Evaluating the effectiveness of directly observed practice (Annex G)
Name of social worker:
Name of auditor:
Observed practice:
This tool should be used to ensure auditors are consistently recording evidence during
practice observations. It brings together the key relevant criteria from the Ofsted evaluation
schedule (see ‘criteria guidance’).
Wherever possible, auditors should ask children, young people and families if they know and
understand the plan and the expectations of them.
Priority is afforded to evidence concerning the quality and effectiveness of help, care and
protection and the impact this has on children, young people and families.
1. Risk is identified, responded to and reduced
Evidence:
Grade:
Inadequate
Requires
Improvement
Good
Outstanding
2. Attendance and participation (parents, carers, children, young people, professionals and
advocates) – the involvement and participation of care leavers increasingly influences
decisions which affect their lives
Evidence:
Grade:
Inadequate
Requires
Improvement
Good
3. The focus on the child
Evidence:
Annex G: Evaluating the effectiveness of directly observed practice
Outstanding
Grade:
Inadequate
Requires
Good
Outstanding
Improvement
4. Effectiveness of the communication with the child and family, evidence of relationship
building and appropriate use of empathy and challenge
Evidence:
Grade:
Inadequate
Requires
Improvement
Good
Outstanding
5. Appropriate involvement of children, young people and families in the process and
decision-making, including impact and evidence of their understanding
Evidence:
Grade:
Inadequate
Requires
Improvement
Good
Outstanding
6. Quality of decision-making – effective and timely
Evidence:
Grade:
Inadequate
Requires
Improvement
Good
7. Quality of assessment and help: comprehensive and up to date?
Evidence:
Annex G: Evaluating the effectiveness of directly observed practice
Outstanding
Grade:
Inadequate
Requires
Improvement
8. Quality of evidence gathering
Good
Outstanding
Good
Outstanding
Evidence:
Grade:
Inadequate
Requires
Improvement
9. Quality of planning and review including the timely consideration of the range of
permanency options. 10. Reviews are timely, effective, appropriately challenging and lead to
the delivery of a child-centred plan
Evidence:
Grade:
Inadequate
Requires
Improvement
Good
Outstanding
Good
Outstanding
10. Quality and timeliness of information sharing
Evidence:
Grade:
Inadequate
Requires
Improvement
Annex G: Evaluating the effectiveness of directly observed practice
11. Effectiveness of coordination between agencies and quality of joint working
Evidence:
Grade:
Inadequate
Requires
Improvement
Good
Outstanding
12. Consideration and impact of age, disability, ethnicity, faith or belief, gender, gender
identity, language, race and sexual orientation
Evidence:
Grade:
Inadequate
Requires
Improvement
Good
Outstanding
13. Children, young people and their families feel they have been effectively helped
Evidence:
Grade:
Inadequate
Requires
Improvement
Good
Outstanding
Additional areas for consideration
Evidence:
Based on the audit, how would you rate the overall quality and effectiveness of help, care and
protection, and the impact this has on children, young people and families:
1
2
Inadequate
3
4
Requires
Improvement
5
6
7
Good
Annex G: Evaluating the effectiveness of directly observed practice
8
9
10
Outstanding
Overall grade scale:
Strengths

Areas for Improvement

Annex G: Evaluating the effectiveness of directly observed practice