Parents with intellectual disabilities: The experience of being sent to a family centre for assessment

In Britain, when there are concerns about the ability of parents with intellectual disabilities to adequately care for their children, a common response is for them to attend a residential family centre for a formal assessment. However, little is known about what parents with intellectual disabilities think or feel about this approach. A small piece of research was conducted in the South-East of England with eight families in whom at least one parent had an intellectual disability. Interviews were conducted with the parents themselves, family centre workers and referrers (e.g. social workers). The present paper includes a summary of the main findings, paying particular attention to the views and experiences of the parents with intellectual disabilities.