Using Viewpoint with a 12 year old looked after young person with moderate learning difficulties who
had not previously been able to participate meaningfully in their review process
A reviewing officer describes how social workers and carers had not been able to engage one of there
looked after children, a 12 yr old girl with learning disabilities.
“Prior to her review, she had never managed to complete a paper consultation and had therefore not
really contributed to the review process.
Once Viewpoint had been installed in the authority we offered it to her as an alternative to the consultation paper.
To be honest, we didn’t really have high hopes that she would be interested in carrying out Viewpoint due to
our failed attempts in the past to engage her. We set her up to use Viewpoint and left her to go through it on her
own. After about 30 minutes she came back and asked if she could do it again, she seemed really happy. Once we looked
at the instant report we saw that she had completed all the questions, she hadn’t skipped one. This was the first
time that the full review questionnaire had been completed by her. I think this is because the format of the
questionnaire is presented in a more user friendly, fun way, young people are more likely to be interested
in the review process. Sound was a particular factor in making it more accessible to this particular young person.
Social Services Department, South Wales
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Using Viewpoint to re-engage a disaffected looked after young person in their LAC review process
A reviewing officer describes how social workers and carers had not been able to engage one of there
looked after children, a 12 yr old girl with learning disabilities.
A foster carer describes a 12-year-old girl, being looked after in their sixth placement in the last two years.
This young woman had also recently been excluded for the second time from her school.
“She had become withdrawn and had no interest in contributing to her review. We offered her Viewpoint as an
alternative to the consultation papers in the hope that this might engage her. I didn’t think she’d give it
second look. She had become very uncooperative with professionals and cynical about her care plan and the whole
review process. I couldn’t believe she completed the full questionnaire and seemed to really enjoy it. I
was even more surprised that she attended her next review and referred to a report she’d produced using Viewpoint.”
Social Services Department, South Wales
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No barriers to Online access
We wanted to give all Looked After children and young people an independent way of doing Viewpoint
but we knew that not all of them had internet access in their placements. What we did was develop
a directory of access points. Several locations across the authority with suitable Internet access
have been identified and some computers in them set up to access Viewpoint Online. Young people now
have choice about where to complete Looked After Children questionnaires. They may choose their
residential or foster placement, but could also use a family resource centre, youth centre, or
school facility. Social workers have information about all the locations that can be used.
London authority
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Young people participating in reviews
Our Reviewing Officers were concerned about young people’s poor attendance and participation in reviews.
We also found out from social workers and foster carers that the young people thought that some of the things
in the meeting were “not for them”. Things began to change when we got Viewpoint established for reviews.
Viewpoint Interactive has now been used for a few years to help young people contribute their views prior to reviews.
Typically young people prefer to use computers to give their views, rather than completing the forms we designed
or having to explain things at the meeting with everyone there.
Reviewing officers now describe young people attending their reviews as better prepared when they have completed
the Viewpoint questionnaire. They are more willing and able to contribute. Reviewing officers have the opportunity
to identify key issues before the review so that young people’s views become central to the review meeting. Sometimes
quite sensitive and significant information can be revealed in brief comments.
One young person recorded ‘I want to see my dad’ – but he had died
three years earlier.
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Pathway Planning
Although we are keenly aware of our duty to engage
young people in assessments to inform plans for
their future, this is not always easy. Pathway Planning requires the consideration
of so many
areas
by young people and practioners working with them
that they both can get overwhelmed. Care leavers
are sometimes reluctant to talk to staff about personal issues like finance
and health. For many,
leisure interests are only encouraged by their friends.
Using Viewpoint Online questionnaires for young people preparing to leave care, has allowed them to
comment on a wide range of issues in an engaging way, and to identify areas where additional
help and support is required. Young people and practitioners can use the information to build
plans together. The computer is comprehensive and at the same time neutral, which sometimes
makes a surprisingly big difference. One young person was dismissive of the Pathway Planning
process, and showed little positive interest until she was asked about her First Aid knowledge.
At this point her attitude changed. She reported that she was very
good at First Aid and really wanted to be a paramedic.
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