Legacy Family Assessment Centre

Legacy Family Assessment CentreLegacy Family Assessment CentreLegacy Family Assessment Centre

Legacy Family Assessment Centre

Legacy Family Assessment CentreLegacy Family Assessment CentreLegacy Family Assessment Centre
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Together We Can Make a Difference

Together We Can Make a DifferenceTogether We Can Make a DifferenceTogether We Can Make a Difference

 To creating a brighter future for children and young people.

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Parenting Assessments

  

We undertake 12 - 16 weeks specialised CUBAS Parenting Assessment for parents with learning disabilities and/or vulnerable families. Legacy is committed to creating tailored assessments that explore in depth all the Court's or the Local Authority's concerns. At Legacy, we understand that all families have different needs and will be at different stages of their child’s life; therefore, we tailor all assessment packages to best meet these needs and timescales.

 

We promote and assess parenting skills to ensure that children are safe and protected. We offer families intensive support to help them recognise their children's needs. Safeguarding vulnerable children is our prime focus, and the clarity of our assessments informs referrers whether a child’s needs can be adequately met by parents or carers, or whether there is a need for further intervention or alternative care arrangements to secure the child's longer-term future.

Semi-Independent Service

Our semi-independent supported living accommodation provides 24-hour care and assists young adults aged 18–25 leaving care on their journey to living independently in the community. Whether it's for the first time or after a major shift in circumstances, we give people the self-assurance, self-worth, and life skills they need to live independently by providing them with high-quality accommodation and support. Through a structured care and support plan that empowers the young adults to take charge of their lives and strive for their particular objectives, all support is individualised to meet each person's unique requirements. 

 

Additionally, we provides specialist semi-independent accommodation for pregnant young adults and for first-time mothers and their babies up to 9 months old. We are committed to providing high-quality services and recognises the importance of working in partnership with the young adults and significant others.  

Counseling Service

Counseling Service

Our therapists are qualified and experienced counsellors and psychotherapists and are registered or accredited with the BACP, BPC, or HCPC,  Our counselling offers a safe and supportive space to help you explore your problems and share and gain insight into your feelings, thoughts, and behaviour.  The counsellor is there to help you identify and understand more clearly what may be impacting on your daily life. 


A counsellor can help you to gain a different perspective on yourself and/or your problems and aid you in making choices and changes that feel right for you. Our counselling service offers cognitive behavioural (CBT) and integrative or psychodynamic group and individual therapy, depending on what best suits your needs.

About Us

About Our Services

Where we are

Legacy is situated in a residential area in North Finchley (London Borough of Barnet). However, we accept families from all around the country. We are within walking distance of shops, and there are good transport links (buses and overground trains into Euston and London Bridge). 


At Legacy, we provide specialist care, support, and education services for vulnerable adults and families with complex needs. Our work is rooted in compassion, dignity, and a deep commitment to helping people build safer, healthier, and more stable futures. We offer a range of residential services, each tailored to the unique needs, strengths, and goals of the individuals we support.


Parenting Assessment Service

Legacy Parenting Assessment Service delivers specialist assessments and intensive support for parents with learning disabilities and vulnerable families. Our focus is to understand each parent’s capacity to meet their child’s needs, ensure children are safe, and provide clear, evidence‑based recommendations to Local Authorities. We work closely with families to help them recognise and respond to their children’s needs, always prioritising the safety and wellbeing of the child.


Semi‑Independent Services for Young Adults

Legacy Semi‑Independent Services provides a safe, nurturing environment for young adults who have experienced adversity, including pregnant young adults and young parents. We help them develop the practical skills, confidence, and emotional resilience needed to care for their baby and move towards independence. Our team offers structured support, parenting guidance, and consistent safeguarding oversight to ensure both parent and child are protected and supported.


Our Mission

Our mission is to make a lasting difference in the lives of the people we support. Whether helping someone overcome challenges, build new skills, or move towards their full potential, we are committed to providing the structure, care, and encouragement they need to thrive. When others may have struggled to engage or understand, our dedicated team steps in with compassion, expertise, and unwavering belief in each person’s ability to grow.


