Have your say

Have your say

We were keen to learn about how you believe we should facilitate and promote positive, healthy relationships amongst young people. We share your advice on how to ensure person-centred care and discuss the issues relating to social work evaluation – in particular, what we should do to ensure robust evidence-based practice.

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Children growing up within the care system may not be aware of what positive and healthy relationships look like, whether that’s with partners, family or friends. How can we, as practitioners, work with them to provide positive examples?

“The best we can do is to continue havingconversations with young people and delve into thereasoning as to why they may justify certain behavioursfrom others. Using asset-based and motivationalinterviewing skills, we should help them to come totheir own solution. I’d also advocate for one-to-oneworkshops around consent, positive behaviours in arelationship and working with them around the signsand indicators of domestic abuse. This would mean thatif they are faced with those challenges, they are ableto identify them.” Jessica, Senior Progression Coach,Manchester

“It is essential that all foster carers are trained andassessed in the correct way. We need to ensure thatall placements are able to be role models to show what good, supportive secure relationships are, and how important they can be. We should encourage young people to join groups and social activities that also demonstrate good relationships and enable them to feel part of these activities.” Teresa, Senior Social Worker, Kent

“We should promote the diversity of many different types of family and home setups to help them feel secure, no matter their own situation. Much like therapy, we need to provide hope and foster a positive relationship with them so that they can have at least one example of a healthy and stable relationship, even if it is on a professional level.” Lorraine, Social Worker, London

“By maintaining consistent boundaries and managing their expectations of us, and what we are able to do for them. Our relationship with them should be the first positive example of a healthy relationship we think about. I think this applies to our work with anyone.” Michelle, Social Worker, Stockport

“We need to talk constantly about what healthy and unhealthy relationships are. For example, what are the warning signs/red flags? This needs to be discussed, particularly with young women. We should look at workshops which include other areas like self-care,being aware of your emotions and what do you want forthe future.” Elly, Social Worker, London

Person-centred care is so important when it comes to social care. How can we make sure the voice of the person is always listened to and kept at the forefront of any decision-making process?

“Every meeting I hold has the child’s name at thebeginning e.g Frankie’s Contact set-up meeting. Duringeach meeting, we always spend the first 5-10 minuteslearning about that child, which focuses everyoneon them as an individual and their needs. Serviceusers should be given every opportunity possible tocontribute to any decision-making process about theirlives - directly, through an advocate or via technology(Skype/picture/video)” Nicky, Contact Service Manager,Brighton & Hove

“All decisions about me should be made with me”. Thisis the grounding for any effective social work practice.Utilising the person’s assets rather than focusing on what their weaknesses are ultimately results ingood practice. Seeking every avenue to ensure theperson’s views are paramount.” Shazana, Social Worker,Birmingham

“Make every possible effort to engage with the person.Explaining that you are going to discuss some thingsand they need to confirm that they are OK with that. Itmay be asking them to lift their hand, spoon, food oranything. I tell them that they are my boss, I work forthem and ask them what they want of me.” Deirdre,Social Worker, Medway

“I ask my workers to start every meeting by askingparents how they feel things are and if they think theplan is working. I ask for feedback from them again aftereach professional shares their update too. All workersare trained in motivational interviewing and I encouragethem to ensure they use those techniques regularly.”Cheryl, Team Manager, Hertfordshire

Evaluating social work practice is vital to ensure that positive outcomes are being achieved. What are your preferred methods of evaluation and how can teams ensure robust evidence-based practice?

“Use evaluation scales which make sense to both thepractitioners and service users. Use narrative methodsof feedback. Evaluate the intervention. Create an openlearning atmosphere within teams to ensure practicelearning is shared and used, not hidden.” Hetty, TeamManager, Hebden Bridge

“My team values peer support sessions in which wediscuss cases and the challenges or dilemmas theybring. We critically reflect together on what we couldand should do differently, what works well and wherewe felt we did all we could, but the wider system stillhas gaps that could be improved upon. I think thecontext we work in is so important because not only arewe evaluating our own practice but also the resourcesthat we use. We need to use our collective voice tohighlight where we could see changes or investmentto services that would complement our good practice,so we continue to support people in the best wayspossible.” Michelle, Social Worker, Stockport

“Audit is one way, but also observation and asking thepeople who use our services how they experience them is key. We need to take collaborative approaches to our work by co-designing and remaining evidence-based in our approaches to both interventions and national agendas.” Susan, Principal Social Worker, Kent

“It’s important that we look at the experiences of the people we are working with as part of our evaluations. Questionnaires in combination with a qualitative thematic analysis approach are valuable but timeconsuming. When putting money into new initiatives, the evaluation methods need to be clear before it starts. We also need to make sure that we listen to practitioners across the service - sometimes positive outcomes in one area may mask negatives in another, e.g. quicker discharges could leave community teams struggling to manage.” Elly, Social Worker, London

“Auditing is a way that I ensure that we are providing the best service to our young people. Observing staff interaction, regular supervision of staff and ensuring the young people have a say in how safe they feel in the accommodation. I then take that data and implement positive or necessary changes.” Jessica, Senior Progression Coach, Manchester