Capacity to Change: Understanding and Assessing a Parent's Capacity to Change within the Timescales of the Child New edition

In the UK, when family courts are making decisions about the best interests of children in legal proceedings, there are often two conflicting questions posed in order to determine good outcomes: Is change possible in the family within the timescales of the child? Do the parents have the capacity to change? This terminology is used as though these two concepts were clearly defined and well-evidenced. With the move away from reliance on expert evidence in the court arena, there is a need to provide practitioners in the social care and legal professions with a framework for formulating how the child's best interests can be met within their timescales, and whether capacity to change is likely. The book brings together chapters commissioned specifically for professionals in UK social care, health care, education, and law. Sample of contents: *** (Part 1) capacity to change in the children's timescales * early intervention: outcomes for babies and young children in the care system * psychological needs of children with neurodevelopmental disorders * learning and educational needs of children and young people * protection and working towards safety and stability for the child *** (Part 2) understanding and assessing motivation to change * capacity to change in parents with mental health issues * capacity to change in parents who are violent * capacity to change in parents who are a sexual risk * capacity to change in parents with drug and alcohol problems * capacity to change in parents with learning difficulties.