Our Approach

We believe in flexibility, personalisation, and relational practice. Every individual receives an individual development or support plan shaped around their needs, goals, and lived experience. Nothing we do is one‑size‑fits‑all. Our exceptional staff bring specialist knowledge, trauma‑informed practice, and genuine care to every interaction.


Working in Partnership

We work closely with Local Authorities, health professionals, and partner agencies to ensure a coordinated, holistic approach to care and support. This collaborative way of working ensures that every individual receives the right support at the right time, helping them move towards a safer, happier, and more secure future.

Aims and Objectives

Our work is guided by the core principles of the Children Act 1989, placing the welfare of the child as our paramount consideration in every decision we make. We believe that, wherever possible, children should be raised safely within their own families, and we are committed to providing the support parents need to achieve this.


Our Aims

  • To ensure that every child in our care or under our assessment is safe, protected, and prioritised at all times.
  • To help parents and young adults develop  the skills, insight, and confidence needed to meet their child’s emotional, physical, and developmental needs.
  • To work in partnership with families, recognising their strengths and supporting them to overcome challenges.
  • To provide high‑quality, trauma‑informed  residential services that promote stability, dignity, and positive outcomes.
  • To deliver clear, evidence‑based  assessments that support Local Authorities in making the best decisions  for each child’s long‑term wellbeing.


Our Objectives

  • To offer support that is individualised,  culturally sensitive, and responsive to each child’s and parent’s unique  needs, background, race, culture, religion, and language.
  • To work collaboratively with Local   Authorities, health professionals, and partner agencies to ensure a coordinated,      holistic approach to safeguarding and support.
  • To ensure all families have access to independent      representation, advocacy, and complaints procedures, promoting  transparency and accountability.
  • To empower parents and young adults   through structured programmes, practical skill‑building, and reflective   work that strengthens their capacity to care safely for their child.
  • To maintain a safe, nurturing environment  where vulnerable adults and young parents can develop, learn, and thrive.


Our Commitment

Our unwavering commitment is to the immediate safety, protection, and wellbeing of every child whose parent or young adult resides within our services. Every action we take is rooted in safeguarding, respect, and the belief that with the right support, families can achieve meaningful and lasting change.

Parenting Assessment Service

At Legacy, our Parenting Assessment Service provides specialist, trauma‑informed assessments and intensive support for parents with learning disabilities and vulnerable families. Our aim is to understand each parent’s capacity to meet their child’s needs while ensuring that every child is safe, protected, and prioritised.


We work alongside families to help them recognise and respond to their children’s emotional, physical, and developmental needs. Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do, and our clear, evidence‑based assessments support Local Authorities and the Courts in making informed decisions about a child’s long‑term wellbeing.


Specialist Parenting Assessments

We deliver structured, time‑limited CUBAS Model Parenting Assessments for:

  • Children’s Social Care
  • Guardians ad Litem
  • Legal Services
  • Court‑directed assessments

These assessments provide early clarity for planning and ensure that decisions about a child’s future are based on robust, multi‑disciplinary evidence.


Residential Assessment Environment

Our Residential Centre offers a safe, supportive environment for families with additional needs or vulnerabilities. Our primary aim is to provide a skilled, holistic assessment of parenting capacity where there are concerns about a parent’s ability to care safely for their child.

We maintain a consistent, dedicated staff team so that:

  • children are not exposed to multiple carers
  • parents remain the primary caregivers
  • families experience stability, continuity, and trust


Our Approach

We recognise that parents with learning disabilities or vulnerabilities may face challenges that affect their parenting often unintentionally. With the right support, guidance, and intervention, many parents can achieve positive and sustainable change.


Our work focuses on:

  • identifying strengths and areas for development
  • offering practical, hands‑on support
  • modelling safe and responsive parenting
  • helping parents understand their child’s needs
  • monitoring progress and evidencing change
  • ensuring the child’s safety at all times

Where it is safe and possible, we aim to support children to remain within their family network.

Where this is not achievable, we help parents understand the reasons and ensure they receive guidance about their own future support needs.


