Graded Care Profile2

What is the Graded Care Profile 2?

The Graded Care Profile 2 is a tool designed to provide an objective measure of the care of children who are, or maybe suffering from neglect. It is primarily based on the qualitative measure of the commitment shown by parents or carers in meeting their children’s developmental needs.

The Graded Care Profile was first developed and trialed in 1995 by Dr O Prakash Srivastava, a Community Paediatrician in Yorkshire. As a way to measure a child’s developmental needs and a parents commitment to meeting those needs, the tool showed itself to be user-friendly and reliable, replicating similar scores when re-tested by practitioners. In 1992 the tool was reviewed and updated by Dr Srivastava with the NSPCC, who undertook a national evaluation of the tool. The modifications made as a consequence of the national evaluation, resulted in the Graded Care Profile 2.

The Wirral Safeguarding Children Partnership became licenced to use the GCP 2 in March 2019.

What does the GCP2 measure?

The GPC2 measures the quality of care given to an individual child over a short window of time (i.e. it represents the current level of care). The care given is graded between 1 (most positive) and 5 (most negative) in all areas of a child’s needs. The grades are based on the extent to which the needs of the child are currently being met and the commitment of the parent/carer to the child in relation to particular areas of care.

The areas of care are based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs – physical care, care of safety, emotional care (love and belonging), and developmental care (care of esteem) which are then further sub-divided within the tool.

The GCP2 doesn’t explore reasons why a particular level of care is given to a child. However it encourages further exploration of the reasons at the analysis stage and this is supported by the practitioners report and records.

An introduction to the GCP2 is given in this short video from the NSPCC:

Use of the GCP 2

Anyone involved in evaluating the quality of parental care (particularly in cases of neglect) can use the tool. There is no requirement to be a Social Worker but there is a need to have an understanding of the child’s needs and to have completed the GCP 2 training.

A full assessment can be carried out if practitioners have access to the home and observe care. Otherwise an assessment can be completed with input from other professionals in current contact with the family.

Resources

Practitioners Guide:

GCP 2 information for professionals:

GCP 2 Infographic:

GCP 2 Case study pack:

GCP 2 consent form:

For more information about neglect and the impact on children go to the NSPCC website: NSPCC | The UK children’s charity | NSPCC

For GCP 2 training:

To access the GCP 2 training pleased click here. Practitioners must register on the website before they can access any of our courses.