C-Change is a flexible approach to assessing parents’ capacities to change where the children are in need or at risk of maltreatment. It is of interest to social workers in local authorities and other settings, and to other professionals working with children in need.

It focuses specifically on parental capacity to change, with the aim of better informing future planning and decision-making for the child.  It is designed as a complementary process, to be used alongside standard methods of assessing children and their families, such as the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need, Signs of Safety, or other equivalent approaches.

On this site, we offer:

• summary information about C-Change, and a downloadable information leaflet;
• downloadable materials to support social workers in practice;
• publications and references;
• news and events.

The information and materials available on this site aim to introduce practitioners to the C-Change approach. To support practitioners in feeling confident and comfortable in using C-Change in their practice we strongly recommend that staff should be trained in the approach. 

Training is provided by Interface Enterprises, and a range of training options are available.

The approach was developed by Dendy Platt (Senior Lecturer in Social Work) and Katie Riches (Research Associate) at the University of Bristol, in consultation with social work colleagues working in Bath and North-East Somerset Council, North Somerset Council, and Somerset County Council. The development work and initial piloting was supported by a Knowledge Exchange Opportunities Scheme grant from the Economic and Social Research Council in England (grant reference no: ES/L001829/1).