We're delighted to release an updated version of our popular Good assessment practitioners’ handbook, as requested by members of the Research in Practice Partner network.
Good practice in assessment is essential to improve the experience and outcomes of adults and carers, to meet the expectations of law and policy, and to use resources in the most effective way.
The handbook, first released following the Care Act 2014, is written primarily for social care practitioners conducting assessments, providing detailed practice guidance to explore and reflect on good assessment practice, the capabilities of a good assessor, and the support that assessors need.
To accompany the handbook, a podcast with author Gerry Nosowska reflects on the changing context to assessments and explores what has been updated. This includes recent changes in adult social care, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, what has been learnt since the implementation of the Care Act, and also the importance of equality, diversity, intersectionality, and anti-oppressive and anti-racist practice.
The handbook is designed for practitioners in adult social care, however, it is relevant to people working at all levels and in all roles, as well as people working in other agencies such as health, housing and the voluntary sector, and can be used as a learning resource. The information and tools can also be used by adults and carers, and by their advocates, to support them when they are having assessments.
The podcast will help practitioners to navigate and use the handbook effectively, reflecting on underpinning themes in assessment practice.
Listen to the podcast (open access).
Good Assessment Practitioners' Handbook: Second edition (2022)
Good practice in assessment is essential to effective social care. This handbook (second edition) sets out the law, ethics, evidence, practice approaches and theory that underpin good assessments. It helps assessors and organisations improve assessments in line with best practice and with the Care Act 2014.
The Good Assessment Handbook
The Good Assessment handbook, written primarily for practitioners completing assessments under the Care Act, has been recently updated. This podcast explores these changes, reflects on underpinning themes in assessment practice, and helps practitioners navigate and use the handbook effectively.
Embedding human rights in adult social care: Leaders' Briefing (2017)
This briefing examines a human rights approach in adult social care, including how organisational policy can help to embed human rights in practice.
Embedding human rights in assessment for care and support: Frontline Briefing (2020)
Human rights ethics, law and practice underpin assessment for care and support. Attending to the Articles of the European Convention on Human Rights within assessment can help to address inequality, promote strengths-based practice and empower people.