How can parents and carers get a child in need assessment?

Parents and carers can contact their local authority’s children’s services department at their local council and ask for a child in need assessment. These details should be available on the council website or from directory enquiries. First contact may be with a multi-agency safeguarding hub or a duty social work team. It will be helpful to think about:

• What the problems are
• How bad they are
• How extra help will help the child and family
• What might happen if extra help is not offered.

This information can then be shared with children’s services. This could be written down or emailed. It could be explained in a meeting on the telephone, video call or in person.

Parents can give children’s services any other useful information. This can include details of other people involved with the child, including family and friends. It may be someone who works with the child such as a teacher or someone at a children’s centre. They may all have information about the extra help that might be needed.