↵Parents and carers have a stand-alone right to assessments and services under the Children and Families Act 2014. This is called a Parent Carer Needs Assessment (PCNA).
The Local Authority in which the child lives must carry out an assessment of the parent/carers needs if it appears to them that they may have needs as a carer for support or if a parent carer requests one.
Achieving for Children (AfC) has the responsibility for doing the assessment for parent carers of children under the age of 18 in Kingston and Richmond. AfC may then provide a personal support plan which signposts support available within the Local Offer area.
Could I be eligible for an assessment?
A parent carer is someone over 18 who provides care for a disabled child for whom they have parental responsibility. Providing care includes providing practical or emotional support. The Children and Families Act 2014 amends the Children Act 1989 requiring local councils to assess parent carers;
where it looks like the parent carer may have needs for support
or
where an assessment is requested by the parent/carer.
The local council (in this case Achieving for Children) must also be satisfied that the child and their family come within the scope of the Children’s Act, ie that the child is a child in need and eligible for support under section 17 of the Children Act 1989
The local authority must then assess:
- whether a parent carer has needs for support and, if so, what those needs are
- whether it is appropriate for the parent to provide, or continue to provide, care for the disabled child, in the light of the parent’s needs for support, other needs and wishes
Parent carers’ needs assessment must also consider:
- the wellbeing of the parent carer
- the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of the disabled child cared for,
- and any other child for whom the parent carer has parental responsibility
Apply for an assessment if your child is under 18
Parent Carer Needs Assessment (PCNA) process if child is known to the early help or social care teams in Achieving for Children
You may have been offered a PCNA by a professional from the early help or social care teams within Achieving for Children. The process and timeline is set out below. If you have not been offered an assessment and would like one, please contact the professional working with your child/family.
| Day one | Professional working with child/family offers a PCNA or parent/carer(s) requests one |
| Within 20 days | PCNA form to be completed by professional (AfC) and sent for discussion at panel (to be sent via email to ISCD Business Support and Head of Service, Children with Disabilities team, who will add to panel agenda) |
| PCNA to be discussed at the next panel, which takes place on the 3rd Wednesday of every month. | |
| Within 5 working days of panel taking place | Outcome to be shared with parent/carer. Panel will feedback to the professional who undertook the PCNA and it is their responsibility to inform the parent/ carer of the outcome. |
| Within 10 working days of panel taking place | Panel will also send a letter to the parent / carer with the outcome. |
| Next step | Panel will inform Business Support of the outcome so this can be added to the PCNA data tracker. |
| Within 10 working days of learning the outcome | If parent / carer is unhappy with the outcome of the PCNA, they must inform the professional who undertook the assessment in writing (letter or email) so this can be sent for appeal. |
| Next step | Appeals will be heard within 10 working days and responses to parent / carer within another 5 working days. |
|
Notes: Panel members:
Appeals Panel:
Panel will review tracker every 6 months for themes to be identified and will feed information back to councils. |
|
Parent Carer Needs Assessment (PCNA) process if child is NOT known to Achieving for Children
All other requests should go through the Single Point of Access. You can phone them on 020 8547 5008 to request a PCNA and they will arrange this for you.
| Day one | PCNA request received by the Single Point of Access (SPA).
The PCNA request to be sent to Disabled Children's Team (DCT) manager where it will be allocated within the team. |
| By day 10 | Initial visit to parent/carer to have been completed |
| By day 20 | PCNA form to be completed by allocated professional (AfC) and sent for discussion at panel (to be sent via email to ISCD Business Support and Head of Service, Children with Disabilities team, who will add to panel agenda) |
| PCNA to be discussed at the next panel, which takes place on the 3rd Wednesday of every month. | |
| Within 5 working days of panel taking place | Outcome to be shared with parent/carer. Panel will feedback to the professional who undertook the PCNA and it is their responsibility to inform the parent/ carer of the outcome. |
| Within 10 working days of panel taking place | Panel will also send a letter to the parent / carer with the outcome. |
| Next step | Panel will inform Business Support of the outcome so this can be added to the PCNA data tracker. |
| Within 10 working days of learning the outcome | If parent / carer is unhappy with the outcome of the PCNA, they must inform the professional who undertook the assessment in writing (letter or email) so this can be sent for appeal. |
| Next step | Appeals will be heard within 10 working days and responses to parent / carer within another 5 working days. |
|
Notes: Panel members:
Appeals Panel:
Panel will review tracker every 6 months for themes to be identified and will feed information back to councils. |
|
Parent Carer Needs Assessment if your child is over 18
There is a separate process for this as a child or young person over 18 is classed as an adult. Adult Social Services would assess the needs of a parent or carer of a young person over 18.
Find out more and how to apply online in the Adult Social Care section of the Kingston website
Find out more and how to apply online in the Richmond Council website