Formulation and assessment of parenting

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511543838.009

7 - Formulation and assessment of parenting

from Part II - Comprehensive assessment and treatment

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 August 2009

Jeni Webster and

Edited by

Jeni Webster and

Michael Göpfert: Affiliation:
Webb House Democratic Therapeutic Community, Crewe
Jeni Webster: Affiliation:
5 Boroughs Partnership, Warrington
Mary V. Seeman: Affiliation:
University of Toronto

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Summary

Introduction

This chapter presents a framework for assessing parents and their families for both forensic and clinical purposes, and is intended to help ensure that children receive the best care available. The chapter will (1) outline principles that contribute to ethical assessment practice; (2) provide dimensions to consider when making a formulation; (3) offer ideas about the preparation of court reports; and (4) describe practical ways of conducting collaborative and therapeutic assessments.

The three authors come from different backgrounds: family therapy/social work (JW), child psychiatry (JN) and adult psychiatry/psychotherapy (MG). Each of us is frequently asked to contribute to parenting assessments and we all three believe that combining perspectives results in the best product.

Depending on resources, philosophy, culture, and service construction, there are wide regional disparities in the conduct of assessments. There are few areas that can provide the thorough comprehensive assessment service pioneered by Jacobsen et al. (1997) (see Jacobsen, Chapter 8). In most situations, staff from different disciplines contribute to the overall assessment and child-care social workers have the responsibility of coordinating perspectives from different agencies and, ultimately, ensuring the safety of the child.

Principles of ethical assessment practice

Commitment to the parent

Although most of the literature in the field focuses on the needs of the child, the needs of the parent who cares for the child are of great importance.

Keywords

children court reports ethical assessment practice formulation parent therapeutic intervention

Type: Chapter
Information: Parental Psychiatric Disorder
Distressed Parents and their Families
, pp. 93 - 111

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511543838.009 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2004

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7 - Formulation and assessment of parenting

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