For Professionals

Referral Process and Parenting Assessment Standards

The care and protection of our parents and their children are paramount, and no referral will be accepted without first discussing and assessing requirements with the referring authority and, if appropriate, with the parents. Our Registered Managers need to be satisfied that accepting new parents into our settings will not be detrimental to other families already undergoing assessment.
 

If placed with us, parents can expect a friendly, professional, and helpful service that always takes into account their and their child’s needs. At the request of the referring authority, we will conduct a robust assessment of parenting skills and capacity using IMPACT, a nationally recognised parenting assessment application, to produce reports that are evidence-based and reflect the family’s individual needs. Our BASW-registered Social Workers will conduct assessments in accordance with the guidance outlined in “Working Together to Safeguard Children.”

To learn more about the assessments we offer, please view 'our services.'


Restorative Practice

At Amber Family, Restorative Practice forms the cornerstone of our conflict resolution efforts. It encourages open communication, active listening, and empathy, restoring relationships while prioritising the emotional well-being of our families and staff. With this approach, we strive to rebuild trust transparently and respectfully by establishing a solid foundation for a positive and collaborative environment.

Empowering our resident parents to participate in their decision-making processes without taking away their autonomy is at the heart of our philosophy. This approach underscores our respect for their value and contributions to our community. Restorative Practice enables us to proactively address the root causes of conflicts, preventing their recurrence and fostering a stable and supportive family environment. Additionally, our focus on emotional literacy supports the development of emotional intelligence in children and families, enhancing communication, emotional well-being, and conflict-resolution skills.

Belinda Hopkins’ influence on the implementation of Restorative Practice at Amber Family has led to numerous benefits, including conflict resolution, trust-building, empowerment, and empathy. These advantages have created a positive and harmonious environment within our Residential Family Centres, significantly enhancing the well-being and experiences of the families and children in our care.

We are excited to continue this journey and share these positive outcomes with our resident parents. Amber Family’s designated Restorative Practice practitioners are trained to facilitate Restorative Practice in-house.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of assessments do you do?
Amber Family has been using the IMPACT Assessment tool since February 2021. IMPACT assesses a parent’s skills and capacity to safely care for their child using an evidence-based approach to ensure that the assessment is fair, balanced, and robust. This is based on 18 assessment areas developed to meet the requirements outlined in the Assessment Framework. Parenting skills scored as ‘achieved independently,’ ‘requires ongoing support, monitoring, and intervention’ or ‘safeguarding concern,’ with detailed observation logs being recorded discretely and in real time to evidence these scores. This assessment model also utilises a thorough initial well-being assessment to identify a parent’s specific needs and to build a profile of factors that may affect parenting capability as well as individualised Safeguarding Action Plans to provide a continuous assessment of risk, and weekly Summary Report Meetings alongside regular wellbeing check ins to monitor a parents’ progress and mental health throughout the assessment. In week 12 of placement (unless the placement has been extended for any reason), you will receive an IMPACT parenting assessment report about the parent who has been residing with us. This reflects on the parenting capabilities in regard to; • Childcare and development • Behaviour management • Independent living skills • Safety and hygiene • Parents health • Relationships and support • The impact of the environment and community on parenting. The assessment further considers the parent’s ability to respond to their children’s needs, safeguard and promote their children’s welfare now and in the future. The report also includes a series of recommendations for future care planning for the family based on evidence collected during the course of the placement. Amber Family’s Registered Manager will issue the report to assist the Local Authority with future care planning.
How do I make a referral?
To make a referral or to find out about room availability, please telephone Amber Family on 01704 807170 and one of our staff will be happy to assist you. Alternatively, please e-mail; referrals@amberfamily.co.uk
Will you inform the LA if you think things are not going well?
Of course. Amber Family recognises its duty to work openly and honestly with the referring Local Authority as well as protecting public expenditure where possible. If we feel that the placement is not going well, we will contact the allocated Social Worker and invite them in to discuss in order for us to make a joint decision regarding the placement continuing.
If the placement ends before the 13 weeks will the Local Authority still have to pay until the end?
No. Whilst Amber Family only charge for full weeks, if the placement ends before the 13 week period, the Local Authority will only be invoiced for the days that the parent lived with us for.
The parents have a learning difficulty. Can they still come?
Yes! We have experience working with parents of all abilities. We have a wide range of resources that can be used and adapted as required for parents who require additional support. We have successfully worked in partnership with adult Social Workers to create a needs-led care plan for future support. Our Impact Assessment can adapt to a parent’s specific needs and can be beneficial for parents with learning difficulties. Examples include features such as the traffic light progress chart, used as a visual aid to highlight areas of strength and areas where ongoing support is required.
How will I know how the placement is progressing?
The allocated Social Worker will receive the minutes of the Weekly Summary Report Meetings held between the parent(s) and their Key Worker. These meetings will look at areas of the assessment where the parent has achieved independently, as well as where they need more support. The meetings will also highlight any safeguarding concerns and interventions. A more in-depth mid-point report will be produced in week 6 of the placement and this is of a similar format. Copies of the meeting minutes and mid-point report will also be provided to the parent and will be presented in a way that best suits their needs, and their Key Worker will go through the content with them if required.
Can the LAC reviews be held at Amber Family?
With enough notice, Amber Family can arrange for a room to be made available for LAC reviews to be held on our premises.
Parents need to attend Court; will your staff care for the baby?
Yes, Amber Family realise that Court is not a suitable environment for children so we will happily care for the baby whilst the parents are in Court. We can also organise a space to attend court without being disturbed, should it be required.