Assessment Services
We know that children and young people who engage in harmful sexual behaviour and their families are a diverse population and present with different vulnerabilities, risks, strengths and needs and consequently, the level of support, supervision and intervention required will be different.
SAIFF encourages and adopts an individualised approach to assessing risk and need and advocates for responses and interventions that maintain safety and meet needs, whilst minimising any adverse impact on the child and family.
Assessments provide information that is essential to decision making around safe placement (including considerations of the need to separate children), developing contact and reunification plans (when children are separated) and identifying appropriate treatment options to address the needs of children and families.
“Assessment should guide our responses and interventions so that we help, not hinder children and families to change.”
Assessment Services
What is involved in an assessment?
There are two stages of the assessment process.
Clinical interviews and gathering of assessment information
Most assessments require between 6-8 hours of clinical interviews. The counsellor will meet with the child who has engaged in the harmful behaviour, their parents, caregivers if the child is placed away from their family and in some instances other siblings. Who is to be involved in the interview process is determined in consultation with the child’s parents/guardian and the Referring or Contracting Agency.
In addition to information obtained from the child and family directly, consultation is undertaken with relevant professionals involved with the child/young person and family and relevant background information, reports and other documentation that may assist with the assessment is reviewed. This may include obtaining information from the Department of Communities and Justice, the Joint Child Protection Response Team, Department of Education, NSW Health and other services involved with the child/young person and family. No person or agency will be contacted without appropriate consent.
Post assessment consultation and case plan development
Post assessment consultation provides an opportunity to discuss the assessment findings and recommendations with the family, the Contracting Service and (if appropriate) other services involved and to develop a management and intervention plan. Information from the assessment can guide case plan decisions relating to ongoing treatment, placement, risk management and contact or restoration planning.
How long does an initial assessment take?
Given that initial responses to sexual harm are often serious and and impactful on children and families, SAIFF supports timely assessment so that parents, caregivers and support systems are able to make informed decisions regarding responses and interventions.
Our goal is to complete assessments within a timeframe of between 3-6 weeks with this being dependent on the availability of the family to attend appointments, the counsellor’s availability, and the complexity of the child’s circumstances.
Will a written assessment report be provided?
You will be provided with a written summary of the assessment findings and recommendations. SAIFF can also prepare written safety plans, behaviour management plans, and treatment plans as required.
More comprehensive reports are usually only provided in circumstances where the report is required for Care, Family Court or Criminal proceedings or other more formal circumstances.
Does SAIFF provide assessments in Regional areas and Interstate?
SAIFF is able to provide assessments in regional areas and Interstate and we also offer Outreach assessment services in the Sydney metropolitan areas for families who are unable to travel to our consultation rooms.
In these instances interviews may be held in the client’s home (if appropriate) or at a local office of the Referring/Contracting Agency.
For further information about Regional Services click HERE
Does SAIFF provide victim impact and needs assessment?
When the sexual behaviour has involved another child (or children) within the home, SAIFF may also undertake assessment of the victim’s needs and adjustment. Assessment of the victim’s adjustment and needs is essential to ongoing safety and case planning and decisions regarding contact planning and placement should not be made without such information being available.
If the child(ren) has been, or is currently engaged with another treatment service, information regarding the adjustment, needs and safety of the child is best sought directly from the treatment provider.
For further information about Victim Impact and Needs Assessment click HERE
What if I am a parent referring my own child? Is the process the same or different?
Assessment occurs regardless of whether the referral is made by a Service or by a parent. In order to best help your child and family it is essential that we understand your circumstances, your family’s and child’s needs, your concerns and worries and your goals and hopes. This helps us to be able to determine how we can best assist you and enables us to develop a counselling plan with you and your child.
In some instances, there may be a need for us to consult with other services that have been or are involved with your family. This may include Department of Communities and Justice, legal representatives (if criminal matters are proceeding) and victim counselling services. If this is necessary, we will discuss with you the purpose of contact, how information given or received will be used, and obtain your consent to release and obtain information.