If your solicitor has told you that an independent social worker has been appointed to assess you, you're probably feeling anxious. That's normal. Most people I meet for the first time are nervous, and I'd be worried if they weren't. It means they care.
I've completed over 250 of these assessments. Every family is different, but the process follows a similar shape each time. Here's what will actually happen.
What an independent assessment is
The court has asked for an independent view. That word matters. I don't work for the local authority, I don't work for your solicitor, and I don't work for the children's Guardian. The court has asked me to form my own professional opinion based on what I find (lawyers call this being "instructed"). That means I'm not coming in with a position already decided. I'm coming in to understand your situation, honestly and fairly.
What happens during the assessment
I'll usually visit you at home. That's not because I'm inspecting your house, though I will note the living arrangements. It's because people are more themselves in their own space. We'll talk. I'll ask about your childhood, your relationships, your experience of being parented, and how all of that shapes the parent you are now. Some of those conversations will be hard. I won't shy away from the difficult questions, but I'll always treat you with respect.
I'll also spend time with your children, if they're old enough. Sometimes that's through direct play or conversation, sometimes it's observing you together. I'll speak with the professionals who know your family: the social worker, teachers, health visitors, anyone relevant. And I'll read everything in the court bundle (the file of papers the court has about your case).
Depending on the type of assessment, I will usually see you between two and five times. Each visit typically lasts a couple of hours. I'll always tell you in advance what I need to cover, and you'll have a chance to say anything you feel I've missed.
Your first session
The first session is usually at your home. It typically lasts a couple of hours. There will be more than one session, so you do not have to say everything on the first day.
You do not need to prepare a speech. You do not need to tidy the house for me. If your home is safe and warm, that is enough. Wear what you would normally wear at home.
I will explain what I am doing and why I am asking each question. You can ask me questions at any point. If you need a break, say so. If you get upset, that is fine.
If you have a disability, or you need me to do anything differently, tell your solicitor and let me know before the first session. I can change how long a session is, how I ask the questions, or where we meet.
What you tell me is not secret. It goes in my report, and the court and the other people in your case read it. If I am worried about a child's safety, I must tell the social worker straight away, and I will tell you when I do.
What I write
My report goes to the court and to all the parties in your case (the people and organisations involved, such as you, the other parent, the local authority, and the children's Guardian). It will cover what I found, what I think it means, and what I recommend. I'll be honest with you. Not every report reaches the conclusion a parent is hoping for. But I can promise you this: whatever I write will be based on evidence, not assumption. If I think something positive, I'll say it. If I have concerns, I'll explain exactly what they are and why.
At the end, I'll write you a personal letter. It's called a closing letter, and it's written directly to you, in plain language, explaining what I found and what I've recommended. It's not a legal document. It's a human one. I think it matters that you hear from me directly, not just through your solicitor's summary of a 40-page report.
Your rights
You can have your solicitor present during interviews if you want to, though most people don't. You can ask me questions at any point. About the process, about what I'm looking at, about what comes next. You can tell me things in your own time. And if you think I've got something wrong, or I've missed something important, tell me. I'd rather know.
The assessment isn't something done to you. It's a process you're part of. The more openly you engage with it, the more the report will reflect who you really are.