Choose the tool after the purpose
Decide whether you need to explore safety, relationships, identity, feelings, strengths, wishes, worries, change or goals. Select a format that fits the person, not simply the resource you already have.
Topic
Direct work with young people
Make direct work purposeful, accessible and participative.
Direct work should help a child or young person understand why you are meeting, express their experience and influence what happens next. SF Connects tools provide structure without turning the activity into a test.
Where to start
Four ways to think about what's happening.
Offer meaningful choice
Explain the activity, how information may be used and what cannot remain confidential. Let the young person speak, write, draw, rank, move, pause or decline where this is safe and appropriate.
Follow the person’s meaning
Use prompts flexibly. Notice the words, images and relationships the young person emphasises, and check your understanding rather than interpreting the completed sheet on its own.
Connect participation to action
Summarise what was shared, explain what will happen next and show how the young person’s views affected a decision, plan or further conversation.
Find the right resource
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