Okuzeka
Social Work vocabulary · Children, Families and Care

Parenting capacity

Meaning in social work, with examples

nounCommon term

In social work, parenting capacity means: A parent's ability to meet a child's needs and keep them safe, including basic care, emotional warmth, guidance, boundaries and stability.

In Turkish: ebeveynlik kapasitesi, ebeveynlik yeterliliği

How it is used

Assessed in child protection and court work, often alongside the child's developmental needs and family and environmental factors. Mental health problems, substance misuse or domestic abuse may affect parenting capacity, which can also improve with support.

Example sentences

  1. The court asked for a full assessment of the mother's parenting capacity.

  2. With regular support, the father's parenting capacity improved a great deal.

Common collocations

  • assess parenting capacity
  • parenting capacity assessment
  • impact on parenting capacity
  • assessmentThe process of gathering and analysing information about a person's situation, needs, strengths and risks in order to decide what help is needed.
  • neglectThe ongoing failure to meet a child's or dependent adult's basic needs, such as food, safety, hygiene, health care, supervision or emotional warmth.
  • family supportServices that help families cope with difficulties and bring up their children well, such as parenting groups, practical help and family support workers.
  • child protectionThe work of identifying children who are suffering, or are likely to suffer, abuse or neglect and taking action to keep them safe.

More terms: Children, Families and Care

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