Our Multi‑Disciplinary Team

Our assessments are delivered by an experienced, specialist team including:

  • Consultant Clinical Psychologists
  • Social Workers
  • Behavioural Specialists
  • Psychotherapists

This team undertakes the primary assessment work, prepares reports for court proceedings, and provides both individual and group sessions with parents. By identifying clear targets for change and reviewing progress throughout the placement, we are able to evidence the following:

  • what has changed
  • what remains a concern
  • what support or intervention is required
  • whether safe parenting can be sustained


Our Commitment

Our commitment is simple: the safety and well-being of every child is our paramount concern.

We work with compassion, clarity, and professionalism to support families, protect children, and provide Local Authorities with the evidence they need to make the best decisions for each child’s future.

Our Intervention and Support Programme

At Legacy Family Assessment Centre, every family receives a personalised programme of support designed around their learning needs, strengths, and areas for development. Our approach is holistic, trauma‑informed, and centred on the safety and wellbeing of each child.


Initial Assessment and Tailored Support

Every placement begins with an initial assessment to understand each parent’s learning needs, daily functioning, and any barriers that may affect their parenting. From this, we create a tailored programme of work that identifies the following:

  • areas of support
  • learning goals
  • risks and protective factors
  • the interventions required

Where additional needs are identified, we ensure the right support is put in place as early as possible. 

Key Work and Social Work Sessions

Our assessing Social Worker provides structured 1‑to‑1 sessions focusing on:

  • identified risks and concerns
  • parenting capacity
  • emotional insight
  • routines, boundaries, and safe care
  • progress against agreed goals

Families are fully involved in planning, reviews, and transition arrangements. We work with parents, not to them.

Therapeutic Intervention

We offer confidential, non‑judgmental therapeutic support delivered by trained professionals. This provides parents with a safe space to:

  • explore their feelings and experiences
  • understand emotional triggers
  • develop coping strategies
  • reflect on relationships, trauma, and      stress
  • build resilience and emotional stability

Therapeutic work helps parents gain insight into how their own experiences influence their parenting and supports them to make positive, sustainable changes.

Multi‑Disciplinary Panel

Each month, our Multi‑Disciplinary Panel meets to review every family in placement. The panel includes:

  • Registered Manager
  • Deputy Manager
  • Lead Social Worker
  • In‑house Psychotherapist
  • Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Together, they review:

  • progress
  • risks and vulnerabilities
  • emotional wellbeing
  • parenting capacity
  • any new presenting concerns
  • areas of success and strength

Where additional intervention is needed, a support plan is created and reviewed monthly. This ensures every family receives the right help at the right time.

Our psychologists and psychotherapists also support staff, attend team meetings, and provide specialist guidance throughout the assessment.

Training and Support Packages

Our Parenting Programme is designed to help parents understand their child’s needs and develop the skills required for safe, consistent care. It includes both compulsory core sessions and additional modules tailored to individual needs.

  

Core Parenting Programme

  • Understanding Child Development
  • Routines, Boundaries, Stimulation & Play
  • Safe Sleeping
  • Cooking for Babies and Children
  • Keeping Children Healthy
  • Safeguarding and Minimising Future Risks
  • Internet Safety & Sexual Exploitation
  • Postnatal Depression & Mental Health
  • Budgeting, Money Management & Debt Control
  • Timeline Work: Understanding how childhood experiences shape adult behaviour

Life Skills Development

We support parents to build the practical and emotional skills needed for independent living:

  • Self‑esteem and confidence
  • Assertiveness and communication
  • Anger management
  • Healthy relationships
  • Domestic abuse awareness
  • Personal development and empowerment
  • Healthy lifestyle, nutrition, hygiene, and safety

Parents also take part in practical sessions such as budgeting, cooking, and household management.

We offer weekend workshops, social activities, and creative sessions to build confidence, reduce isolation, and strengthen positive relationships.


Specialist Modules (as required)

Domestic Abuse

  • Understanding healthy relationships
  • Coercive control and the cycle of abuse
  • Impact of domestic abuse on children
  • Self‑reflection and safety planning
  • Child protection considerations

Substance Misuse

  • Drug and alcohol awareness
  • Short‑ and long‑term effects
  • Relapse prevention
  • Harm reduction
  • Impact on children and family functioning

Meaningful Activities and Community Engagement

Parents have opportunities for:

  • supported outings
  • community activities
  • Children’s Centre groups
  • practical learning in real‑life situations

These experiences help us assess parenting under everyday pressures and support parents to build confidence and independence.

