Using an assessment framework: outcomes from a pilot study
| Published date | 01 June 2007 |
| Date | 01 June 2007 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/17466660200700004 |
| Pages | 37-47 |
| Author | Helen Buckley,Sadhbh Whelan,Cliona Murphy,Jan Horwath |
| Subject Matter | Education,Health & social care,Sociology |
37
Journal of Children’s Services
Volume 2 Issue 1 June 2007
© Pavilion Journals (Brighton) Ltd
Abstract
This article reports on the evaluation of a pilot project which tested the utility of a framework for the
Assessment of Vulnerable Children and their Families in five health board (local authority) areas in the
Republic of Ireland. The framework had been developed following a consultancy process with
practitioners and managers from a number of disciplines. The evaluation sought to establish whether (1)
use of the framework helped to standardise practice across a range of organisational environments, (2)
the framework was effective in a range of family situations and circumstances, (3) the process of
assessment was transparent, (4) the framework advanced collaboration between disciplines and (5) the
materials were user-friendly. The methods used for evaluation were: semi-structured interviews, a review
of case records, a postal survey of practitioners, an action learning set and consultation with an expert
group. Findings indicated that the framework was largely successful in its aims, with weaknesses
demonstrated principally in two areas, namely inadequate use of evidence for decision-making and
deficiencies in documented information about children.
Key words
assessment; child protection; child welfare; parenting capacity; child development
1Senior Lecturer,
School of Social
Work and Social
Policy, University
of Dublin,
Trinity College,
Dublin, Ireland
2Research Fellow,
Children’s Research
Centre, University
of Dublin,
Trinity College,
Dublin, Ireland
3Research Fellow,
Children’s Research
Centre, University
of Dublin, Trinity
College, Dublin,
Ireland
4Professor of
Child Welfare,
Department
of Sociological
Studies,
University of
Sheffield, UK
Introduction
A considerable body of research was carried out
into child protection and welfare practices in
different regions of Ireland during the 1990s
(EHB/Impact, 1997; Buckley et al, 1997; Ferguson &
O’Reilly, 2001; Horwath & Bishop, 2001; Horwath &
Sanders, 2003; Buckley, 2002; 2003). Likewise,
child abuse inquiries have illustrated specific policy
and practice issues that impact on the ability of
services to protect children from ongoing abuse
(Department of Health, 1993; Western Health
Board, 1996; North Western Health Board, 1998;
Murphy et al, 2005). In common with similar
studies carried out elsewhere, the research
indicates that major developments have taken place
in childcare services and shows that a great deal of
high-quality protective and welfare work is being
carried out with children who are at risk of being, or
have been, abused. However, some areas of concern
have been identified. These include:
ndisparities regarding the thresholds at which
children and families are deemed eligible for
services
ntensions between the level of resources
invested in family support services as opposed
to child protection investigation
nlimitations in identifying and providing services
for children in ‘need’
ninconsistencies in the nature of service provision.
For example, there has been a perception that
assessment commonly acts as a ‘rationing’ process
and that services are provided only where indications
of child abuse or potential child abuse exist. There is
also evidence that while neglect is the most
commonly reported and ultimately seriously harmful
form of child abuse, it does not always receive a
consistent or child-focused response from
professionals. The absence of a common and
comprehensive method of assessment, together with
disagreement amongst professionals on thresholds
Using an assessment framework:
outcomes from a pilot study
Helen Buckley1, Sadhbh Whelan2, Cliona Murphy3and Jan Horwath4
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