Risk Assessment

[Angelove]

Hello,

I have been contacted by social services due to my partner coming out of prison possibly soon; they wanted me to do Claire's Law Disclosure. And asked to do a risk assessment. What does it mean? And what is involved?

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Angelove

Welcome to the parents’ discussion board. Thank you for your post. My name is Suzie. I am Family Rights Group’s online adviser.

You explain that your partner may be released from prison shortly. It seems that either the prison or the probation service have made a referral to children’s services. As a social worker has recommended that you make a Clare’s Law application, I presume that your partner has been convicted of domestic abuse or a violent crime. Your partner may have given your address as the address they would live at or if you have a child or children together, they may have indicated that they want to be involved with the child/ren. The social worker wants to make sure that you have full information about your partner’s conviction and other relevant history. This is so that you can make informed choices about your partner’s future involvement in your family life, with their support or additional support, if needed. You should be able to find your local police service and local authority guides to Clare’s Law online. For information please see this link to a short guide produced by a local authority (Leeds) as it provides a helpful summary.

I know that it is worrying for a parent when children’s services become involved. I hope that understanding what they do and why may help you.

Children’s services would like to do an assessment of your child/ren’s needs which will include looking at the potential risk posed by your partner. Please see the information here which explains children’s services’ role which is to promote children’s welfare and keep them safe and how they do this. You will find out more about how they work with families with parents’ consent (child in need) and when they have a legal duty to investigate i.e. where they don’t need parents’ consent (child protection).

We have advice resources on domestic abuse which explain why children’s services become involved when there are concerns that a child/ren may be at risk from domestic abuse. Our specialist FAQs for mothers that may be particularly helpful.

I cannot provide more specific advice at present as the information is limited information. It may be that you already know your partner’s history and have thought about future plans. But their proposed release date and arrangements has triggered a referral to children’s services as there is a child or children involved. As a mother you have parental responsibility for the child/ren and can make decisions for them, but agencies have a duty to share information and work in partnership with you to make sure that you and your child/ren are safe.

You can ask the social worker to tell you more about what they know and how they would like to work with you. Our tips on working with a social worker may help you to make sure you and the social worker can work together well.

If you need specialist support or advice from a domestic abuse service, please see contact details here.

Please do post back or contact the advice service via one of the options linked to here if you have any further questions about children’s services’ involvement with you and your family.

Best wishes

Suzie