Kids Need... is a simple and creative approach to exploring children's needs and parents' understanding and we will be recommending this to other colleagues working with families. We found it was a non-threatening way to explore parent's perceptions without patronising them and opened some honest dialogue. It can be used across a lot of different presenting issues such as therapeutic work, family support and assessment, when working with adults, children and young people, individually or in groups. The graphics are relevant and humorous and the resources can be adapted in lots of different ways, the only limit is your imagination!.
Social Work in Action Altogether a simple yet effective tool for practitioners and highly recommended.
CAFCASS Playing this game with my daughter, I was amazed at how much discussion it generated between us. They were easy to use, and the use of pictures and symbols mean they are user friendly to parents with literacy difficulties or for whom English is not their first language. Not only do they give the opportunity to open up discussion and explore feelings, they also give the practicitioner an understanding of what parents understanding of their child's needs are, in order to facilitate client-generated changes to behaviour. Sessions of 40 minutes to two hours are recommended, and the benefits easily justify the initial time spent. This is a good value tool to support preventative and supportive public health work.
Community Practitioner