Guides
Straightforward explanations of Family Court assessments, written by a practitioner who has completed over 250 of them. For families, for professionals, and for anyone who wants to understand how this process actually works.
Straightforward explanations of Family Court assessments, written by a practitioner who has completed over 250 of them. For families, for professionals, and for anyone who wants to understand how this process actually works.
A plain-language guide for parents and carers who've been told an ISW has been appointed. What happens during the assessment, what the report covers, and your rights.
Read guide → For FamiliesPractical, honest advice on preparing for a social work assessment. What the assessor is actually looking for, and why being yourself matters more than performing.
Read guide → For FamiliesYes, through a Special Guardianship Order. How the process works, what the assessment involves, and what the court looks for in grandparent carers.
Read guide → For FamiliesWhat supervised contact is, why courts order it, who can supervise, what the notes are for, what it costs, and how parents move on from it.
Read guide → Later LifeWhat "next of kin" really means, what happens if you can no longer decide for yourself, and what you can put in place now if you are planning for later life on your own.
Read guide →The framework, the domains, what it involves, and what the report covers. Written by an ISW with over 100 ParentAssess assessments completed.
Read guide → Assessment TypeWhat the court is asking for when it orders a welfare report under Section 7 of the Children Act 1989. The process, the welfare checklist, and how it differs from Section 37.
Read guide → Assessment TypeWhen the court directs the local authority to investigate whether a child needs protection. What it means, why it happens, and the possible outcomes.
Read guide → Assessment TypeForensic risk assessments for the Family Court. What types of risk are assessed, how the analysis works, and what DVRIM means. From an ISW with 40+ completed.
Read guide → Assessment TypeCapacity to protect. What it means, when it's used, and what to expect from the assessment. From an ISW trained to advanced Masterclass level.
Read guide → Assessment TypeWhat a Special Guardianship Order assessment involves, who gets assessed, the Form C and Form K frameworks, and how SGO differs from adoption.
Read guide → Assessment TypeWho counts as a connected person, what the assessment covers, and how it relates to SGO and foster care assessments.
Read guide → Assessment TypeThe initial assessment that decides whether a proposed carer should progress to a full assessment. What it covers, Regulation 24, and what happens next.
Read guide → Assessment TypeSibling placement assessments. How sibling relationships are assessed, when separation is considered, and how contact is planned if children are placed apart.
Read guide →Getting the scope right, what to include in the LOI, timescales, the assessment process, report format, oral evidence, and fees. A practical guide for instructing solicitors.
Read guide → For ProfessionalsHow to draft an effective LOI that produces a useful report. What to include, what to avoid, and why specific questions matter more than broad ones.
Read guide → For ProfessionalsWhat to expect when an ISW is instructed in your case, how the collaboration works, and what I need from the allocated social worker.
Read guide → For ProfessionalsHow I approach the Guardian's role in proceedings, communication during assessments, and what happens when we see things differently. Written by a former Guardian.
Read guide → For ProfessionalsWhen a social work report helps an immigration appeal, what to send with the instruction, what to ask for, and what a good report looks like. A practical guide for immigration solicitors.
Read guide → For ProfessionalsThe unduly harsh test requires evidence about this child, not children in general. What social work evidence adds to a deportation appeal, and where its limits are.
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