Recommendations following a parenting assessment should be connected to the findings of the assessment and the specific needs of the child and family.
Rather than simply listing general parenting advice, recommendations may identify practical steps that could address particular concerns, strengthen existing parenting abilities or support the child’s welfare.
Where an assessment is connected with family court proceedings, it is also important to understand that recommendations do not automatically become court orders. The court considers the evidence and makes its own decisions.
Recommendations are suggested actions or considerations arising from an assessment.
Depending on the circumstances, they might address:
The exact recommendations depend on what the assessment was designed to examine.
Recommendations should follow logically from the assessment findings.
A simplified process may involve:
The recommendation should therefore be connected to the evidence rather than being an isolated opinion.
The child’s individual needs are central to the assessment.
A recommendation may need to take account of:
Public law guidance specifically recognises the importance of assessing the child’s needs alongside parental capability.
Recommendations do not necessarily focus only on weaknesses.
An assessment may identify strengths that should be maintained.
For example, a parent may demonstrate good emotional responsiveness but require additional support with routines.
A useful recommendation could therefore focus specifically on strengthening the area where difficulty exists rather than suggesting unnecessary intervention.
Where safeguarding concerns exist, recommendations may address how those risks can be reduced.
Depending on the circumstances, this could involve:
The recommendation should reflect the nature and seriousness of the concern.
Where previous concerns have been identified, an assessor may consider whether the parent can make and maintain meaningful changes.
Recommendations may therefore focus on practical areas that require development.
For example, rather than simply stating that a parent needs to “improve parenting”, a recommendation might identify a specific area of parenting that requires support and explain why.
No.
An assessment may provide findings without making extensive recommendations.
The need for recommendations depends on the purpose of the assessment and the questions being addressed.
Where formal expert evidence is involved, the expert’s report should address the issues within the scope of their instructions and comply with applicable procedural requirements.
Not automatically.
A recommendation is different from a court order.
The family court considers the evidence before making decisions within the legal framework applicable to the proceedings.
This distinction is particularly important for parents who may read a recommendation and assume that it immediately determines what will happen next.
A useful recommendation should generally be:
It should identify the issue rather than using vague language.
It should relate directly to the assessment findings and child’s needs.
It should take account of the family’s circumstances.
It should have a clear connection with information obtained during the assessment.
The purpose should ultimately relate to meeting the child’s needs and promoting their welfare.
Sometimes a recommendation may require support or resources that are not immediately available.
Parents and professionals may therefore need to discuss practical implementation.
Where court proceedings are ongoing, the appropriate legal representatives can advise on how recommendations should be addressed within the case.
Circumstances can change.
If new information becomes available or a parent’s circumstances develop, professionals and the court may need to consider the updated position.
A recommendation should not be treated as an unchangeable prediction of the future.
These terms should not be confused.
A finding or conclusion explains what the assessment indicates based on the information considered.
A recommendation suggests what may be appropriate in response.
For example, an assessment may identify difficulty recognising safeguarding risks as a finding. A recommendation may then suggest specific support or safeguards designed to address that issue.
A parent who disagrees with recommendations should discuss the report with their solicitor.
They may need to understand:
The appropriate legal response depends on the individual case.
Not by themselves. Recommendations are not automatically court orders.
Yes. Where appropriate, an assessment may identify support or intervention that could address particular concerns.
No. Recommendations can also focus on maintaining strengths or building on positive changes.
The court makes its own decisions based on the evidence and applicable legal framework.
Recommendations following a parenting assessment should be based on the assessment findings, the child’s individual needs and the issues the assessment was designed to address.
The strongest recommendations are specific, practical and clearly connected to the evidence.
For more information about how assessment findings are presented to the court, see What Does a Parenting Assessment Report Tell the Family Court? and our main Parenting Assessments and Family Court guide.
At Family Safeguarding Assessments (FSA), we understand the importance of keeping families together while ensuring the safety and well-being of children
