Specialist risk and treatment viability assessments
PAI offer structured, evidence-based risk and treatment viability assessments of families where domestic violence is a child protection concern.Assessments for Local Authority children's services
Assessments can be directed by the court or requested by social care professionals to provide an assessment of risk and vulnerability, recommend risk management strategies and advise on treatment viability. Referrals are taken via children's services and PAI will work in partnership with other agencies to achieve the best outcomes for children.
Assessments for Private Law contact proceedings
PAI offer assessments relating to the potential risk arising from residence and contact arrangements in private law proceedings. Referrals may come from family law practioners or Cafcass workers. Clients can also refer themselves for assessment. Our assessments address the factors outlined in the 2008 Practice Direction regarding domestic violence and harm - including risk to child and resident parent, motivation for contact, attitide to past violence and capacity to change.
The team
All assessors have post-graduate and professional qualifications and upwards of 13 years experience in the field. The team have extensive experience of acting as expert witnesses in family court proceedings, and have worked in in supervised contact centres, domestic violence prevention programmes, domestic violence victims’ services, parenting courses and child therapy: they are therefore well placed to advise on treatment viability and risk-management.The assessment process
PAI can offer a ‘triangular’ assessment of the risk posed by a particular alleged abuser and the resilience / vulnerability of the alleged victim and the children. Risk assessment can also be carried out with the adults alone or solely with the alleged perpetrator. We are happy to provide informal advice on the appropriateness of referrals.Our assessors meet with the client on one or two occasions. The meetings are quite structured, with questions being asked about past and present experiences. Adult clients will also be asked to complete a number of questionnaires, with the help of the assessor.
Where children are involved in the assessment we meet with them in order to assess their needs rather than to gather evidence, and use age-appropriate techniques such as play and drawing for this purpose. We meet children together with their primary carer and would also hope to spend time with them alone.