Semi-Independent Service

At Legacy, our Semi‑Independent Service provides specialist accommodation and 24‑hour support for young adults aged 18–25 who are preparing for independence. We operate two dedicated homes: a mixed Leaving Care home and a specialist service for pregnant young adults who require additional support, monitoring, and stability during pregnancy or while awaiting permanent housing.


Our model combines relational practice, structured independence pathways, and specialist perinatal support, ensuring every young adult receives the right help at the right time.


A Safe, Supportive and Realistic  Living Environment

Our homes offer young adults the opportunity to live with greater independence while still benefiting from consistent support. We use CCTV only in communal areas such as hallways, ensuring safety while respecting privacy.

We work in partnership with young adults, their families, and professionals. Strong multi‑agency collaboration is central to our approach, ensuring that every young person receives coordinated, high‑quality support.


Safeguarding is our highest priority. For pregnant young adults, we provide a targeted programme that supports safe pregnancy, early parenting skills, and emotional readiness for caring for a baby.


What We Provide

24‑Hour Support

  • Residential accommodation with staff  onsite 24 hours a day
  • Immediate access to guidance, emotional  support, and practical help


Holistic, Individualised Support Packages

Every young adult receives a personalised plan that may include:

  • Life skills development
  • Emotional and practical support
  • Parenting preparation (for pregnant young adults)
  • Support to access education, training, or employment
  • Help with routines, organisation, and  daily living


ASDAN Qualifications

Young adults have the opportunity to achieve ASDAN Level 1 or Level 2 Personal and Social Development (PSD) qualifications, supporting their confidence, independence, and future opportunities.


Key Working

Regular key‑work sessions help young adults:

  • build life skills
  • explore relationships and emotional well-being
  • develop independence
  • understand responsibilities
  • receive practical and emotional support


Health and Well-Being Support

We help young adults:

  • arrange and attend health, midwifery, and  dental appointments
  • access mental health support
  • engage with community services


Group Work and House Activities

We offer:

  • interpersonal skills groups
  • life skills sessions
  • life story and identity work
  • monthly leisure activities
  • house activities such as quiz nights, BBQs, and social evenings

These activities build confidence, reduce isolation, and strengthen positive peer relationships.


Support for Pregnant Young Adults and Young Parents

Legacy provides specialist support for pregnant young adults and young parents who need guidance to care safely for their baby. Our tailored packages help young parents:

  • understand their baby’s needs
  • develop safe routines
  • build confidence in caring for their child
  • balance their own needs with their baby’s well-being
  • prepare for independent living

We recognise that at times, the needs of the young adult may conflict with the needs of their baby. Our role is to ensure the baby’s welfare is always paramount while supporting the young adult to learn, grow, and make positive changes.


Our Approach

Our service is built on an inclusive, wraparound model that combines:

  • semi‑independent accommodation
  • structured support
  • therapeutic guidance
  • practical skill‑building
  • community engagement
  • consistent safeguarding oversight

Every young adult’s support plan is centred around their needs, lifestyle, and aspirations, helping them move towards independence with confidence and stability.

Our Intervention and Support Programme

At Legacy Semi‑Independent Services, we use a range of evidence‑based intervention models to meet the diverse needs of young adults. No single approach works for everyone, so our practice is integrative, flexible, and responsive. Our staff team is trained across multiple therapeutic and social care models, allowing us to tailor support to each young person’s circumstances, learning needs, and goals.


Our Core Intervention Models

We draw on a combination of approaches, including:

  • Cognitive Behavioural Models – helping young adults understand how thoughts, feelings, and behaviours influence one another.
  • Task‑Centred Practice – breaking goals into manageable steps to build confidence and independence.
  • Crisis Intervention Models – providing immediate, stabilising support during periods of distress or risk.
  • Systemic Approaches – understanding the young adult within the context of family, relationships, and community.
  • Psychodynamic Approaches  – exploring how past experiences shape current emotions, relationships, and behaviour.

