Risk Assessment and Intervention in Child in Need (CIN) Cases

This essay will provide an analytical view of the risk assessment and intervention to
demonstrate the decision-making process in the Child in Need (CIN). Along with the
analytical considerations, different theories will also be forwarded for understanding the
decision-making process of the statutory setting of CIN. This particular team works for the
children, which are included in s.17 and s.47 of the Children Act (1989). The referral to this
agency not only come from schools,police, and family members but it also comes from the
formal agencies like Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH). After a referral is sent to the
CIN team, the Social Work (SW) takes over the charge and the decision is taken after the
consideration of the assessment conducted by SW. However if the referral do not meet the
criteria of the CIN team and intervention is required, the plan is allocated to the Early help
team.
The case report is used to identify the Student Social Worker’s analytical thinking. In
order to maintain the confidentiality, the names of all the service users have been
changed.
Eniola is a black African woman, who is 40 years-old, she suffers from multiple sclerosis,
and she lives with a ten years old son Tunde. In November 2015,Tundereveal that his mother
physically assaulted him. The police also interviewed him and the entire procedure was done
under the Achieving Best Evidence (ABE), which is in tune with the criminal proceeding
guidelines. Tunde gave clear accounts of the events that lead to the particular incident. He
was examined to be in a vulnerable position due to his miserable condition. He had bruises in
his arms, scratches in his back, and he was going through the paediatric assessment at the
same time. After judging the entire situation the police decided to prosecute Enoliaa, due to
her repeated act of abuse and mistreatment to her son. However, Tundetook back his
allegation against Eniola just two weeks prior the criminal court hearing. Enoila too has been

inconsistent with her engagement of the professional care. She also could not showany
positive changes to improve the home atmosphere.Enoila completely failed to keep her son
safe from harm and injury. Thus, a judgement was passed based on section 47 and the
respective assessment was carried out. After having a terrible fight with his mother, he
escaped from the bathroom window and stayed at the friend’s house. The school staff
informed the local authority about his constant refusal to return to his home. The local
authorities too believed that there are reasonable grounds which meets the threshold criteria
of section 31(2) and 38 of the Children Act 1989. Tunde will suffer from both physical and
emotional harm as well as neglect if he returns to his home. The local authority also stated
that the fluctuation of treatment in the case of Tunde, can cause him instability and there is a
need for the involvement of SSW for ensuring whether his mother is fit enough to take care
of her.
The Social Work Assessment served as a tool to support the planning of the future
along with the recognition of the aspects that needs changes for the further development of
the family life (Martin, 2010). Kemshall(2002) too hold the view that an assessment can
influence the family to feel positive or negative about it. Sometimes abad assessment, where
social workers exercise their power disproportionately over the families worsens the situation
in the long-term. Enoila may experience a bad assessment if the complete nature of her case
is over looked. The case of Enoila is not only complex but also it is also multi-layered with
many problems. The SSW needs to provide the family with an integrated package of tailor-
made support so that the family progresses holistically. For instance, considerations were
given to Eniolabecause she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The Care Act assessment
takes care of the caring responsibility and owing to the part of the process, Enoila may meet
the eligibility criteria for a personal budget depending upon her level need and well-being
(Care Act, 2014). The assessment of parenting is enshrined in the Children Act (Section

1.3);this refers to the criteria of whether parents can meet the needs of their children or not
(Department of Health 1989). The parenting capacity is associated with parent’s direct
willingness and ability to overcome the risk factors, which includes alcoholism, domestic
abuse and so on. This is because the presence of the risk factors can lead to the increasing
incidence of abuse and neglect(Department for Education, 2014a). This marks the importance
of parenting assessment and sets the tone for addressing the issue of Enoila. For the case of
Enoila, the judgment will be based on the character or the behaviour. Milner and O’Byrne
(2009), has classified the assessment process into five phases, which are as follows:
 Preparation,
 Data collection,
 Weighing the data,
 Analysing the data and
 Utilising data.
The model that was used by the SSW was the Common Assessment Framework (CAF). This
kind of framework provides a systematic method of analysing, understanding and recording
the incidence that are happening to the children, within the family as well as the broader
perspective of the community in which they are living (Department of Health et al., 2000). In
this case, CAF was guided by the SSW for conducting the assessment of Tunde’ needs and
requirement. The impact of the wider family and the other environmental factors were also
assessed for ensuring the welfare of the Tunde. Munro (2011) and Walker (2008)concluded
that the support of CAF is combined with initial assessment and promotes inter-agency
support to the children ensuring their better future. However according to this case report, the
assessment stages were arranged in a collaborative way that was underpinned with the
referral and assessment records, shared information, planning and delivery, monitoring and

evaluating (Cleaver 2000). With the application of this concept, Tunde could exercise his
voice and the resonance of it could be heard throughout the entire procedure (Davis, 2012).
Conversely, Brandon et al., (2006a) states that even though there is tenet that allows CAF to
support inter-agency working and sharing information, there is absence of legislative
guidance. This encourages too much flexibility from the Local Authorities. Thus the
information that are fetched by the LA under the supervision of CAF result in no
commonality. The argument is furthered on the basis that there was no commonality between
the functions and the diversity of the application of the CAF. Similarly, Corby (2003)
researched on the way Social work take the decisions on 400 Child Protection Cases and
disclosed concerns related to the process of the assessment and the importance of
safeguarding the measure. In this way, it could identify the gaps for which the children are
not being adequately safeguarded. This study also indicated that the workers find it difficult
to address the need of safeguarding the children along with the promotion of their welfare.
Cleaver and Walker (2004) also support this claim, where they argued that the decision-
making process are influenced by the organization-led approach rather than the need of the
children. Furthermore, Munro (2012) stated that the time restraints could be a problem for the
workers using the CAF, and result may affect the holistic assessment of the child. Thus,
dependence on a single method of assessmentcan be detrimental to the long runof the future
of the child. Sometimes, the dependence on the single methods along with the establishment
of needs, proper risk assessment, and safeguarding the issues can serve as the challenge for
the worker (Child welfare, 2015).
Risk and the meaning associated with it is based on the social construction of reality
(Titterton, 2005). This is because the meaning of risk can vary from place to place due to the
variation in its context, level of application and different perspective of understanding.
According to the Children Act 1989 and Section 47 (1b) or section 17, LA can investigate on