Service provision

Key points

Some thought should now be given to the information that has been collected. This should lead to a list of needs which should be translated into objectives. For example:

At this stage there should be no mention of services, as children's needs can be met in a variety of ways.

Having identified needs and objectives, the assessment team should now consider how to meet them. They should think about

These are then used to formulate an action plan.

In some cases the situation is more complex and even though an initial assessment has been completed it is still unclear what should happen next. If this is the case, a core or specialist assessment is required.

How to do it

It is important for the social worker and others involved in the assessment to link services to the child's needs. They must be clear with the service provider about what they want the provider to do and achieve.

Lessons from research

What families appreciate most are the personal and professional qualities of the worker, empathy, genuineness, warmth, reliability, honesty, skill and knowledge.

Ethnically matched workers are preferred but not essential. Workers need to be culturally sensitive and competent when working with black and ethnic minority families, aware of the impact of racism and able to challenge it, open-minded about difference and willing to ask or seek advice.

Many families who might be entitled to services do not necessarily want them, and manage well enough without them.

Chand A and Thoburn J: Research Review: Child and family support services with minority ethnic families: what can be learned from research? in Child and Family Social Work, Vol 10, 2 (2005).