Maintaining a child-centred approach to decision-making about significant harm is challenging. We are dealing with families who will engender a range of feelings in practitioners from empathy through to anger. It is important to recognise these feelings and try and ensure that professional judgement guides decision-making at conference.
Barry (2007) considered these feelings with regards to adults at risk. Her work has been adapted here for those working with children and their families.
- no decision is damage free.
- Key is making decisions that are in the best interests of the child. This can be a challenge if, for example, practitioners recognise the parent is doing their best, but unfortunately this is not preventing significant harm.
- Practitioners will often have to weigh up the best options available. For example, is it better to refer to a service that is designed to meet a child’s needs, knowing the waiting list is lengthy, or referring to a service that is not so well suited but has a much shorter waiting time?
- effective decisions are made based on a calculated and reasoned assessment and analysis of the risk.
- It is important that sufficient time is spent at conference making sense of information obtained. All too often the focus is on information-sharing with decision-making marginalised.
- Children are individuals; therefore, decisions should be made about each child drawing on an analysis of the individual risks and protective factors experience by that child.
- a sound evidence base is key.
- The lived experience of the child and parent/s and the impact observed by practitioners provides evidence of significant harm
- Professional knowledge and research provides an indication of the likelihood of significant harm occurring if the concerns are not addressed
- practitioners and the family should reach a shared understanding of the concerns if they are to work together effectively to meet the care, support and protection needs of the child.
- risk assessment is an ongoing process.
Further information:
Barry, M (2007) Effective approaches to Risk Assessment in Social Work. An international literature review Scottish Executive. www2.gov.scot/ (Accessed 16/7/2019)