myView myWay is a method of working that combines digital technology with a strengths-based approach to practice, to bring out the full potential of children and young people. As a result, young people experience a sense of control over their lives, they feel empowered and able to influence the decisions affecting them. Feelings of self-confidence and self-worth are raised and by strengthening the positives, negative notions about self, fade away.
The orientation of support in a strengths-based approach is what is working well rather than a deficit-based approach that operates from a premise of what is going wrong. The starting point must be listening to what children say they need in order to flourish.
The more traditional therapy narrative is changed from:
“What do we need to fix about you?”
…to:
“What is the good that is already in you, and how can we bring that out?”
Current evidence supports the use of strengths-based practice to achieve positive outcomes for children, and families being supported in a variety of practice settings and contexts. The research evidence indicates that use of strengths-based practices is associated with greater engagement with service users, and more positive outcomes being achieved (Scerra N, Strengths-based practices. An overview of the evidence 2012).
In 2018 the Department for Education in England recognised:
‘There is a growing interest in, and adoption of, Strengths-based Approaches in children, young people and family settings, given that a clear strengths-based practice framework is now regarded as one of the key features of successful innovations in the sector.’
In Scotland, the Promise (The Independent Care Review) 2020 recognises that the orientation of support should focus on ‘a strengths-based approach rather than a deficit-based approach’.
myView my Way introduces the SaPPS cycle a strengths-based approach to practice. It provides a structure and framework for practitioners to follow – the SAPPS cycle, and uses digital technology to help young people communicate.
myView my Way enables children and young people to complete a digital assessment of their wellbeing, identifying what’s going well and what not so well.
Using a tablet or a phone enables a young person to express their views in a safe, easy to use and confidential environment. It enables young people to identify positive aspects of their lives – their strengths.
Questions such as:
‘Do you have any hobbies or special interests?’
‘Do you feel you have something you are good at?’
… provide an opportunity for positives to be identified. An engaging digital assessment tool makes it easier for young people to communicate.
A common response is: ‘I can write down my thoughts and feelings better than I can say them’.
Prioritising is a key part of the process where the worker engages the young person in a conversation about their responses, highlighting their strengths and identifying with them their priorities for change – their goals. It establishes a personal connection allowing the young person to see their worker hears them, values and understands their needs. It builds participation. Active listening encourages young people to:
- explore their responses in more detail
- develop their understanding of their experiences, circumstances and positives
- consider desired changes and outcomes
- and together with practitioners consider ways to achieve these
By emphasising and strengthening the positives, negative notions about self will fade, and feelings of self-confidence and self-worth are raised.
The Plan is a pivotal point in the life of a young person. The Plan should be centred on the young person, where other significant people contribute – but where goals are set by the young person, and where young people genuinely influence decisions. The priorities identified by the young person should be a central part of the plan. Young people are most likely to achieve the desired outcomes when they are connected and committed to the Plan.
The key social worker/case manager has a key role in supporting the young person in the delivery of the plan. Working in a collaborative way promotes the opportunity for young people to be co-producers of services and support rather than solely consumers of those services. Strengths-based practice is a collaborative process between the young person and those supporting them. The quality of the relationship that develops between those providing and being supported is important as they work together to achieve the young person's goals.
Re-assessment enables the young person to reflect on their circumstances, changes and developments over time. As goals are achieved an individual’s self-confidence and feeling of self-worth is raised, so reinforcing their sense of well-being and of being empowered. By strengthening the positives, the young person also improves their weak sides so that negative notions about their self, begin to fade away.
The myView myWay approach is easy to implement. It uses a digital medium with which young people are increasingly familiar. Responses can be displayed immediately on devices, providing the basis for conversations.
'The process provided a space where it was acceptable to encourage discussion about positive and not so positive aspects of life for the children.
The process seemed to remove any awkwardness about getting into the space where discussions went down these paths. It is as if the children had permission to talk in detail about themselves. And they did. Information came out that was ‘new information'.'
Senior Consultant Psychologist