Teams involved
Family Assessment and Contact Service (FACS)
FACS is part of Glasgow City Council Social Work Services and we provides a city-wide service for Looked After and Accommodated Children. The staff group is made up a manager, 6 social workers and 3 social care workers. FACS undertakes parenting capacity assessments for parents of children age between 0-5 years of age who have been accommodated into Local Authority care. The assessment comprises of 3 main elements: extensive information gathering and analysis, observation of contact between the parent and child, and individual parent capacity interviews. The assessment of risk is an integral part of this process. The structure of the assessment is informed by the assessment framework produced by Reder and Lucy (Ref: Assessment of Parenting. Psychiatric and Psychological Contributions. Eds. Peter Reder and Clare Lucey, 1995, Routledge. Updated: Studies in the Assessment of Parenting, Eds. Peter Reder, Sylvia Duncan and Clare Lucey, 2003, Routledge.
As part of the BeST? Trial, referrals are processed through the randomisation process or by direct referral from the child’s social worker if the child is out with the BeST? Criteria.
The principle aim is to contribute to and inform the permanence planning process and decision making forums for LAAC Children. The assessment is normally completed over a 3 month period and a comprehensive, evidence-based report is produced at the end of the assessment. FACS will also make a recommendation as to whether rehabilitation is viable or not. This report will then be presented at various decision making forums (e.g. Permanence Review, Children’s Panel, Court proceedings, etc.) and it is hoped that the best outcome for Glasgow’s children can be achieved within the child’s timescale.