Outcome-based Assessment and Support Plans

11 and 23 February 2010

ORT, London

27 May and 8 June 2010

Deaf Cultural Centre, Birmingham

These were two-part hands-on workshops, aimed at practitioners (social workers and others), team managers, and everybody aspiring to implement an outcome-based approach in assessment and support planning. The participants gained an understanding of practice models of outcome-based assessment and support planning, together with an overview of the current research findings. Examples from leading local authorities, case studies and sharing of experiences were the focus of these workshops.

'... Good experienced speakers in their own right...' (delegate after event in Birmingham)

aim and design

‘Outcomes’ is a central element of the adult health and social care discourse at present, and those working at the frontline are telling us they need to understand what this means for them, how it applies in practice and what the barriers and enablers are to their everyday work. This is what these two events aimed to address. It was expected that participants gained an understanding of outcomes based assessment and care planning, together with examples of how the outcomes framework was applied in real life, with case studies and experience sharing.

Outcomes based practice is a relatively new model and its implementation is still surrounded by questions and controversies. This makes the limited experience we shared even more precious and the need of creative thinking and practice even more necessary. Along with the presentation of what is known so far, the workshops provided opportunities for the participants to consider the application of this model in their own practice and to discuss issues and ideas that were relevant to their specific organisational context. The value in this was the diverse experience and expertise that participants and facilitators brought with them to the events.

These were workshops with interactive sessions that were practically based to give people the experience and opportunity to discuss what they needed. In that respect, the attendees’ active participation was essential for the success of the events.