These are the sorts of questions that face mental health practitioners who are increasingly involved in complex child care cases which come before the courts. They have been given little guidance to date on how these assessments should be made, especially where a decision has to be taken as to whether a child has experienced `significant harm.'
In this much needed book senior clinicians consider the principles and practice of parenting assessments and how they guide courts' decisions about children's welfare. They describe a number of frameworks for assessment and discuss the factors which help predict the risk of future maltreatment or the likelihood of successful rehabilitation. Throughout the book the emphasis is on the need to integrate the assessments of all relevant professionals in order to serve the best interests of the child, while also addressing the parents' potential to improve their caretaking skills. Offering guidance in areas of crucial significance for child, family and professional alike Assessment of Parenting will be widely welcomed.

Reviews

'Well written and pleasurable to read... The book will be valuable to psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and lawyers. The editors have gathered excellent contributions from eminent psychiatrists and psychologists. Those involved in parenting assessment and in the legal aspects of child care, particularly child psychiatrists, will find this book a must.' - British Journal of Psychiatry

`well written and pleasurable to read... The book will be valuable to psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and lawyers. The editors have gathered excellent contributions form eminent psychiatrists and psychologists. Those involved in parenting assessment and in the legal aspects of child care, particularly child psychiatrists, will find this book a must.' - British Journal of Psychiatry

'This book makes a valuable contribution to the field and will, I am sure, be widely used as a reference source.' - Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry

'... this is a useful guide for all workers in the child care field, unique in its broad coverage of current thinking.' - Therapeutic Communities (1997) Vol 18(3)

Book Information
ISBN 9780415114547
Author Peter Reder
Format Paperback
Page Count 314
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 580g