Frequently asked questions and answers
I’ve been told by my social worker and advised by my solicitor that I need to visit the Coram Family Assessment Centre. Who are they and why am I no longer being seen only by social workers from the council?
The Coram Family Assessment Centre is a partnership between Waltham Forest Council and the children’s charity Coram.
The Council will have asked you to visit the Coram Family Assessment Centre if the Council’s social workers believe they may need to go to court to ensure the safety of your child, or, if your child has been subject of a child protection plan for over a year.
So are my children going to be placed into care?
Seeking a court order to take a child into care is the last thing we want to do. This will only happen if the Council and Coram believe your child is at risk and that you are not able to protect your child, or have the capacity to change and be able to give better protection to your children.
What do Coram do?
Quite simply, Coram are the Council’s independent assessors. They will undertake an assessment of you and work with you to help you develop parenting skills. This will help to decide whether it really is necessary to go to court.
How does this assessment work?
You will have a key worker assigned to your family. It is their job to talk about the reasons for your referral and how the Council and Coram will work with you.
You and your family will visit the Family Assessment Centre regularly, in order for the assessment to take place.
During each visit the workers will talk to you about various aspects of being a parent and they will watch you and your children so that they can understand your relationship. They will record their observations from these visits.
The assessment will focus on a number of areas. These might include your child’s:
- health
- safety
- development
- play
- diet
- relationship with you
Or, as the parent/carer:
- how you feel as a parent
- your understanding of parenting
- day-to-day problems that may impact on your parenting
- setting boundaries
- ways in which you discipline your child
- how you work with other adults and professionals
How long does the assessment take?
Normally, Coram will work with a family for around 12 weeks.
What happens after the assessment?
Once the assessment has finished, the people who have worked closely with you and your family will write a report about their findings.
It will contain information about the strengths and weaknesses of your family as well as the areas that need to change.The report will also contain suggestions about how to make those changes.
Will I see this report and have a chance to comment on it?
Yes, you will get to see the report and discuss it with your social worker and Coram staff.
Is this service free?
Yes, this service is about supporting you and your children and helping you to improve your parenting and getting more out of family life.
I’m still unsure about this situation. Who can I talk to with further questions?
Your social worker should be able to answer any further questions you have relating to Coram. Coram should also provide you with a leaflet that explains the service and the history of Coram. You can also raise any further questions with your solicitor.
