parenting Capacity Assessment

Parenting Capacity Assessments

Our highly qualified and experienced psychologists at Assessment Squared provide parenting capacity assessments designed to evaluate various aspects of parenting, including the ability to provide a safe and nurturing environment and meet a child’s physical and emotional needs.

 These reports may be requested by the Department of Child Safety (DOCS) or Family and Community Services (FACS) to help make accurate decisions about a parent or guardian’s ability to safely protect their children. They can also be requested privately by individuals and family court lawyers.

 Our thorough assessments offer insights and provide extensive recommendations to ensure a child’s wellbeing.

What does a parental capacity assessment involve?

Parenting capacity assessments vary slightly depending on the case, but most assessments will encompass the following:

• A comprehensive clinical interview with the parent or family which usually investigates early life experiences, history of mental health, relationship dynamics, and issues related to alcohol and substance use. The psychologist will also assess the parent or caregiver’s understanding of the role of the parent, the developmental needs of the child or children and their awareness of concerns raised by the Department or other agencies involved. Additionally, the strengths of the family unit and other protective factors will be carefully examined.
• Observations of the parent or family, which may be done in the family home or in the community. In some cases, observations may need to take place on our premises, or while being supervised by an approved person.
• Existing affidavits and other relevant documents submitted to the courts will be reviewed.
• Interviews with relevant individuals such as a Child Safety Officer, family members, and treating professionals, including psychologists, drug and alcohol counsellors, and psychiatrists.
• Psychometric testing, which may involve structured interviews and actuarial risk assessments, can be used to support the findings from the clinical assessment. This may include risk assessments, parenting inventories, cognitive evaluations, and mental health questionnaires, including personality inventories.

You can rely on Assessment Squared to provide accurate, trustworthy, and expert parenting assessments.

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