This guidance is not intended to be exhaustive or mandatory. The aim is to assist practitioners engaged in evaluation assessments requested under Section 20 of the Child Care Act, 1991. The Guidance should not be seen as prescriptive. It is essential that practitioners make their own judgements as to what is needed in any particular case, but the principles of the guidance should be adhered to. The primary emphasis is to enable a service to be provided to the court in respect of children and parents for whom protection and child welfare, and perhaps custody evaluation is required.
