Skip to main navigation Skip to main content

Working with community

Collaborating with community partners to assess risk

The child’s community is an important part of risk assessment and case planning.

The child’s community may include extended family, neighbours, friends, school networks and other professionals. Children who are marginalised and disconnected from their community are at greater risk. A child who is valued and supported by their community has a greater chance of thriving.

Who supports this family?

Talk to the parents about their safety and support networks. Ask them who is in their network? Who can help them? If the family, parent and child are feeling isolated help them strengthen networks, build new relationships and reconnect with family.

Work with other services

Be specific when you engaging with service providers — tell them what areas need help and how to best work together. Explain the harm and the worries identified. Get their opinions and experience of working with the family. Invite the services to case discussions and/or practice panels, have joint family visits and share relevant information.

Learn more about working collaboratively with partner agencies in the Case planning part of this kit.

Parental mental health and child protection

Watch this video from the Social Care Institute of Excellence on how practitioners see parental mental health when working in child protection.

Parental mental health and child welfare – the practitioners’ perspective

Version history

Back to top

Published on:

Last reviewed:

  • Date: 
    Maintenance
  • Date: 
    Page created
  • Date: 
    Page created