUBAS covers a very wide range of current issues impacting the care and protection of children.
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The CUBAS approach allows assessors to identify presenting issues, the child’s needs, the parent’s potential capacity to meet those needs, and obstacles to parental safety and parental development. Parents are facilitated throughout CUBAS to consider everything impacting their care, including:
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Cognition difficulties.
Emotional, mental and physical health.
Their own experiences and needs.
Understanding of their child(rens) needs.
Substance use.
Their adult relationships.
Domestic abuse.
Criminality.
Support networks
Furthermore, CUBAS ensures a thorough exploration of parental insights, attitudes, honesty, receptivity, engagement, motivation and capacity for change with the software combining criteria based risk ratings with the flexibility for practitioners to provide evidence for any need to override a risk rating in light of new information or a change of circumstances.
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CUBAS does not afford unlimited opportunities for parental growth and development. The model ensures the assessor holds a child's needs central to the process and prioritises them throughout. CUBAS also generates a simplified parent report to help parents understand findings and encourage further change.
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ParentAssess Assessments
ParentAssess was created by Sarah Lowe who has over 30 years of experience in the social work field and specifically with people who have learning disabilities.
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ParentAssess is a framework developed for assessing parents who have learning differences and other additional needs. 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. The framework can be used where children remain with their parents or where children have been placed in foster care and supervised contact is in place.
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ParentAssess uses a number of specific visual tools. Video feedback can be an important element to help the parents develop their skills. ParentAssess is designed to be simple and easy to read by the parents who are being assessed and the framework uses a traffic light system along with a range of visual aids to assist the parent.
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Although the assessment is not a parenting programme, assessors are required to ascertain the parent's ability to change or develop their parenting so some advice is given. Assessors are trained to use a range of techniques which are known to assist parents with learning differences such as repetition, breaking down a task and modelling.
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Evidence is gathered from the tools, speaking to others in the support network, speaking to the child (if over 4 years) and direct observations. The results then all feed into the Outcome Table which provides a clear representation of the progress or concerns. The Assessor uses the ParentAssess Tools, Software and the Assessment Template.
Every parent has their own issues and identity and it is vital any assessment framework considers issues of diversity and the particular needs of the parent. Assessors are trained to consider the individual needs of families carefully and the tools can be adapted to ensure cultural difference is respected. When the assessment is completed the parent is provided with an Abridged Parent Report which explains the outcome in a clear 'easy to understand' way. ​
Standard Comprehensive Risk and Parenting Assessments
Our standard risk and parenting assessments are completed in line with the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families (2000). During assessment sessions and observations of family time, a parent's ability to meet the individual and collective needs of their child(ren) is carefully assessed. A comprehensive analysis of risk factors and family strengths is carefully considered, alongside any support needs that may adequately mitigate risks to children and promote parental change.
RE W Assessments
Achieving a fair trial is not only a fundamental human right under Article 6 of the Human Rights Act (1998), but is the golden thread running thought the UK family justice system. There are times when it may be considered appropriate for a child to give evidence and be cross examined within family proceedings. This can include children who have made allegations of abuse against a parent / family member which need to be determined by the court.
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Following the case of Re W [2010] UKSC 12, there is no longer a presumption against a child giving oral evidence in family proceedings. The court considered that proceedings are more likely to be fair if the parents are allowed the opportunity to challenge the evidence against them, even if that evidence comes from a child. However, a balance needs to be struck between the welfare of the child, whose evidence may be challenged, and the fairness of the proceedings.
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The Court has to weigh two relevant considerations which are the advantages that a child giving evidence will bring to the determination of the truth and the damage it might do to the welfare of the child witness. Our social workers are very experienced in completing Re W assessments to assist the court in the above determination.
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All our Re W assessments take into consideration the twenty-one factors set out in Re W alongside having regard to the Working Party of the Family Justice Council: Guidelines in relation to children giving evidence in family proceedings (2011) publication.
Initial Viability Assessments, Fostering Assessments and Special Guardianship Assessments
We are able to prepare connected person assessments, Special Guardianship assessments and initial viability assessments in line with local authorities' specific template, to ensure compliance with individual policies, procedures, and panel requirements. Health Assessments, Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS) and multi-agency checks will need to be completed by the instructing local authority.
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Our assessments explore a carer’s motivation and ability to care for the child(ren) whilst promoting the child's safety and identity. Our assessments are compliant with the Fostering Standards and our Special Guardianship Assessments are compliant with the Special Guardianship (Amendment) Regulations 2016. Additionally, all out special guardianship assessments are completed in line with the updated Best Practice Guidance: Special Guardianship Orders which was published in March 2021.