A parenting assessment can provide important information about a parent’s capacity to meet a child’s needs, manage risks, and provide safe and consistent care. However, completing the assessment is not necessarily the end of the process.
Once the assessment has been completed, the findings may need to be reviewed by the commissioning professional, considered alongside other evidence, and used to inform decisions about the child’s care and future arrangements.
The next steps depend on why the assessment was requested, who commissioned it, whether family court proceedings are ongoing, and what questions the assessment was designed to answer.
This guide explains what may happen after a parenting assessment is completed, how the report is considered, what role parents and professionals may have, and what to expect if further action is required.
After the assessment activities have concluded, the assessor generally prepares a report setting out the relevant information, findings, analysis, and conclusions.
The exact structure depends on the assessment’s purpose, scope, and commissioning instructions.
A report may include:
A report should make its reasoning understandable and explain how the findings relate to the questions it was commissioned to answer.
It is important to remember that an assessment is not necessarily a final decision about where a child will live or what contact arrangements will apply. Those decisions may involve other professionals, additional evidence, and, where relevant, the family court.
For more detail, read our guide to what a parenting assessment report tells the family court.
Once the report is finalised, it is submitted in accordance with the agreed arrangements. The recipient may be a local authority, solicitor, or another organisation that commissioned the assessment.
The next steps depend on the referral and the purpose of the report.
For example, a local authority may consider the findings as part of its ongoing assessment and care planning. A solicitor may need to review the report in preparation for a hearing or to advise a client about the available options. Where an assessment has been commissioned for court proceedings, the report may need to be provided and considered in accordance with the relevant directions and procedural requirements.
The assessor’s role is to complete the commissioned work and communicate the findings within the agreed scope. The commissioning professional or relevant decision-maker is responsible for considering how the findings fit into the wider case.
A parenting assessment is one source of information about a family’s circumstances. Its findings may need to be considered alongside other relevant evidence.
Depending on the case, this could include:
The purpose of reviewing the wider information is to understand the child’s circumstances as a whole.
For example, a parenting assessment may identify that a parent has developed a better understanding of a particular concern. Professionals may then need to consider whether the changes are sustainable, how they affect the identified risks, and what further evidence is available.
Equally, a positive finding in one area does not automatically resolve every safeguarding concern. The significance of each finding depends on the child’s needs and the wider circumstances.
An assessment may identify strengths that are relevant to a child’s safety and wellbeing. These might include an understanding of the child’s needs, the ability to provide appropriate care, positive parent-child interaction, or evidence of meaningful changes in response to previous concerns.
Professionals may consider how those strengths affect the overall assessment of parenting capacity.
However, identified strengths should be considered alongside any remaining concerns. The important question is how the findings relate to the child’s individual needs and the specific issues being considered.
Depending on the case, the findings may contribute to decisions about:
The report does not automatically determine the outcome. The relevant professionals or court must consider the wider evidence and applicable decision-making framework.
A parenting assessment may identify areas where a parent requires further support, has difficulty recognising risks, or has not demonstrated the changes needed to meet a child’s needs safely.
The implications depend on the nature and seriousness of the concerns, the assessment’s scope, and the wider circumstances.
Professionals may need to consider:
Where immediate safeguarding concerns arise, appropriate protective action should not be delayed simply because a report has not yet been completed or fully reviewed.
If an assessment identifies concerns, that does not automatically mean that a parent cannot care for their child. The findings need to be understood in context, including the evidence available, the nature of the concerns, and any changes or support that may be relevant.
For related information, read what happens if a parenting assessment raises safeguarding concerns.
Where a local authority is involved with a family, the completed assessment may contribute to decisions about the child’s care plan and the support required.
Care planning should consider the child’s individual needs, the risks identified, the available evidence, and the options that are appropriate in the circumstances.
Depending on the case, the assessment may help professionals consider:
The assessment should not be considered in isolation. Professionals may need to weigh its conclusions alongside other information and consider whether circumstances have changed since the assessment was completed.
For example, where a parent has made progress during an assessment, professionals may need to consider whether that progress can be maintained in everyday circumstances and what support, if any, is required.
The purpose of care planning is to determine the arrangements and support needed to address the child’s circumstances, not simply to record the assessment’s conclusions.
If the parenting assessment was commissioned as part of family court proceedings, the report may be used to inform the court’s consideration of the issues in the case.
The next steps depend on the court’s directions, the status of the report, and the stage of the proceedings.
The report may be reviewed by the parties and their legal representatives, considered alongside other evidence, and addressed at a hearing where appropriate.
A parenting assessment does not automatically decide the outcome of proceedings. The court makes decisions in accordance with the applicable law and procedure, considering the relevant evidence and the child’s welfare.
