There is a growing adoption of strengths-based (sometimes called asset-based) thinking and practice in work with children and young people and their families. The values and principles that inform this approach are not new, but in recent years there has been a rapidly growing interest in such approaches. Viewpoint self-assessment tools support Strengths-based Practice with children and young people.
In order to deliver improved children’s social care, there is a recognition that it’s important to focus on people’s strengths, not just their difficulties. A recent evaluation of projects applying new models and approaches in Children’s Social Care identified that Strengths-based Practice was a key factor that contributed to improvement in outcomes across these projects. [Rees Centre (2017) Children’s social care innovation programme: final evaluation report, London: DfE.]
Viewpoint self-assessment tools provide young people with the opportunity for self-reflection, enabling them to identify their strengths, skills, capabilities and connections. These assets, as identified by young people, can be combined to inform different outcome areas, and displayed graphically.
In Strengths-based Practice, conversations between young people and practitioners should be about the child or young person’s vision of their future, what they see as important to them, and establishing realistic goals and steps and strategies to achieve these. As far as possible, decision-making should be devolved to children and young people.
The Viewpoint strengths-based self-assessment tools and graphical displaysprovide a good basis for these conversations. Young people have the opportunity to reflect on their strengths and what is important to them across a range of outcome areas. Young people bring this awareness and understanding to the conversation with their worker, who should help the young person develop further their understanding of their strengths and their goals.
Viewpoint self-assessment tools can be developed to meet the requirements of local services and programmes. The Viewpoint Organisation can help with the development of specific self-assessment instruments and support implementation with practice guidance and video based training.
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