Initial assessments in child protection: The reality of practice

The aim of this paper is to consider the difficulties around the process of initial assessments in child protection. By initial assessments we are referring to that stage where a child care social worker has received a referral and needs to make a decision about whether it constitutes a child protection referral or not. The processes involved in this decision-making are the main focus of this paper, with the authors drawing upon their own experience of practice and relevant studies which indicate that, unlike ‘comprehensive’ assessments, there is little information, policy or guidance about how to determine whether a referral constitutes a child protection matter. Even when this decision is not in dispute, for example in extreme cases of child abuse, how they should be prioritised in relation to other child abuse referrals remains unclear. A case study is used to illustrate ways in which practitioners' value judgements may help or hinder them in the process of making initial decisions and assessments in child protection. Other factors are similarly explored which include mechanistic responses to referrals; practice which is ‘evidence-led’; and resource issues. We highlight the importance of understanding the impact of values on decision making in initial assessments.