Re: Standards for Using Decision Tools, Assessment Instruments

[DSWLFSU@xxxxxxx]

In the UK we are exhorted to make sure our practice is "evidence based". This 
means being clear about  the evidence and knowledge base of our work but it 
also means making clear professional judgements and being able to say how 
those judgements were reached. No "tool" stands by itself - skilled 
professional judgements are always necessary because all practice situations 
are to a degree unpredictable and unique and dominated by intangibles such as 
peoples' perceptions, power imbalances etc. I would recommend an article by 
Horwath on the UK Dept of Health's Assessment Framework for assessing 
children and families (Child Abuse Review vol 11, issue 4, July-Aug 2002). 
She says that gathering info and filling in the forms is NOT enough: there 
needs to be an explicit process set out demonstrating how information has 
been gathered, how it has been analysed and how judgements were reached. 

David Saltiel 
Service Manager
West Leeds FSU
3 Chiswick St
Leeds LS6 1QE
0113 - 275 - 7600
dswlfsu@aol.com