Assessments should be renamed investigations.
The precept is that in order to help re-establish as near normal a family life as possible, after trauma caused it to be in crisis, assessments establish the true facts, so a plan of actions needed to realign and strengthen the family unit can be taken.
To this worldly and honourable quest, you have to add the variable and alarming problem of scenically jaundiced social workers, being manipulative with the reports that will ultimately effect your whole future.
1) Insist at the very first assessment on taking notes and getting a signature on the bottom of every page from the investigating officer, for that is what your charming social worker has become. If they say you are being obstructive, a complaint should be made about it, you have the right to take notes of everything said and get a signature for it! THIS IS the most important thing to do.
2) Understand that everything you say at the assessment will or may be used against you in any future court case.
3) Never believe anything they say, unless it is in writing.
4) A friend of mine got so desperate he insisted on only answering written questions.
5) Wherever possible get an independent witness to take the notes.
6) Do not think any other organisation is impartial in particular NSPCC. Anyone dealing in child protection matters has to be trained as a Social worker, this paints them with the same brush.
7) Confidential issues do not exist. Your assessments even if carried out by the NSPCC are made available to SSD. They will hedge around it, when pushed they have to admit that all information could be used by SSD, or any other agency. In particular if the NSPCC is funded by the SSD, for the work, which it nearly always is.
8) Assessments of all family members will only be done if the participants are seen to give a legitimate advantage to the case for the SSD. Anyone obviously in favour of the person under suspicion of having caused trauma within the family, will not get much time spent on them. As this would work against the SSD case and present problems later with conflicting reports.
9) Stick to facts and never elaborate on detail, as the army saying goes, KISS. Keep it simple, stupid! In doing this you will undoubtedly cause maximum frustration to the social worker and hopefully truncate the often-frivolous questions like naming all the addresses, dates and meals you have had since you were born.
10) Questions asked of you will undoubtedly be asked of other members of your family, so the SS can pounce on any discrepancies. Always be open and honest, if you have nothing to hide. However, any questions relating to your intimate relations should be met with a firm, no comment.
11) Always remember, if you think the SS are there to help, why are they not taping the interview? Why will they not allow solicitors to be with you? Finally, who are they supposed to be protecting and is what they are doing going to help the family? You will know by their actions what the answer is.
12) Demand after every assessment that you be given a copy of the notes taken and signed by you and the social worker. If they will not do this see the complaint section. Anything written down by the social worker that you feel is incorrect should be noted with your reasons. Make sure any typed reports are the same as the written ones, if not complain.
13) A number of people have found the same problem i had, that is the physiological assessment they ask you to have. A very large number, although "in Denial" agreed to it, only to be labelled dangerous! I pushed two NSPCC physiologists into a corner on this and they had to agree, they automatically have to label you as such because of your denial! So my solicitor demanded they stop pressuring me, at court and they had to except it. So, if asked, say why as i did and DO NOT do it, getting your solicitor to show why.