Assessment & Consulting
Assessment
The need for assessment
Effective treatment of children and young people (hereinafter 'children') who present severe emotional and behavioural problems depends on accurate assessment.
Assessment is integral to the treatment method which we use:
Integrated Systemic Therapy (IST) for children and young people referred either to our Residential facilities or to our Placement and Family Support service.
In-depth assessment
The emotional and mental difficulties of the children we encounter are rooted in relational trauma and cannot be understood and treated via a simplistic symptom-diagnosis-prescription sequence. The children's difficulties are the result of layers of profound relational failures and complex human interactions occurring over many years, critically disrupting early stages of development.
Assessment is a complex process involving the collation, analysis, integration and understanding of evidence derived from a wide range of sources. It is an iterative process, gradually building a fuller picture as layers of evidence are gathered from historical, behavioural, emotional and clinical sources.
Holistic assessment
The wellbeing of traumatised children can be effectively addressed only by taking an holistic approach to assessment, planning and treatment. We focus accordingly on detailed understanding not only of the child but on the whole system of relationships within which they live. Particular attention is paid to obstacles to the child's improvement within the familial and professional networks, and to strategies for improvement.
Scope of assessment
IST assessment includes analysis of:
- the internal world of the child
- the external environment within which the child lives
- the impact of past experience on developmental stages
- the child's present functioning
together with planning for future.
IST assessment of a child's functioning involves an evaluation of:
- Physical health
- Emotional and mental health
- Sexual and psychosexual development
- Psychosocial development
- Educational development and achievement.
IST assessment is multi-disciplinary, incorporating input from psychotherapy, psychiatry, social work and education.
Sources of understanding
Sources for IST assessment include:
Child Observation
The most significant source for assessment for children referred to our Residential centres and Placement and Family Support service, are the feelings and associated insights of our therapeutic staff, whose professional specialism is attunement to the emotional and psychological needs of traumatised children (see Integrated Systemic Therapy for further details). Using techniques developed from infant observation, staff are trained to observe children intensively, especially in their relations to others. Staff receive consultation from child psychotherapists in using their own emotional responses as data to help assess the emotional state of the child.
Engagement with the Child
Staff engage intensively with the child. The child in relationship with another is the most valuable source of assessment. This engagement will be carefully managed to fit with the child's mode of communication and will incorporate symbolic communication and dialogue as an important source of information. We consider carefully the stage at which the child or young person is engaged in the process of consciously exploring their own perception of their needs, and how we can help them to feel safely understood and supported by the whole network of systems and relationships.
Family Consultation
An assessment of current family functioning is developed through a series of direct meetings, where possible. We explore the relationships within the family; relationship to external authorities; needs and expectations.
Review of Reports
A detailed review of all existing information about a child is undertaken. This includes an analysis of social history and chronology; psychiatric, psychological and education reports; previous placement history (including an assessment of their success and/or failure); current statement of needs; social Services Care Plan, etc.
Professional Consultation
Past and present involvement of professionals is examined. Interviews are held with the existing network in the areas of social care, health and education, with a view to developing collaborative understanding; identifying expectations, obstacles and support needs.
Aims of assessment
The aim of IST assessment is the development of co-ordinated strategies to measure, plan, deliver, review and continually improve each child's treatment and progress towards recovery.
The in-depth and holistic process of IST assessment is used to:
- Identify better the needs of children and their families/carers/networks
- Support referrers with placement planning and placement stability
- Tailor programmes of treatment for children, and support for their families/carers/networks.
Further details
For further details of our assessment services please contact our residential centre which serves the appropriate age group.
Consultation
In addition to providing residential treatment centres and a specialist Placement and Family Support service, we also consult to and facilitate external professionals and organisations in:
- Group-based and network-based child care and treatment.
- The management and organisation of group-based and network-based child care and treatment.
- Group-based and network-based staff and carer support.
Further details
For further details, please contact the Chief Executive:
Telephone: 0207 593 1310