Values and Principles underpinning SCARF
SCARF is modeled on the UK Children In Need and their Families Assessment and Planning Framework, its underlining values and principles are therefore the same.
Values and Principles
- are child centred
- are rooted in child development
- are ecological in their approach
- ensures equality of opportunity
- involve working with child and families
- build on strengths as well as identify difficulties
- has an inter-agency approach
- are a continuing process, not a single event
- assessment and actions carried out in parallel
- are grounded in evidence based knowledge
This means that the child is seen and kept in focus throughout the assessment and that account is always taken of the child’s perspective. In complex situations where much is happening, attention can be diverted from the child to other issues.
A thorough understanding of child development is critical to work with children and their families. Genetic inheritance, family and environment all impact on development. The significance of timing in a child’s life needs to be appreciated. Plans and interventions should be based on a clear assessment of the developmental progress and difficulties a child may be experiencing and ensure that planned action is timely and appropriate to needs.
Understanding parent-child relationship has long been a practice of child welfare, less so the importance of the interface between the environment and the child and their family. Modern research tell us that the context within which the family functions is crucial and any assessment of need must take account 3 domains: the child’s development, the parents’ or caregivers’ capacities to respond appropriately and the wider family and environmental factors.
Respecting differences in family structures, religion, cultures and ethnic origin is paramount to good practice. Affirmative action on behalf of children and families may be necessary to compensate for disadvantage arising out of health or social conditions.
The majority of parents want to do the best for their children. The concept of partnership lies at the heart of child welfare practice and child welfare legislation. Lip service to this principle is not good enough. The services concerns should be transparent and decisions made having heard the perspective of the child and family.
Identifying problems or can be easy, however examining what works is often overlooked. Good use can be made of the information revealing strengths. The assessment should be a balanced approached.
Other agencies may be required to provide a specialist assessment and action plan. Recognising what is beyond the scope of the service is vital to the good outcomes for children and families.
Invariably a good assessment will take time and involve others. Time is needed to build a trusting relationship with the family. Facts need to be discerned and separated from assumptions.
There is an inevitable overlap between assessment and intervention, it is unrealistic to expect families to wait for action while a full assessment is carried out.
It is essential that workers and supervisors ensure that practice is grounded in the most up to date knowledge and that they make use of the resources described in the practice guidance as well as other critical materials.
Click on any of the values and principles above for a more fuller description.
This article has been compiled from the document “Framework for the Assessing Children In Need and their Families” produced by the UK Dept of Health in support of the Children In Need and their Families Framework. First publish 2000.