The Programme of Intervention for the Prevention of Institutionalisation (PIPPI) was developed in Italy to work with families who may be at risk of having their children taken into care. Supporting families in complex situations is one of the core duties of public services at regional and local levels. PIPPI is based on a linear approach to assessment, planning and intervention in the cases of children identified with possible signs of neglect. The programme has various elements that are in line with current developments in child protection services across Europe.

The coordination between different sectors and the need to involve the child, the family and the wider network in assessment and planning are becoming widespread in local public social services across a number of European countries. The quasi-experimental approach adopted by the PIPPI model and the promising results which have been obtained so far highlight also the relevance of evidence-based practice for the design and implementation of effective child protection services.

At the seminar, Claire Chamberland, from the University of Montreal, spoke about ways to prevent and detect child’s neglect when working with families. Ms Chamberland presented the AIDES programme, which is an inter-sectorial experience aimed at the implementation of a needs assessment framework with child protection services in Quebec. Helen Jones, social work consultant and member of the child protection working group in the UK government, spoke of the work they have been carrying with local authorities in England and Wales to implement a needs assessment framework with child protection services.

In my presentation, I referred to various examples of coordinated approaches to identify children’s needs and signs of neglect, which have been gathered as part of ESN’s project on Investing in children’s services. These include common assessment frameworks drafted by national agencies from different sectors in cooperation with local authorities as well as needs assessment and risk prevention models at regional levels. I also highlighted the variability across EU countries of workforce regulations and qualifications in the field of child protection.

During the discussions we looked at how assessment frameworks have evolved from a primary focus on risk to a comprehensive analysis of the needs of the child. In order to undertake this analysis successfully, it is key to consider the services currently provided to the child, the evaluation of the interventions that have been carried out, the parents’ response, dialogue and participation of child and parents and the need to develop a common action plan between all the stakeholders involved.