Graded Care Profile 2

Frequently asked questions

Medway Safeguarding Children Partnership (MSCP)

Medway Safeguarding Children Partnership (MSCP) has adopted the Graded Care Profile 2 (GCP2) tool to assess family situations where there is known or suspected neglect.  This list of Frequently Asked Questions may address the queries individual practitioners have about using the GCP2.

Graded Care Profile 2 is an assessment tool that measures the quality of care being given to a child, helping frontline practitioners to identify neglect and spot anything that is putting that child at risk of harm.

What is the GCP2?

The GPC2 measures the current quality of care given to an individual child over a short window of time (i.e. it represents the current level of care). The care given is graded between 1 (most positive) and 5 (most negative) in all areas of a child’s needs. The grades are based on the extent to which the needs of the child are currently being met and the commitment of the parent/carer to the child in relation to areas of care.

The areas of care are based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs:

Physical care; nutrition, housing, clothing, hygiene, health.

Safety; safety in parent’s/carer’s presence and absence, online safety, safety in traffic, safety in the home.

Emotional care; Parent’s/carer’s responsiveness, mutual engagement.

Development care; Stimulation, approval, disapproval, acceptance.

The first GCP2 with a family will provide a baseline measure of the current quality of care, it can help focus support and interventions. A follow up review GCP2 tool can monitor progress.

Who can use the GCP2?

The MSCP provides the training with out charge to all multi-agency colleagues who work in Medway.  Those colleagues who home visit are more likely to use this tool this can include;

• Social workers
• Family support workers
• Home school link workers
• Family Solutions/Early help workers
• Health staff including Health visitors and Schools nurses
• Early years workers
• Voluntary sector agencies

I am a GCP2 practitioner – how do I access copies of the tool and materials?

On completion of GCP2 training you will be provided with copies of the tools and materials, they will also be emailed.  There is also a GCP2 Microsoft teams channel where all the resources are hosted and can be downloaded. 

When should I use the GCP2?

The NSPCC recommends using the tool as soon as neglect is suspected.  It can be used at different stages of a family’s involvement in local services, including Early Help, Early years, Education, Social workers and at legal stages. 

Ensure that you carry out scoring when the family is in a steady state (normal circumstances) and not during a state of extreme transient upset, for example a recent bereavement.

Do parents have to provide consent for a GCP2 to be completed?

Yes. If parents do not consent, this should be noted and contribute to any ongoing assessment.

Can I undertake some parts of the GCP2 and not others?

The whole of the GCP2 needs to be undertaken to ensure there is a clear and balanced view about the how the children’s needs are being met.  If there are aspects which are not relevant, then that area should be left out.

Sometimes a practitioner will only be able to contribute to one or a few parts of the tool ((for example a midwife).  Other agencies and practitioners can contribute to other areas of the tool more relevant to them and their role with the family.

What are the timescales for using the GCP2 tool?

This will be dependent on the size of the family group and whether parents or children have additional needs. Depending on the level of engagement with the family it is likely to take 2-3 visits to get a realistic baseline GCP2.

When should I complete a GCP2 review?

A GCP2 review is an important way of assessing the family and their progress so it depends on the needs of the family and agencies that are involved. In recent practice, practitioners have said 3 months is a useful and measurable timescale to repeat the GCP2. In other cases, it may be repeated up to 6 months later.

Can I use the GCP2 with adolescent neglect?

Yes, the tool can be used with adolescents and their parents. It can be used to facilitate conversations between young people and their parents and carers and help adolescents, exploring the adolescents understanding of the support they are receiving and where they aren’t getting what they should. 

Is there GCP2 refresher training to remind me of the scoring?

Yes, there is virtual GCP2 refresher training available in Medway.  This 2.5 hour session can be booked through Me Learning.  Further details on Graded Care Profile 2. 

Who can I contact for additional questions about the GCP2 in Medway?

MSCP mscp@medway.gov.uk

GPC2 lead for Medway sally.millsted@medway.gov.uk