An Assessment: Its Values, Skills, Principles and Purpose

Aims:

This one-day programme aims to consider the values, skills, principles and practical elements of an effective social work assessment. It will contrast with the care management approach required under the NHS and Community Care Act 1990 and compare it to the outcome focused, person centred assessment required under the Care Act 2014. With eligibility being determined under the Care Act through the ‘consequential significant impact on wellbeing’ there is now a requirement for workers to draw on a range of professional skills which facilitate positive communication rooted in compassionate curiosity and agency. As workers progress from being prescribers of services to being partners in the co-production of outcomes for people, the skills to do this effectively will be analysed and explored.

Objectives:

  • What is social work; its aims, function and purpose, value base and ethical origins? What has been its journey from agent of social change in the 70’s and 80’s to agency functionary and bureaucrat of the care management system from the ‘purchaser-provider split’ of the NHS and CC act.
  • What’s gone and what’s changed – Wellbeing and the Care Act. What matters to someone and what matters for someone.
  • Where social work generates its evidence base: policy and procedure? Social Science and Humanities? Personal values and ethics? Grounded theory and the assessment.
  • What is entailed in a good assessment: Listening, Asking, Thanking, Observing, Appropriate challenge, Healthy scepticism, Anti-Discriminatory Practice and behaviour.
  • What is a professional approach to assessments? Integration of knowledge, planning and preparation, appropriate and mindful awareness of power (language, posture, positioning, sensitivity); conduct and demeanour.
  • Techniques of engagement: from introduction to closure including appreciative enquiry, circular questioning and profound listening; creative conversations to explore potential for the growth of assets based on the recognition of strengths to enable people to continue to make a positive contribution.

Outcomes:

By the end of the session participants will have been able to examine and explore the softer skills required for an effective social work assessment which embeds wellbeing at its heart.

Target group:

All employees with responsibility for undertaking assessments.