Children’s needs still mismeasured

Shortcomings in the quality and usefulness of needs assessments in children's services are discussed in a Research Unit article just published in Child & Family Social Work.

The article analyses 83 such reports conducted between 1999 and 2007 in two local authorities in England (one urban, one rural) and concludes that the picture is mixed at best. Even the better studies fall short of anything that can be relied upon as a robust basis for planning services.
 
Numerous small-scale qualitative studies try to ascertain what service users feel they need, but there are too few large-scale quantitative surveys using standardised measures with representative samples of children and families.
 
The authors identify the necessary features of roadworthy assessments and end with recommendations for how local authorities can make better use of those that make the grade.
 
Axford N, Green V, Kalsbeek A, Morpeth L and Palmer C (2009) ‘Measuring children’s needs: how are we doing?’, Child & Family Social Work 14 (3), 243-254.