FAMILY WITH PROBLEMS IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND
FAMILY AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: IMPROVED
OUTCOME AFTER 6 MONTHS
This was an intact family with both parents living together with four children, aged 11,
9, 4 and 15 months. They lived in council accommodation, neither parent was in
waged employment and so the family was reliant on benefits.
Summary
We can see from this example how the Parent Concerns Questionnaire (PCQ) can
clearly show improvements (the PCQ score was halved over a six months period).
We can also see how it can show clearly where those improvements had taken place
(in this case, most noticeably in the following area of Child Development – somatic
problems, deviant or criminal behaviour and uncertain and confused identity – but
also in the child(ren)’s social involvement, school behaviour and the family’s financial
problems.
We can, finally see where serious problems remained: at six months the family
experienced severe Child emotional, Child Behavioural and Housing problems.
The Parent Concerns Questionnaire – Parent’s Problem
ratings
The Parent Concerns Questionnaire was completed as follows at Initial Assessment
and six months later (Follow Up) – see next page.
First
Completion
Present
Severe
6 month Follow Up
Present
Severe
Child Development
Emotional
Behavioural
Cognitive
Social involvement
Uncertain/confused identity
Physical health
Somatic
Education
School behaviour
Deviant/criminal behaviour
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Parenting Capacity
Parenting
Limited attachment/bonding
Provision of guidance
Involvement with child[ren]
Unrealistic expectations of child
Hostility/criticism of child
Physical care of child
Parenting context
Home management
Primary Parent criminal
Other parent adult family criminal
Drug/alcohol
Personal illness/disability
Family illness/disability
Reproduction
Acute psychological distress
Feelings of depression
Family [adult] mental illness
Family and Environmental
Housing
Financial
Occupational
Formal organisations
Race/Culture
Marital/partner
Extended family
Friends
Isolation/lack of relations
Sex abuse/violence
Loss
0
0
Scoring for problems is as follows
0
Severe problem
Problem, but not severe
No Problems
=2
=1
=0
Overall picture
At Initial Assessment
Child development
There were Severe Problems identified in Child Development as follows
Emotional problems
Uncertain/confused identity
Somatic
Deviant or criminal behaviour
There were problems that were not severe as follows
Behavioural
Social Involvement
School Behaviour
This leaves a score of
11
4 severe problems
3 non severe problems
Total score
=8
=3
=11
Parenting Capacity
No problems were identified
This leaves a score of
Zero (0)
Family and Environmental Factors
There were Severe Problems identified in Family and Environmental Factors as
follows
Housing
There were problems that were not severe as follows
Financial
This leaves a score of
1 severe problems
1 non severe problems
Total score
3
= 2
= 1
= 3
Overall Score at initial assessment
Child Development
Parenting Capacity
Family and Environmental factors
11
0
3
Total PCQ Score
14
At Six Months after Initial Assessment
There were Severe Problems identified in Child Development as follows
Emotional problems
Behavioural problems
There were problems that were not severe as follows
Somatic
This leaves a score of
5
4 severe problems
3 non severe problems
=4
=1
Total score
=5
Parenting Capacity
No problems were identified This leaves a score of
Zero (0)
Family and Environmental Factors
There were Severe Problems identified in Family and Environmental Factors as
follows
Housing
There were No problems that were not severe
This leaves a score of
2
1 severe problems
= 2
Total score
= 2
Overall Score at Six Months after Initial Assessment
Child Development
Parenting Capacity
Family and Environmental factors
5
0
2
Total PCQ Score
7
Comparing Initial Assessment to Six Months Later
There is clearly a major improvement in the situation after 6 months
Initial Assessment
6 months later
Child Development
Parenting Capacity
Family and Environmental factors
11
0
3
5
0
2
Total PCQ Score
14
7
This shows a clear improvement in the situation, overall, and in relation to both Child
Development (where the improvement was particularly marked) and Family and
Environmental Factors. There was no change in the domain of parenting capacity,
where no problems were identified at both the initial assessment and 6 months later.
We would, therefore, conclude the following on the basis of these scores:
(a) That there had been a marked overall improvement, most notably in the
domain of child development
(b) That, however, with a score of seven overall, and 5 in the domain of Child
Development, there remained marked problems to deal with
Taking a Closer Look
For practice purposes, it is as important to look at the changes in individual areas
(items) as it is to look at the overall score. What had happened over the six months
for this family?
The way to do this is to consider where change had occurred, and where problems
nevertheless remained.
Improvements:
Uncertain or Confused Identity and Deviant and Criminal Behaviour, which were
severe at Initial Assessment, were no longer problems at all 6 months later
Problems that were present but not severe at Initial Assessment (Social Involvement,
School Behaviour, Financial) were no longer problems six months later
Remained the same
Emotional Problems, identified as severe at initial assessment remained severe 6
months later.
Deterioration
Behavioural Problems, identified as present but not severe had worsened, and
become severe six months later
What then was the situation at six months?
Well, clearly there had been marked improvements – this family was functioning
better, particularly in relation to child development six months after initial assessment.
However, there remain concerns in 3 key areas where severe problems remained:
Child Emotional problems, Child Behavioural Problems and Housing Problems. It is
clear, therefore, that despite considerable improvements, this family was not yet ‘out
of the woods’.