Identify and evaluate the context and purpose of assessment.

Gather, record and evaluate information to make an assessment.

Work with service users, carers and other professionals to evaluate and review actual and potential needs, strengths, responsibilities and resources.

Establish rights, statutory requirements and organisational responsibilities and priorities.

Identify available resources within own organisation, other agencies and support networks.

Formulate and present an assessment and option for action.

Refer people to other agencies as necessary.

Identify potential harm, abuse, neglect and failure to protect.

Work in partnership to collate information about potential risk, harm, abuse, neglect or failure to protect.

Analyse and evaluate risk of harm, neglect, abuse or failure to protect.

Balance the rights of people to take risks, against the likelihood of harm ensuing.

Evaluate evidence for intervention on the basis of statutory requirements and organisational policy and procedures.

Adhere to statutory and legal requirements and agency policies and procedures relating to them.

Identify, discuss and agree within agency and inter-agency policies and procedures the need for and purpose of proposed action under statutory and legal requirements.

Identify and agree within and between agencies the roles, responsibilities and accountability for planned action and future decision-making.

Explain to children, young people and adults the purpose of statutory and legal requirements, the authority and responsibilities of own and other agencies.

Discuss and plan in advance with children, young people and adults action to be taken under statutory and legal requirements.

Ensure that children, young people and adults are informed about the purpose and reasons for immediate action in circumstances in which prior discussion was not possible or advisable.

Carry out action in accordance with statutory and legal requirements and court orders in a manner most likely to avoid distress.

Adhere to time-scales for further decision-making and action and ensure that children, young people and adults are informed and regularly updated about them.

Complete and store documentation in accordance with statutory and legal requirements and agency and inter-agency policies and procedures.

Establish with service users, carers and other professionals objectives and options for action to address assessed needs, risks, responsibilities, strengths and resources.

Evaluate and apply tested research findings to planning responses.

Identify with service users, carers and other professionals required and available resources to meet agreed objectives and options.

Agree with services users, carers and other professionals a preferred option and strategy to achieve the plan within available resources.

Report on any shortfalls in resources and gaps in provision to assist in the development of appropriate services.

Evaluate and identify the resource implications of potential sources of care, support, control and protection.

Select and combine sources of care, support, control and protection within legislative and organisational frameworks.

Negotiate and confirm with service users, including those who may be reluctant service users and those subject to compulsory orders and with carers, other professionals and providers, a combination of services, decision-making processes and accountability arrangements.