The Parenting Assessment Service is a residential service based at Coombe Wood Mother and Baby Unit which aims to provide comprehensive assessment reports for Social Services departments, Guardians Ad Litem and legal services.
Who is the Service For?
- The parenting assessment service caters for parent/s with infants up to 18 months old. Siblings of up to three years of age are considered on a case by case basis.
- The Unit specialises in assessing parenting where the parent/s suffers from mental health problems, but will also accept referrals where other psychological or social factors are interfering with child care.
How the Service Works
The Parenting Assessment Team welcome the opportunity to have pre-admission discussions with referrers.
- Once a referral is made then a date/time will be given for a Network meeting. This is where the background, current concerns and questions are discussed
- At the Network meeting, the Parenting Assessment Team considers the viability of an admission to a residential Unit and at the end of this meeting the Team decide whether to offer an admission
- If admission is offered then a date is agreed. The duration of assessment is usually six weeks
- During the assessment period, after three weeks a midway meeting is held and the Team verbally feedback to all involved
- After 6 weeks there is a final meeting to verbally feedback the conclusions of the assessment
- A written report will be available three weeks following the discharge of the family
The Parenting Assessment Team report is co-ordinated by the Consultant Child Psychiatrist, who summarises the findings and makes recommendations. If court attendance is required, the Consultant Child Psychiatrist would represent the team.
We may undertake intensive assessments of outpatients if admission is not appropriate.
Referrals are accepted Child & Family Social Services though enquiries may be made from professional colleagues and the legal profession, please visit the Referrals page (link to page ) for full details.
The Parenting Assessment Team consists of:
- Consultant Child & Family Psychiatrist
- Consultant Adult Psychiatrist
- Consultant Adult Clinical Psychologist
- Senior Child Psychotherapist
- Senior Psychiatric Nurse
- Senior Occupational Therapist
Network meetings and Pre-birth meetings are charged for if they do not result in an admission.
Parenting Assessment Fee for admissions
The parenting assessment fee includes:
- Pre-birth or pre-admission meeting/s
- Adult Psychiatric/Psychological assessment
- Child Psychiatric/ Psychological assessment
- Nursing assessment
- Occupational Therapy assessment
- Therapy Groups
- Pre-discharge meeting
- Full assessment report
(Court appearance if necessary, additional fee payable)
For a current list of fees or any other information - contact: tracey.lloyd@nhs.net