Special Guardianship Assessment: What to Expect from the Social Worker Visit

The assessment is the part of the SGO process that worries kinship carers the most. You have served your three months' notice, the local authority has acknowledged it, and now a social worker will be coming into your home to decide whether you are suitable to be a special guardian. It feels intrusive — because it is. But it follows a defined statutory framework, and knowing what is coming makes it far less daunting.

What the Assessment Covers

The local authority's statutory duty to assess you is set out in Section 14A(8) of the Children Act 1989, and the content of the assessment is prescribed by Schedule 1 of the Special Guardianship Regulations 2005. It covers five broad areas:

1. The child's profile. Medical history, emotional and educational needs, racial and cultural background, and — if old enough — the child's own wishes and feelings.

2. The birth parents' profile. Background, health, financial position, and their views on the proposed SGO and contact arrangements.

3. Your profile as prospective guardian. Personal history, employment, finances, physical and mental health (including a GP medical check), accommodation, and an enhanced DBS check.

4. Family dynamics. The relationship between the child, you, and the birth parents. How contact would work. Whether the child's siblings are being separated by the arrangement.

5. Support needs. What support the child, you, and the birth parents will need — culminating in a formal Special Guardianship Support Plan.

The Home Visits

Most assessments involve several home visits over the 12-week statutory assessment window. The social worker will look at the child's living space, sleeping arrangements, safety features (stair gates, medication storage, garden fencing), and the general condition of the home. They are not expecting a show home. They are looking for a safe, stable environment where the child's needs are met.

Expect the social worker to interview you at length about your motivation for applying, your relationship with the child, how you manage the child's behaviour, and how you would handle contact with the birth parents. They will also want to understand any challenges — health conditions, financial pressures, bereavement — and how you cope with them.

Background Checks

The social worker will arrange:

• Enhanced DBS checks for every adult member of the household. This searches for criminal convictions, cautions, and any information the police consider relevant.
• Local authority checks with children's services in every area where the applicant and household members have lived.
• A GP medical report on the applicant's physical and mental health. The council usually pays for this, but check in advance.

How Long the Assessment Takes

Section 14A(8) requires the local authority to investigate and prepare a report, but it does not set a 12-week deadline. Once proceedings are under way, the report must be filed within the timetable fixed by the court under Family Procedure Rule 12.18. A 12-week assessment is a common target, but private-law assessments often take 16–20 weeks because of staffing pressures and delays in obtaining police or medical reports. Care proceedings are generally subject to the 26-week statutory timetable under Section 32(1) of the Children Act 1989, with the court able to extend it when necessary to resolve the case justly.

How to Prepare

You cannot control the social worker's conclusions, but you can control how organised and transparent you are:

• Gather documents in advance. Birth certificates, school reports, medical records, proof of income, identification for every household member, and any existing court orders or social services records.
• Be honest about challenges. Social workers are trained to identify evasion. If you have a health condition, a past difficulty, or a strained relationship with the birth parent, acknowledging it openly and explaining how you manage it will serve you better than trying to conceal it.
• Think about the support plan. The social worker will ask what support you need — respite, financial help, therapeutic services for the child. Having a clear picture of your needs helps shape a support plan that actually works.
• Keep a communication log. Note every phone call, email and visit from children's services, including dates, who you spoke to, and what was discussed.

What Happens After the Assessment

The social worker writes a detailed report and submits it to the Family Court. The court decides whether to disclose it to each party, may direct that information be deleted, and can direct that the report not be disclosed to a party under Family Procedure Rule 12.18. If you receive a copy and spot factual errors, submit a written schedule of corrections to the social worker and the court before the hearing. Evaluative conclusions — the social worker's professional opinion on suitability — cannot be corrected that way; they have to be challenged at the hearing through cross-examination or a witness statement.

Our SGO process guide includes an assessment preparation worksheet and a communication log template, so you can walk into every home visit with your records organised and your questions ready.

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