What does risk assessment in child protection primarily gather?

Risk assessment in child protection focuses on gathering evidence to support conclusions regarding the child's safety and well-being. This process involves collecting factual information through various means such as interviews, observations, and review of records. The ultimate goal is to understand the child's situation comprehensively, identifying any immediate dangers or underlying issues that may impact their safety. Evidence obtained during assessments informs the judgments made by social workers and helps in developing interventions.

While emotional testimony can be part of the assessment process, it does not provide the objective data needed for a thorough evaluation. Recommendations for therapy might emerge from the findings of the assessment, but they are not the primary focus. Likewise, consensus from family members, although valuable for a holistic understanding of the child's environment, does not constitute the core of the risk assessment. Instead, gathering substantive evidence is critical for making informed decisions in child protection scenarios.