Case Study 1 Family assessment case study Peter is 2 1/2 years of age. Peter’s parents have been known to the Local Authority for some time. His father , John, and Peter’s mother , Natasha, were both...

Case Study 1
Family assessment case study
Peter is 2 1/2 years of age.
Peter’s parents have been known to the Local Authority for some time.  His father , John, and Peter’s mother , Natasha, were both placed on the Child Protection Register in their own childhood  and experienced periods of multiple residential care and foster placement.  John (now 24) spent sometime in his youth in a Young Offenders Institute  during a turbulent period resulting in violence while under the influence of illicit substances.

Natasha is 19 years of age. She has a history of vulnerability and has experienced violence in her previous relationships.  She has re-established a relationship with her biological mother  who now wants to play an ‘active ‘ role in her grandchild’s life.

The parents (Peter and Natasha) met through an older friend.
They currently live in accommodation paid for through housing benefits.   John does not work. He expresses that he has an unresolved / undiagnosed learning difficulty . He started college 5 years ago in the hope of becoming a mechanic but he struggled with the academic side of the commitment and dropped out.  He periodically DOES  ‘odd jobs’ where he can and tends to find short term employment .
Natasha left school  at 16 but had attended a PRU for the last 18 months of her statutory education.  She wants to be a hairdresser or a child minder.


They are both skeptical but not hostile  about involvement with the Local authority here.  Peter was seen to be at risk and monitored prior to his birth. (Peter is 2 ½ years of age).
Put together a Family Assessment Report that focuses upon Peter’s development and the role that his parents will have upon this.   How will the parents (individually and collectively) be engaged; what issues need to be addressed regarding their capacity to parent their son.


Case study 2
Youth justice case  study

Anthony Smith  is a 16 year old youth.  He was adopted at the age of 4.  His adoptive mother and father are both middle class status (he is a sales rep and his wife is an office manager).

Anthony’s primary childhood  was unremarkable.  He is of average intelligence and applies himself nominally to his studies.  At the age of 13 he started to associate with a negative peer group with a strong local reputation for anti social behavior for which he received his first Caution after fighting while under the influence of alcohol (and possibly marijuana).  His school work started to deteriorate followed by his attendance  and during times of non attendance he associated with older male peers with which he has formed a very strong bond.  He appears to have money but no legitimate source of income can be identified.
He pleaded Guilty to carrying an offensive weapon (knife) which he says is for 'protection'.
His parents (though well intended) are trying to enforce a set of boundaries that give Anthony ‘permission’ to stay out in the hope that this is a ‘phase’ he is going through linked to his adoption and identity.

Using ASSET  compile a report that addresses the needs of Anthony (with a paragraph of his parent's capacity).  You are not being graded for getting a correct ASSET score  - but remember that you must justify  the level of the intervention based on the evidence that the your grade demonstrates.  PLUS what are the elements that must be addressed by the intervention itself.
A Community sentence is the only option available to the Court.


Case Study 3
Disability and Education case study


Debbie and Joe are parents to a disabled child named Carl. Debbie and Joe have two older children Lisa (12) and Gary (14). Carl is 10 years of age and has Down ’s syndrome. So far, Carl has been educated within mainstream education. However, in the last two years Carl has become increasingly unhappy and unwilling to go to school.  He often asks his teachers if he can join the class in Key stage 1 (age 5) where he has friends.  Debbie suspects that Carl may be being regularly bullied and was informed by his teacher of an incident where the other children had been teasing him.  Carl struggles to keep up with the teaching  sessions, although he does have the support of a Teaching Assistant who he really likes .  however, Debbie is concerned that Carl may not be getting the support need to reach his full potential , particularly as his Teaching Assistant is not SENCO trained.  Moreover, Debbie questions whether he might be better off in a Special Needs institution where he might gain friends, learn at his own pace, receive specialist attention and participate in sessions that give him life skills and teach independence.

Debbie researches Special Education Needs in her region but soon become skeptical about the quality of provision. Eventually she finds a school in Bristol which is over 200 miles away.


Compile  a report that will explore how best to meet Carl’s needs and to support the family .  In your report you must provide evidence  that supports Carl whether he stays in Mainstream education or attends a Special Needs School and provide justification for whichever path you think the family will take.