Parenting Role Interview PRI – introduction and background

The Parenting Role Interview PRI is an assessment tool for social care and clinical services working with families. Its purpose is to question about parent’s or carer’s attitudes and behaviour to determine competence in their parenting role. It assesses their own view of that role, and compares this with a more objective assessment based on examples of behaviour. It covers child difficulties; interaction between parent and child/ren and competence in providing care, affection, and control. PRI is not a measure of child neglect or abuse, but rather for looking at strengths and weaknesses in parenting – an overall scale shows whether it is good, mixed or poor, based on the mix of positive and negative behaviours. The measure also allows for an indication of the parent’s insight into their own parenting.

Where can PRI parenting assessment measure be used

PRI is used in child Safeguarding services (for example for parents’ support) and in adoption/ fostering contexts. It has been evaluated in a London Safeguarding team with positive response from social workers, and indication of better care planning or court response as a result.

Additional information on PRI

Download Parenting Role Interview PRI Fact Sheet for detailed description of this evidence-based assessment tool, including the legal information on PRI use in court settings.

View PRI workshop presentations: Introduction to PRI by Professor Antonia Bifulco and PRI is Social Work Practice by Elaine Rose.

Key PRI publications

Brown, G. W., Andrews, B., Bifulco, A. T., & Veiel, H. O. (1990). Self esteem and depression: I. Measurement issues and prediction of onset. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology., 25, 200-209. 5.

Bifulco, A., Brown, G. W., Moran, P., Ball, C., & Campbell, C. (1998). Predicting depression in women: The role of past and present vulnerability. Psychological Medicine, 28(1), 39-50.

Bifulco, A., Moran, P., Jacobs, C., & Bunn. (2009). Problem partners and parenting: Exploring linkages with maternal insecure attachment style and adolescent offspring internalizing disorder. Attachment & Human Development, 11 69-85.

Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families (2000); Working Together (2006); Public Law Outline (2008).