Alcohol & Drug Use
This resource helps professionals explore how a parent’s use of alcohol or drugs may be affecting their child. It includes structured questions covering the parent’s history, current patterns of use, and the wider impact on daily life, parenting capacity, and the child’s wellbeing. The guide encourages open, respectful conversations and supports practitioners to gather clear, meaningful information. It also includes prompts to help reflect on what the parent’s responses may suggest about risks, protective factors, and support needs. This tool is especially useful in situations where concerns about substance use form part of a wider parenting or safeguarding assessment.
Education
This thoughtful tool invites parents to reflect on their own educational journey and consider how it may shape the way they support their child’s learning and development. It explores key areas such as school attendance, relationships with teachers and peers, past achievements, and any difficulties encountered. The questions encourage open discussion about feelings linked to school life, and how these might influence a parent’s confidence, engagement with their child’s education, or expectations for the future. Social workers can use this resource to gain deeper insight into the emotional and practical links between a parent’s early experiences and their current parenting approach.
Employment
The checklist explores a parent’s current and past employment situation and its impact on family life. It includes thoughtful, open-ended questions that help professionals assess a parent’s motivation, time management, and ability to provide structure—skills closely linked to parenting capacity. The questionnaire also examines barriers such as health, childcare issues, or confidence, and encourages reflection on work–life balance. Guidance notes are provided to support social workers in analysing responses and understanding the potential implications for child wellbeing and safeguarding.
Family Structure
This resource offers a structured tool for social workers to explore a family’s network and relationships. It includes reflective questions about key people in the parent or carer’s life—such as their age, living arrangements, contact frequency, the quality of relationships, and any history of professional involvement. These questions help assess the strength and safety of the parent’s support network. Clear, detailed responses often indicate a parent’s insight and a protective, nurturing environment. In contrast, vague or idealised answers—especially regarding individuals with concerning histories—may highlight risks or gaps in awareness. This tool supports professional judgement about the child’s wider environment and the parent’s capacity to manage safe relationships.
Mental Health
This assessment tool helps professionals talk with parents about their mental health in a supportive and structured way. It includes thoughtful questions about the parent’s experiences, how their mental health affects everyday life and their relationship with their child, and what support systems are in place. The tool also prompts reflection on the child’s role in the family, safety planning, and the parent’s insight into their own needs. It supports practitioners in gaining a balanced understanding of both risks and protective strengths.
Parenting with a Racially or Culturally Diverse Background
This printable assessment tool supports social workers in exploring the experiences of parents from racially or culturally diverse backgrounds. It includes thoughtful questions and analysis prompts across six key areas: cultural identity, experiences of racism and discrimination, community acceptance, relationships with services, immigration concerns, and language barriers. The tool helps practitioners understand how these factors may affect parenting, the parent–child relationship, and the child’s wellbeing. It promotes culturally sensitive practice and encourages inclusive conversations to help identify strengths, challenges, and support needs within diverse families.
