The following persons under Section 14 F(3) of the Act can request an assessment of need for Special Guardianship Order support services:

a)A relevant child is ‘Looked After’ by the Local Authority or was ‘Looked After’ immediately before the making of a Special Guardianship Order.

b)A prospective Special Guardian or Special Guardian of an above child.

c)A parent of an above child.

In addition to above, a written request for assessment or need would be received from:

a)A child of a Special Guardian.

b)Any person whom the Local authority consider to have a significant and ongoing relationship with a relevant child.

If the decision of the Local Authority is not to carry out an assessment, they must give notice of that decision, and reasons, to the person requesting the assessment. They must allow ‘reasonable’ time/opportunity to make representations in relation to that decision.

If the request from a person for Special Guardianship Order relates to a specific service, or if it appears a person’s needs for Special Guardianship Orders may be assessed adequately by a particular service the Local authority may carry out an assessment by reference to that service only.

Any assessment carried out must have regard for the following considerations relevant to the particular assessment.

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The person undertaking this assessment must interview the person whose needs for SG support services are being assessed. If that person is a child, interview any prospective special guardian of the child and or any adult the Local Authority consider appropriate to interview.
If it is likely the services to meet the need of a child and/or prospective Special Guardian may be obtained through a Primary Care Trust Health Board or Local Education Authority, part of the assessment must include consultation with them.
1 / Details of the Child/YP
Name / DOB
Social Worker: / ID
Child Care Team
2 / What are the developmental needs of the child?
Consider development of the child or young person including health and learning history used in CAF
3 / What is the Parenting Capacity of the prospective Special Guardian?
If a Form F has been previously completed, please refer to the section on parenting capacity
4 / What are the family and environmental factors that have shaped the life of the child?
Consider only factors from birth to present, which may have an impact on the child now or in the future. Refer to evidence based practice or research.
5 / Describe the likely lifestyle of the child within the family of the prospective Special Guardianship Order.
Briefly describe, refer to any previous assessments and state if lifestyle has been observed first-hand or is a reference to other professionals’ observations.
6 / State if any previous assessments have been undertaken.
Clearly state what assessments have been undertaken with dates and summary of outcome.
7 / What, if any, are the particular needs of the person and their family requesting Special Guardianship?
Please ensure that all members of the family have been consulted and their needs & comments recorded in this report. State what the impact of any need will be on the child/YP.
8 / What is the relationship between the prospective Special Guardian and the birth family of the child/YP?
Consider past & present relationship including level of contact now. Give an assessment of the potential for any existing relationship to deteriorate & evidence of the prospective Special Guardian’s ability to resolve conflict should it arise.
9 / ASSESSMENT SUMMARY
Give a brief overview of the assessment and make recommendations based on the assessment report.
Social Worker Signature / Print Name
Date:

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