Writing Assessment Analysis: Moving Beyond Description

With analysis:

"Mother has experienced recurrent depression, requiring hospitalisation in 2019 and 2022. Her current medication appears to be managing her symptoms effectively—she has maintained employment and consistent care of James for the past 18 months. However, her mental health remains a vulnerability. When she becomes unwell, her capacity to prioritise James's needs reduces significantly. The risk indicators observed in previous crises (withdrawal, missed school runs, irregular meals) should inform ongoing monitoring. Her engagement with the GP and mental health team is a protective factor, though historically she has disengaged during periods of relapse."

With analysis:

"Father's own experience of abuse and care system instability has shaped his parenting approach in significant ways. Positively, he expresses strong determination to provide a different experience for his children—he has engaged consistently with parenting programmes and sought help proactively when struggling. However, his lack of positive parenting models means he sometimes lacks strategies for managing challenging behaviour, defaulting to either permissiveness or harsh verbal responses. His unresolved trauma surfaces in his difficulty regulating his own emotions during conflict. He has limited family support, having no contact with his family of origin, which places additional stress on the family unit and means there are no natural support networks to draw on during crises."

With analysis:

"The home presented as cluttered but not hazardous—dishes were from recent meals, laundry was clean and awaiting folding, and Emma's play area was clear of obstacles. This represents a typical level of domestic disorder for a single parent managing employment and childcare, rather than neglect. Mother's phone use during my visit appeared to be work-related; she apologised and explained she was dealing with a shift change. When Emma sought her attention, mother was responsive, stopping her call to engage with Emma's play. The observation suggests mother is managing competing demands reasonably well, though the lack of wider support (she mentioned having no family locally) means she is stretched thin."

Analysing contradictory accounts:

"Mother reports that she has stopped drinking alcohol completely. However, the school reports that Tyler arrived smelling of alcohol on three occasions this term, and the GP noted mother appeared intoxicated at an appointment in October. When explored, mother acknowledged 'occasional' drinking but minimised its frequency and impact. This pattern of minimisation is consistent with her previous engagement, where she acknowledged problems only when directly confronted with evidence. The discrepancy between her self-report and third-party observations is significant—it suggests that either her alcohol use is more extensive than she recognises, or she is consciously underreporting due to fear of consequences. Either interpretation raises concerns about her capacity to address Tyler's needs when alcohol is a factor."

Using the framework:

WHAT: "Sophie has had 47 school absences this academic year, primarily Mondays and Fridays."

WHY: "The pattern suggests absences are linked to weekends when Sophie stays with father. Mother reports Sophie is often tired and 'off' after contact. Father's home lacks a consistent bedtime routine, and Sophie has disclosed staying up late playing video games. Additionally, the Monday/Friday pattern may indicate transition difficulties—Sophie has previously expressed distress about moving between homes."

WHAT: "This level of absence is impacting Sophie's education and peer relationships. The pattern indicates that contact arrangements, while valued by Sophie, may need review to ensure consistent routines across both homes. Support for parents to establish shared expectations around bedtime and screen time could address the practical issues, while direct work with Sophie about transitions may help with the emotional component."

Risk analysis:

"The combination of domestic abuse history and parental substance misuse creates a significantly elevated risk profile. When father drinks, his verbal aggression increases, creating an environment of fear and unpredictability for Jayden. At 2 years old, Jayden is entirely dependent on his caregivers and unable to seek help or remove himself from harmful situations. The family's isolation—they have recently moved and have no local support network—means there are no natural protective factors outside the immediate household. Financial stress adds pressure to an already strained relationship. The critical question is whether mother can protect Jayden from father's behaviour when she herself is a victim of his abuse. Currently, there is no evidence she has been able to do so."

Theory-informed analysis:

"Maya's behaviour towards her foster carer—seeking closeness then pushing away, testing boundaries relentlessly—is consistent with disorganised attachment patterns that commonly develop in children who have experienced unpredictable caregiving. Her early years were characterised by her mother being both the source of care and the source of fear (due to untreated mental illness causing erratic behaviour). This has left Maya unable to trust that adults will respond consistently. Understanding this helps us see her challenging behaviour not as 'naughtiness' but as a learned survival strategy. The implication is that Maya needs carers who can provide consistent, boundaried responses without taking her rejection personally—and who can tolerate the length of time it will take for her to learn that adults can be safe."