Practice Observation - Children and Families

Closes 30 Apr 2026

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Observation details

Preparation
  • A restorative conversation should be held between the observer and the person being observed  
  • The discussion should include the purpose of the observation and the skills to be demonstrated  
  • The person being observed should talk through their plan and intentions for the session and any identified issues  
  • The child and/or family should be asked for their consent by the person being observed 
Observation of practice

Guidance notes

In the course of the observation  please evidence how the practitioner has met their competencies linked to the level of experience. As practice observation already takes place within the ASYE and EPD programme this observation will be with either an experienced social worker or an advanced social worker/principal social work practitioner 

The team manager  should  benchmark the practice against recognised social work standards which are provided in links below:  

Professional Capabilities Framework

Standards of Good Practice

 

  • What activity was observed and who was present?
  • Consider how the activity within the session meets the aims set out within the preparation meeting
  • Consider the skills demonstrated
Feedback and reflection
  • A restorative conversation should take place between the observer and the person being observed following the observation 
  • The conversation should provide both parties with the opportunity to reflect and provide feedback to each other.  What went well? What were the challenges? Could anything have been done differently? How did the person observed find the experience?  
  • Where possible and appropriate, the observer should gather feedback from the child and family  
Learning from the observation
  • Please detail any learning noted from the observation 
  • Consider areas of development and training requirements 
  • Any organisational learning 
Identified actions

Please add any identified actions arising from the observation  

Please remember to add timescales

Impact and outcomes

The child or young person’s outcomes and quality of life have improved or are improving as a result of the session observed.

Please provide an overall grading of the observed practice