This blended approach ensures that every young adult receives support that is meaningful, relevant, and effective.

Initial Assessment and Tailored Support

Every young adult receives a comprehensive initial assessment to identify:

  • learning needs
  • emotional and mental health needs
  • independence skills
  • risks and vulnerabilities
  • strengths and protective factors

From this, we create a tailored programme of work.
Where additional needs are identified, we ensure appropriate support is put in place quickly and collaboratively.


Young adults receive a minimum of five weekly key-work sessions, alongside access to:

  • counselling
  • domestic abuse programmes
  • substance misuse services
  • Children’s Centre groups
  • community‑based support

They are fully involved in planning, reviews, and transition arrangements.


Three Core Support Areas

Our intervention model supports young adults across three essential domains:

1. Independent Living Skills

We help young adults develop the practical skills needed for safe, confident independent living:

  • Hygiene routines
  • Maintaining a clean and safe home
  • Joining the housing register and bidding for properties
  • Attending appointments
  • Money management, banking, budgeting, and savings
  • Healthy eating, food preparation, and grocery shopping

2. Community Support

We support young adults to build positive connections and engage with their community:

  • Accessing independent accommodation
  • Joining leisure, health, and well-being activities
  • Registering with health services
  • Meeting cultural and religious needs
  • Education, training, and employment
  • Socialising and community integration

3. Wellbeing

We help young adults strengthen their emotional, mental, and relational wellbeing:

  • Building self‑esteem and confidence
  • Managing emotional and mental health
  • Healthy relationships and safe sexual      health
  • Maintaining safe family contact
  • Reducing self‑harm and risky behaviours
  • Reducing offending behaviour
  • Reducing substance and alcohol misuse   


Case Planning Meetings

Each month, we hold a Case Planning Meeting to review every young adult’s progress.
This includes:

  • Registered Manager
  • Counsellor
  • Social Worker

The meeting reviews:

  • progress
  • risks and vulnerabilities
  • emotional wellbeing
  • independence skills
  • any new presenting concerns

If additional intervention is needed, a support plan is created in consultation with the placing Local Authority and reviewed monthly.   


Training and Support Packages

Our training and support packages help young adults develop the skills they need for adulthood and, where relevant, early parenting.

Young adults can work towards ASDAN Personal and Social Development (PSD) Level 1 or Level 2 qualifications.

We offer group and individual sessions covering:

Parenting Skills

  • Child development
  • Safe sleeping
  • Weaning
  • Positive interaction, play, and stimulation
  • Attachment and bonding
  • Keeping children healthy and safe
  • Internet safety and exploitation
  • Postnatal mental health
  • Timeline work exploring how childhood  experiences shape adult behaviour

Life Skills

  • Home maintenance and safety
  • Healthy living and nutrition
  • Money management and debt control
  • Basic first aid and emergency responses
  • Communication and assertiveness
  • Anger management
  • Healthy relationships
  • Domestic abuse awareness
  • Personal development and empowerment
  • Sexual health and contraception
  • Alcohol and drug awareness
  • Community awareness and current affairs

Practical Learning and Activities

  • Budgeting and cooking
  • Weekend workshops (cooking, arts, crafts, social evenings)
  • Supported outings and community activities

These activities help young adults build confidence, reduce isolation, and practise skills in real‑life situations.

Specialist Modules (as required)

Domestic Abuse

  • Healthy relationships
  • Coercive control
  • Impact on children
  • Self‑reflection and safety planning
  • Child protection considerations

Substance Misuse

  • Drug and alcohol awareness
  • Short‑ and long‑term effects
  • Relapse prevention
  • Harm reduction
  • Impact on children  


Therapeutic Support

Many young adults arrive already receiving therapeutic input, while others are identified as needing additional support after admission. We work closely with external therapists, perinatal teams, and specialist services to ensure continuity of care.

We offer:

  • Weekly counselling sessions
  • Access to therapeutic resources
  • Support to engage with external services such as: 
    • perinatal mental health teams
    • domestic abuse services
    • substance misuse services
    • trauma and bereavement support


Our aim is to ensure that every young adult has access to the emotional and psychological support they need to move forward safely and confidently.  


