Child Care and Development
What does the parent understand under “child care”? How does the parent plan to look after the child? How does the parent plan to enable the child to learn more about the world?
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Parenting Assessments
PAM Assessments -
Professional Parenting Assessments Throughout London
Parenting assessments are used to determine whether parents or prospective carers have the capacity to meet the needs of children under their care. These assessments are sometimes required by local authorities when the well-being of a child is called into question. At other times, these assessments are used to inform and determine whether a child’s potential new carer will be able to provide appropriate care.
PAM Assessments accurately assess parenting capacity and compiles this data into a detailed report which can presented in court as evidence of adequate parenting capabilities or the lack thereof.
We offer two main types of assessments 一 viability and PAMS assessments.
Viability Assessments: Faster, more preliminary evaluations of parenting capabilities.
PAMS Assessments: Take longer to complete but provide more in-depth insight into a parent’s skills, abilities, areas of potential improvement and the capacity to make the necessary changes.
If you are unsure which one of these assessments would best suit your needs, please contact us for a free initial phone consultation on . Please note that we only work with local authorities and lawyers in the London area.
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Viability Assessments
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A viability assessment is an evaluation which quickly establishes whether a relative or new carer is capable of looking after a child or if further investigations are required to determine their parenting capabilities more accurately. A viability assessment can be completed within ten days. A report based on the findings of the assessment will detail strengths and weaknesses of the parent as well as whether a full parenting assessment or special guardianship report will be needed. |
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PAMS Assessments
The Parent Assessment Manual Software (PAMS) provides a thorough overview of parenting capabilities. It covers the following:
Behavioural Management
How does the parent aim to teach the child self-control? Does the parent have a plan for teaching the child about socialising with others?
Independent Living Skills
Is the parent able to support themselves financially and perform daily tasks without the help of other adults? Can the parent teach the child how to become an independent adult?
Safety and Hygiene
Does the parent understand external dangers and how to educate the child about these? Can the parent teach the child how to keep themselves clean and healthy?
Parental Health
What is the state of the parent's overall health? Are they in need of a mental health assessment? Do they need professional medical support to remain healthy and well?
Relationships and Support
Is there a close bond between the parent and child? How does the parent aim to develop, maintain and strengthen the relationship? Is the parent offered emotional support by other family members or connected persons?
Impact of the Environment and Community on Parenting
Is their any violence present in the neighbourhood or community and how does the parent keep, or plan to keep, the child safe? Is there support for the parent and child from other members of the community? Are resources accessible and within easy reach?
How PAMS Assessments Work
During a PAMS assessment, the carer will be asked to elaborate on their understanding of these topics. They may also be asked to perform certain parenting activities or might simply be observed in their home environment. We might also provide some specific guidance, note how the parent interprets the advice and if they can integrate the recommendations in their interactions with their child. In this way, we will develop a clear understanding of the individual’s abilities as a parent.
The PAMS assessments are designed to take into account parents who have learning difficulties or disabilities. This means that if the parent is not comfortable using writing or verbal skills to complete the assessment, then we will carry out the work using practical demonstrations and visual aids.
Although we cannot give an exact time frame for each PAMS assessment, on average, most assessments take about six to twelve weeks. The duration of each assessment is variable because the time it takes to complete the assessment is influenced by a range of diverse factors, including the cooperation of the parent. The more willing the parent is to receive help, the shorter the amount of time in which the evaluation can be completed.
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Reporting
After the assessment is complete, we will provide the client with a full report detailing the strengths and weaknesses of the parent or prospective guardian. This report can then be presented in court as legal proof of a certain parent or guardian’s ability to undertake the responsibility of looking after a child.
The parents will also be presented with a copy of the report and we will go over recommendations for improvements with them. We will conduct practical exercises to help them learn how to act in the future. We will also suggest putting in place certain support structures and will discuss with the parents how these structures can be implemented successfully and how they can be sustainably maintained.
To hire PAM Assessments or to conduct a preliminary or more comprehensive parenting assessment in London call or send an email to [email protected]