When families first arrive, they’ll be closely supported to ensure a smooth start and to allow for careful monitoring.
We give each family a couple of days to settle in, during which time they can go through the Parent Handbook, ask questions and become familiar with the local area and key places nearby.
From the end of the first week, we begin reviewing the Placement Plan regularly, meeting weekly with the family and team to reflect on progress and make any needed adjustments.
At the end of the second week, an Interim Meeting is held to share initial assessment findings with the family and other professionals involved. Together, we’ll update the Placement Plan to reflect the appropriate level of supervision and any external professional support needed.
Parents are encouraged to actively contribute to this plan, recognising areas they would like to work on and setting clear expectations for their time with us.
Intensive Phase – Week 1 and Week 2:
- High level of supervision and monitoring.
- An assessment of basic care-giving skills and ability to meet own self-care skills which will inform the baseline assessment.
- Core Skills - Basic demonstrations / theory of basic skills e.g. bottle making, Top and Tailing, bathing etc.
- Consideration of risk assessed time out of the centre being agreed for the family.
- Ongoing verbal updates with the Social Worker.
- Daily record keeping on specific day to day living.
At Week 6, we’ll hold a Mid-Point Review meeting, bringing together the parent and key professionals to talk about the progress made so far. This meeting is a chance to reflect on how things are going and review the goals set during the Interim Meeting at Week 2, making sure everything is clearly recorded and any next steps are agreed together.
Monitoring Phase – Week 3 to week 6:
- Individualised monitoring as agreed at the Interim Meeting in week 2.
- Positive Steps to Parenting programme continues.
- Ongoing verbal updates with the Social Worker.
- Daily record keeping on specific day to day living.
During this period, parents may be allowed out of the Centre independently, depending on progress made.
'Step Back' Withdrawal Phase – Week 6 to 10:
- Continuing on agreed level of supervision
- Ongoing work on the Positive Steps to Parenting Programme
- Ongoing verbal updates with the Social Worker
- Daily record keeping on specific day to day living
Around Week 10, a Transitional Meeting will take place to review the family’s journey so far. This will look at the progress made, any concerns and the support needed to help the family care for their children positively – whether that’s in the community or another setting.
A provisional recommendation will be shared based on the first 10 weeks of the assessment, to help with planning for what comes next.
An Analysis and Recommendations Report, our main evidence-based report, will be completed at Week 10.
Two weeks after the placement ends, a Final Addendum Report will follow to summarise any further evidence gathered during the last stage of the family’s stay.
Independent Phase – Week 10 to 12:
- Parents should be developing further independence with limited support.
- Re-visiting specific areas of the programme which may need addressing further.
- Formal monitoring of parent’s perceptions of their progress, as measured against their expectations identified within the Link Work sessions.
- Daily record keeping on specific day to day living.
