AssetPlus Reflection Tool – West Berkshire youth justice service (August 2020)

Summary: 

West Berkshire youth justice service have created a reflection tool to support case workers to reflect on their assessment of children.

Description:

West Berkshire youth justice service have created a reflection tool to support case workers to reflect on their assessment of children. An AssetPlus Refection is suggested by either the staff member or their manager because it is identified that the case manager would like to reflect on that particular case or the manager believes it would be helpful for the staff member to do so and has picked this up during the gatekeeping process.

The Assessment is read by the Senior Social Worker who identifies any topics for discussion based on the language used in the assessment, phrases or themes that could identify the potential for unconscious bias, interesting dynamics within the child- behaviour/family and significant behaviours/attitudes with regard to the child.

The Reflective tool is used to explore the following:

• The words used in assessments
• Unconscious bias
• Core beliefs
• Judgements and preconceptions
• Feelings about the child, their behaviour and family
• Future considerations, including intervention and planning

Implementing the practice:

• The AssetPlus Reflections to date have been undertaken approximately four times a year.

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