Legacy Counselling Service

Legacy Counselling Service offers compassionate, personalised mental health support for children, young people, and adults. Our diverse team of psychotherapists and counsellors provides a safe, welcoming space where healing, growth, and transformation can take place. We are committed to helping you understand your experiences, strengthen your wellbeing, and move towards a more balanced and fulfilling life.

A Safe Space for Healing and Growth

We understand that reaching out for support can feel daunting. When you contact us, we begin with an initial consultation to understand your needs, preferences, and goals. From there, we match you with a therapist whose skills, experience, and availability best align with what you’re looking for.

Therapy can be offered:

  • in person
  • online
  • one‑to‑one
  • as a couple
  • or as part of a group

We also provide therapeutic support to organisations of all sizes, offering wellbeing services for teams and individuals.


A Team with Diverse Skills and Approaches

Each member of our team brings unique expertise, training, and therapeutic styles. This diversity allows us to support a wide range of emotional, relational, and psychological needs. Whether you are seeking individual therapy, couples counselling, group work, or corporate wellbeing support, we can offer a therapist who is the right fit for you.

We provide therapy from our North London locations and online, giving you flexibility and choice.

A Holistic Approach to Wellbeing

We believe that meaningful healing goes beyond symptoms or labels. Our therapists work collaboratively to support your mind, body, and emotional wellbeing, offering an integrated approach that sees you as a whole person.

Your therapy experience is shaped around:

  • your story
  • your strengths
  • your goals
  • your pace

We aim to create a therapeutic relationship built on trust, respect, and understanding.

Empowering You Through Connection

At the heart of our work is a commitment to truly hearing and understanding you. We believe that connection is the foundation of healing. Through therapy, you can explore your experiences, develop new insights, and build the tools you need to navigate life with greater confidence and clarity.

Take the First Step

Whether you are struggling with a specific issue or seeking personal growth, our experienced team is here to support you. Therapy can be a powerful step towards emotional wellbeing, resilience, and a more fulfilling life.


What We Offer

We provide therapy and psychotherapy for children, young people, and adults, including support for:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Trauma and sexual abuse
  • PTSD and difficult life experiences
  • Relationship issues, couples counselling, and marriage counselling
  • Bereavement and grief
  • Stress and emotional overwhelm
  • Children’s counselling
  • CBT‑based therapy
  • Changing negative habits
  • OCD and obsessive behaviours
  • Eating disorders
  • Life coaching and personal development

Referrals

How to Refer a Family to Legacy

We welcome enquiries from Social Workers, Local Authorities, and professionals working with families who may benefit from our Parenting Assessment Service or Semi‑Independent Service. Our team is always happy to discuss potential placements and explore how we can support each family’s needs. 


Referral Process

To progress a placement, a formal referral must be completed by the Local Authority Social Worker using the Legacy Referral Form. The referral process is straightforward and designed to ensure we receive the information needed to make timely, informed decisions.


Step 1 — Initial Contact

The Local Authority Social Worker contacts Legacy to discuss the family’s needs and suitability for placement.


Step 2 — Information Pack

Legacy provides the Social Worker with our e‑brochure and any additional service information required.


Step 3 — Submission of Referral Form

The Social Worker completes and submits the Legacy Referral Form with all relevant background information.


Step 4 — Professional Discussion

A telephone discussion takes place between Legacy and the Social Worker to explore the referral in more detail and clarify any specific needs, risks, or expectations.


Step 5 — Viability Assessment

Legacy Parenting Assessment Service or Legacy Semi‑Independent Service completes a Viability Assessment to determine whether we can safely and appropriately meet the needs of the parent, young adult, or family.

Next Steps

Once the Viability Assessment is completed, we will:

  • confirm whether a placement can be offered
  • agree a proposed start date
  • outline any initial support or risk‑management  requirements
  • begin transition planning with the Local  Authority

Our aim is to ensure that every placement is safe, appropriate, and aligned with the needs of the child, parent, or young adult.


Contact Us

Get in contact with us

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Tel: 0203 827 0084 Email: info@legacyassessments.co.uk

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