Frequently Asked Questions

For Professionals in the Social Care Process

What is Browning House?

Browning House works to manage complexity, uncertainty and risk within families to provide independent assessment outcomes to support the decision making process for children. Located in the diverse, urban area of Chapeltown, Leeds, Browning House provides innovative assessment services in response to the changing demands of families and referrers. Browning House provides a flexible combination of assessment services and tools to create a package of support individual to the child's needs.

What Services Can You Provide? 

We provide a range of assessment services and are flexible in combining elements of each to provide the most appropriate package for each family.  We currently provide:

Residential Assessments

Day and Community Assessments within the West Yorkshire area

Satellite accommodation

Specialist bespoke, intensive family support packages

How Can I Refer a Family to Browning House?

If you are working with a family that could benefit from an independent parenting assessment, please call Julie Sinclair, our Referrals Case Manager on 0113 262 1110 or complete an online referral form

Before admittance to Browning House we will seek to hold an interview whereby previous concerns, assessments and court proceedings will be discussed.  It is expected that Browning House have sight of all relevant documentation before the referral is confirmed, where possible Browning House will accept emergency referrals.

 What Can I Expect from a Browning House Assessment?

You can expect to work with a dedicated, experienced team, to develop a creative package of support for your family.  Each family will be allocated a Social Work Case Manager and 'Key Worker'.

A placement meeting will be held with the professionals involved, Browning House will discuss the outlying the plans for direct work sessions, drug/alcohol swabs, child development and play sessions, along with other structured activities such as baby massage and healthy eating sessions.

Professionals will be invited to a mid way review to discuss the progress of the assessment. Professionals wishing to visit the family at any point during the assessment are more than welcome and a private room can be booked if required.

There may be situations where Browning House feels that, for the child's best interest, an assessment may need to come to an early end.  This will be discussed with the professionals involved and the family. Equally, if an assessment is progressing positively Browning House may look to move the family to the satellite accommodation.

What Can I Expect at the End of a Browning House Assessment?

A final meeting will be held with professionals before the proposed end of the assessment, where a final court report will also be provided.  Browning House staff and the family will be present to discuss the report and recommendations; at this point the assessment may link up with the Community Assessment Team or move to the satellite accommodation.  

Browning House will seek feedback from professionals regarding how they perceived the assessment process, as part of our continuous improvement.

 How Does Browning House Keep Children Safe?

The safety and wellbeing of children is paramount. Browning House adheres to strict safeguarding policy and procedures. Browning House has many practical measures in place to keep children safe.

Browning House is based in safe and secure grounds with CCTV on the eternal entrances and exits. All bedrooms are fitted with audio monitoring. The monitor sweeps each room systematically, alerting staff to loud noises.

Browning House can provide a sliding scale of supervision and support to children and families.  Supervision can be altered throughout the assessment to include one to one supervision throughout the day and during child care tasks, one to one supervision during the night, children in staff care over night, audio and visual monitoring of children whilst sleeping in parent's bedroom, no unsupervised contact away from Browning House, supervised contact with family and any pre-agreed visitors.

Before a family enters Browning House the staff team would have read all the relevant documentation and produced a comprehensive risk management plan. All staff members will have been informed of the potential risks and the procedures we have in place to manage them.

It is vital to Browning House that throughout the planning and assessment period the child remains at the centre of all decisions and as a result is disrupted as little as possible. Browning House works with professionals and the child's foster parent/s to ensure that changes in behaviour are discussed and managed.

Who Do You Work With?

Browning House works with parents where there is a high level of risk and concerns over the parent's capability to care for their child. Historically we have worked with families with very complex personal backgrounds and a wide range of social issues.

Browning House has extensive experience of working with harder to place families and gives consideration to working with single parents and couples where there are the following factors present:

•  Previous injuries to children
• Volatile behaviour
• Learning disabilities
• Addiction issues
• Mental Health difficulties
• Domestic abuse
• Single fathers
• Very young parents
• English is not the first language

This list is not exhaustive.

For further information about the families we work with please see our website

Browning House seeks to work alongside professional agencies to provide further support to families during and after their assessment.  This includes SureStart programmes, Health visitors and GP services, counselling and therapy services. Browning House frequently works with independent psychologists to allow them to complete a report alongside a Browning House assessment.

Tell Me a Bit More About Your Staff Team

Browning House employs a large and diverse staff team with a wealth of experience and an extensive range of qualifications. We provide a comprehensive induction period for all staff and provide continuous training and development. Browning House Family Assessment workers have achieved NVQ Level 3 Care or higher.

For further details of the qualifications and experience of the Browning House Management Team please see our statement of purpose

If you have any further questions or require more details in relation to Browning House assessments  please call 0113 262 1110 and speak to Julie Sinclair, Referrals Case Manager, who will be pleased to assist you with any enquiries.