It is also important to distinguish between different types of assessment and reports. Not every parenting assessment is automatically formal expert evidence, and different procedural requirements may apply depending on how the assessment was commissioned and how the report is intended to be used.
Parents who have questions about the report or the next hearing should speak with their solicitor. Professionals should follow the relevant court directions and ensure that the report is handled in accordance with the applicable requirements.
Our guide to parenting assessments and family court explains the broader role of these assessments in family proceedings.
A parent may have questions about the report, its findings, or the information considered during the assessment. The appropriate way to raise those questions depends on the commissioning arrangements and whether the report forms part of court proceedings.
Possible concerns may include:
It is useful to identify the specific issue rather than simply stating that the report is unfair.
If the assessment was commissioned by a local authority or another organisation, the parent or their representative may need to contact the relevant professional. If the report is part of active family court proceedings, the parent should seek advice from their solicitor about the appropriate process.
Raising a concern does not guarantee that the report will be amended or that the conclusions will change. However, a clear explanation can help the relevant person understand what is being questioned.
No. Completing a parenting assessment does not necessarily mean that the wider safeguarding process or court proceedings have ended.
The assessment is usually intended to inform decision-making rather than replace it.
Further steps may include:
In some cases, the assessment may answer the questions it was commissioned to address and no further assessment work may be required. In others, further decisions or work may still be necessary.
The next steps should be based on the child’s circumstances, the purpose of the assessment, and the decisions that remain outstanding.
Sometimes the completed assessment identifies questions that cannot be fully resolved within its scope or concludes that additional work may be useful.
This does not automatically mean that the original assessment was unsuccessful. Some cases involve complex needs or questions that require a different form of professional input.
Depending on the circumstances, further work may involve:
Any further work should have a clear purpose. Professionals should identify what remains unknown, why additional information is needed, and how it will contribute to decisions about the child.
If another assessment is being considered in family court proceedings, the relevant directions and procedural requirements should be checked before arrangements are made.
Once an assessment has been completed, clear communication can help parents and professionals understand what happens next.
Where appropriate, professionals should explain:
The explanation should reflect the actual arrangements for the case. Professionals should avoid promising a particular outcome or timeframe unless it has been confirmed.
For commissioning organisations, providing clear instructions at the referral stage can also help. A well-defined scope makes it easier to understand when the assessment is complete and what decisions it is intended to inform.
The assessor generally finalises and submits the report according to the agreed arrangements. The commissioning professional or relevant parties then consider the findings in the context of the assessment questions and wider circumstances. The precise process depends on the case.
The report is provided in accordance with the commissioning arrangements and any relevant legal or procedural requirements. The intended recipients may include the commissioning organisation or relevant legal representatives. Who can access the report depends on the circumstances and applicable arrangements.
Not automatically. The assessment provides information about parenting capacity and the issues it was commissioned to consider. Decisions about a child’s care depend on the wider evidence, the applicable legal framework, and the responsibilities of the relevant decision-maker or court.
Professionals may consider whether the recommended support is appropriate, available, and relevant to the child’s needs. The next steps depend on the circumstances and the decisions that remain outstanding. A recommendation does not, by itself, guarantee that a particular service will be provided.
A completed report may be clarified or corrected where appropriate, but an update or further assessment is not automatic. The need for additional work depends on the reason for the request, the information available, and any relevant commissioning or court requirements.
Concerns can be raised after submission, but the appropriate process depends on the nature of the concern and whether the report is part of court proceedings. Identify the issue clearly and seek advice from the relevant professional or solicitor where appropriate.
There is no universal timeframe. The next steps depend on the complexity of the case, the availability of other information, the commissioning arrangements, and any court timetable. Ask the relevant professional to explain the expected process and any deadlines that apply.
Completing a parenting assessment is an important stage in understanding a family’s circumstances, but it is not always the final step in the wider process.
Once the report has been submitted, its findings may be reviewed alongside other evidence, used to inform care planning, or considered as part of family court proceedings. Further support, clarification, or assessment may be needed depending on the questions that remain outstanding.
Parents and professionals should seek clarity about the report’s purpose, the decisions it is intended to inform, and the next steps relevant to the case. The assessment should contribute to a broader understanding of the child’s needs and the arrangements required to promote their safety and wellbeing.
Family Safeguarding Assessments provides assessment-related services for professionals working with children and families. Solicitors, local authorities, and other professionals can visit Family Safeguarding Assessments to learn more about the services available and discuss the requirements of a referral.
Providing clear assessment questions, relevant background information, and any applicable court directions can help establish the purpose of an assessment and how its findings are intended to be used.
At Family Safeguarding Assessments (FSA), we understand the importance of keeping families together while ensuring the safety and well-being of children
