The key to a comprehensive assessment begins
at the first contact. Building relationships with
the child and their parents is critical to gathering
information and ultimately making objective
judgements regarding statutory intervention.
Our assessments need to be three dimensional
and reflect all three sides of our assessment
triangle. The child, oft described in a flat
narrative way, needs to come alive for us to
ensure we are aware of their needs and how we
can best respond.
Assessment is ongoing and while we want to
feel comfortable with our decisions, we need to
embrace a feeling of uncertainty. This enables
us to move away from a singular hypothesis and
reflect on all of the available information. This
allows a comprehensive, robust assessment that
incorporates our views and those of the family.
By working together we are building a pathway
to achieve mutual goals.
Children, young people and their families deserve
the best response we can deliver and this begins
with saying ‘Kia ora, kia orana, hello’.