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8.2.12 Parenting Assessments

Contents                             

  1. Introduction     
  2. Underpinning Principles of Parenting Assessments
  3. Identifying Risk and Protective Factors
  4. The Assessment Process


1. Introduction

1.1

There has been increased emphasis placed on the provision of support and guidance for parents such that the key performance indicator relating to parenting support has been altered essentially doubling the proportion of parents who receive an intervention:

  • To ensure that 20% of young people with Final Warnings supported by intervention and community based penalties receive a parenting intervention
1.2 Parenting interventions can be provided on a voluntary basis, on a voluntary basis using a Parenting Contract, or through a Parenting Order made by the court. Where at all possible the YOS will seek to engage parents on a voluntary basis.
1.3 Parenting interventions may be delivered in a variety of ways, e.g. individual or group work sessions, the delivery of a prescribed curriculum or a more therapeutic approach. Although the delivery framework may vary, the components of a needs assessment will remain the same.
1.4

This document should be read in conjunction with the following YOS chapters:


2. Underpinning Principles of Parenting Assessments

2.1 How practitioners approach the assessment process is key to the effectiveness of their work.  Practitioners need to build positive, collaborative relationships with parents and young people and engage them in the assessment process. 
2.2 The process should be aimed at the benefits for young people and their parents and provide the opportunity for parents to have a voice in what can be done to address their child’s behaviour.  This includes the opportunity to vent their frustrations and to identify their needs and the positives that already exist.  Assessments can be carried out in a way that promotes change, instils hope and is empowering and motivational for parents.
2.3 Any parenting assessment needs to be part of an integrated approach to understanding a young person’s behaviour.  A young person’s continued offending or anti – social behaviour can be seen as an expression of some difficulty, for example it may result from the way a family functions, bullying in school, the experience of or onset of adolescent development or mental health issues.  The parenting assessment process helps to identify whether changes in parenting skills or styles may help parents to support their child and address their behaviour more effectively
2.4 An assessment tool should be used to identify parenting risks and protective factors, as well as any general needs. The assessment process should consider individual parents/carers circumstances and any potential reasons for them finding it difficult to participate.


3. Identifying Risk and Protective Factors

3.1 There are factors that if present in a young person’s family life place them at greater risk or help protect them from being involved in offending.  It is important to identify both the parenting risk and protective factors that are present as well as the stresses that families are experiencing.
3.2

Stresses may be at a community level, living in an impoverished neighbourhood for example, at a family level such as family poverty and poor housing and at an individual level such as social isolation or depression (Ghate and Hazel 2002).

Parenting risk factors   Parenting protective factors
Parental and sibling criminality  The use of positive discipline methods                                                   
Parental neglect, including lack of supervision. Active monitoring and supervision
Chronic family conflict  Supportive parent-child relationships
Harsh or erratic discipline Families advocate for their children

Parents seek information and support

3.3 Most research has shown that the criminal behaviour of parents or other family members, and neglect – are the most powerful variables, which link with the offending behaviour of young people.  In considering interventions with parents therefore, it is necessary to recognise that not all risk factors are equally amenable to change.  A parenting intervention is more likely to impact on parenting styles or types of discipline than on parental criminality for example.
3.4 Any assessment on parents should be linked to the young person for whom they are responsible.


4. The Assessment Process

4.1 The completion of the Asset by the caseworker is the first part of the assessment process providing, as it does, a holistic assessment framework.
4.2

On completion of either Asset or Final Warning Asset, check the scores.  If any of the following apply:

  • Section (1,) living arrangements score is 2 or above, or;
  • Section (2,) family and personal relationships, is 2 or above, or;
  • The total Asset score is over 25,

a referral to the YOS parenting worker should be made
4.3

Referrals to the parenting worker will also be automatic in the following circumstances;

  • Where the young person is identified as being a persistent young offender
  • Where the young person is identified as a potential prolific or priority offender
  • Where the young person receives a custodial sentence
  • Where the young person is made subject to an ISSP programme
4.4 The caseworker should inform parents that a referral to the parenting worker is being made.
4.5 Where a report is being prepared for court there is a time constraint. It is important for the referral to the parenting worker to be made as soon as possible as their assessment will inform the PSR on the issue of whether or not a formal parenting order is required.
4.6 The presumption is that where any of the circumstances in 4.2 or 4.3 apply a parenting assessment will take place. There may be exceptional circumstances where this is not appropriate, for example if the young person does not live at home. The YOS parenting worker will discuss referrals with the case holder.
4.7

The Parenting Assessment is based upon the model provided by the Trust For The Study of Adolescents. The parenting assessment will lead to either:  

  • No further action
  • Intervention.  This could be intervention by the YOS or a referral to another agency.  Intervention could be either individual or group work and could be voluntary, voluntary with a parenting contract or Parenting Order.
4.8 There may be circumstances where the YOS triggers for an assessment are not met but the parents may be seeking the Asset does not trigger a parenting assessment however the parents may be seeking additional support. These cases should be discussed with the parenting worker who has information on community support services for families and can support families in accessing suitable services.
4.9 All parents of young people receiving an intervention, regardless of whether they trigger an assessment or not, will be given the parent information pack, available from the parenting worker.

End