What Can I Expect If The Local Authority Carry Out A Viability Assessment?

Siblings playing in a field viability assessment

A viability assessment plays a vital role in determining the various options for a child’s future. Viability assessments are also sometimes known as a suitability assessment and include assessments of family members, friends, neighbours or anybody else who is potentially suitable to care for a child.

Timing of Assessments

A viability assessment is normally undertaken in care proceedings when there is social work involvement with a child or during the PLO process which is the process before court proceedings.

What areas will the assessment cover?

Viability assessments are comprehensive evaluations carried out by social workers to assess the suitability of a family member or friend to care for a child. These assessments aim to provide the court with a thorough understanding of the child’s needs, the carers capabilities and the potential risks and benefits associated with various care arrangements.

Key components of a viability assessment are as follows: –
1. Welfare of the child: Viability assessments focus on what would be in the best interest of the child and this involves considering factors such as emotional, physical, and educational needs, as well as any special requirements the child may have.
2. Parenting ability: Evaluating the ability of the caregiver to meet the child’s needs is a very important part of the assessment. This includes assessing the skills and looking at the willingness of a caregiver to address any issues that may impact the child’s well-being.
3. Safety: The assessment explores how stable and safe the care arrangement would be with the caregiver. This involves looking at the home environment, potential risks and the presence of any factors which could compromise the child’s safety. Police checks and local authority checks are always requested to inform the assessment to determine whether there has been previous police or local authority involvement.
4. Family support: Viability assessments also considers the support systems available to a caregiver including extended family and friends and community resources. A robust support network can positively influence a family’s circumstance to care.

What happens next?

Viability assessments are crucial in care proceedings if a child cannot remain in the care of a parent as it means the child is prevented from being placed in foster care or potentially even adopted. This is the first step of the assessment process. If the assessment is positive the Local Authority will complete a more in-depth assessment to consider whether a child should be placed/remain with the family carer. These are called connected persons or special guardianship assessments.
If the viability assessment is negative, the Local Authority will not support that caregiver to be part of the care plan for the child. If the outcome of the viability assessment is negative, you can challenge the assessment. I will discuss this in my next blog.

What is a Regulation 24 placement?

Under Regulation 24 of the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010, if a viability assessment is positive the Local Authority may approve that caregiver as a local authority foster carer for a temporary period not exceeding 16 weeks. This means that the caregiver would be entitled to fostering allowance and the placement is regulated by the Local Authority.