What is Strengths-Based Assessment?
Strengths-based assessment is an approach that focuses on identifying and building upon the inherent strengths, resources, and capabilities of individuals and families, rather than focusing solely on deficits and problems. It recognises that every person has strengths, and that sustainable change is more likely when we work with these strengths rather than against them.
This doesn't mean ignoring risks or concerns - a strengths-based assessment must still identify and address risks. Rather, it means presenting a balanced picture that includes what's working well alongside what needs to change.
Why Use a Strengths-Based Approach?
- Better engagement: People are more likely to engage when they feel respected and their strengths are acknowledged
- More sustainable change: Building on existing strengths creates lasting change
- Empowerment: Recognising strengths helps people believe in their capacity to change
- Better outcomes: Research shows strengths-based approaches lead to improved outcomes
- Balanced assessment: Presents a more accurate, complete picture of the family
- Regulatory expectation: Ofsted and other inspectorates expect to see balanced assessments
Core Principles
1. Everyone Has Strengths
Even in the most challenging situations, individuals and families have strengths, skills, and resources. Your role is to identify these, not just the problems.
2. Strengths Are Building Blocks
Effective intervention builds on what's already working. Strengths provide the foundation for addressing difficulties.
3. Collaboration Over Expert Model
The person or family are experts in their own lives. Work with them to identify strengths and solutions, not to them.
4. The Environment Contains Resources
Communities, networks, and systems contain resources that can support families. Identifying these is part of assessment.
5. Possibility Focus
Focus on what's possible, not just what's wrong. This creates hope and motivation for change.
Types of Strengths to Identify
Individual Strengths
- Skills and abilities
- Coping strategies
- Resilience and past ability to overcome challenges
- Motivation and willingness to change
- Insight and self-awareness
- Values and beliefs that support good parenting
- Physical and mental health resources
Family Strengths
- Positive relationships and attachments
- Family routines and traditions
- Support from extended family
- Shared values and goals
- Communication patterns that work
- History of coping with challenges
Community and Environmental Strengths
- Support networks (friends, neighbours, community)
- Religious or cultural community connections
- Access to services and resources
- Stable housing and environment
- Employment or education
- Financial resources
Strengths-Based Questions
The questions you ask shape what you discover. Here are examples of strengths-based questions:
About Coping
- "How have you managed to cope during difficult times?"
- "What's helped you get through challenges in the past?"
- "What keeps you going when things are hard?"
About Relationships
- "Who do you turn to when you need support?"
- "What do you enjoy most about your relationship with your child?"
- "Who believes in you?"
About Goals
- "What would you like things to look like in six months?"
- "What changes would make the biggest difference for your family?"
- "What are your hopes for your children?"
About Resources
- "What services or support have been helpful in the past?"
- "What skills do you have that we can build on?"
- "What's working well in your life right now?"
Tip: Ask "exception questions" - times when the problem doesn't occur or is less severe. For example: "Tell me about a time when things were going well. What was different?"
Balancing Strengths and Risks
A strengths-based approach doesn't mean ignoring or minimising risks. Good assessment presents both:
Deficit-focused (unbalanced):
"Mrs Jones has a long history of mental health difficulties. She has been hospitalised three times. She struggles to maintain routines and the children have poor school attendance. The home is often in a poor state."
Strengths-based (balanced):
"Mrs Jones has experienced significant mental health challenges, including three hospital admissions. However, she has always sought help when unwell and has successfully recovered each time, demonstrating resilience and insight into her condition. Her sister provides regular support and has cared for the children during crisis periods - a protective factor that has kept the children safe.
During periods of good mental health, Mrs Jones maintains appropriate routines and the children's attendance improves significantly. She is clearly motivated to be a good parent and has asked for support with establishing routines she can maintain during more difficult periods.
The concern is that during depressive episodes, her parenting capacity reduces and the children experience instability. The assessment needs to identify what support would enable her to maintain 'good enough' parenting consistently, and what contingency plans should be in place for difficult periods."
Recording Strengths in Assessments
Strengths should be woven throughout your assessment, not confined to a single section:
- Parenting capacity sections: Note what the parent does well alongside areas for development
- Child's developmental needs: Include the child's own strengths and resilience
- Family and environmental factors: Identify support networks and resources
- Analysis: Weigh protective factors against risk factors
- Recommendations: Build on identified strengths in your plan
Signs of Change: Building on Strengths
When identifying capacity for change, look for:
- Past positive change: Evidence of previous ability to make changes
- Insight: Recognition of difficulties and their impact
- Motivation: Genuine desire to change (not just compliance)
- Support systems: People who support positive change
- Skills: Existing abilities that can be built upon
- Engagement: Willingness to work with services
Common Pitfalls
Tokenistic Strengths
Avoid adding generic strengths as an afterthought: "Mother loves her children" is not meaningful analysis. Be specific about what strengths you've observed and what they mean.
Ignoring Context
A strength in one context may not transfer to another. Consider whether identified strengths are relevant to the concerns being assessed.
Minimising Risk
Strengths-based doesn't mean risk-blind. Don't let focus on strengths lead you to underestimate genuine risks.
Missing Disguised Compliance
Engagement with services is a strength - but ensure it's genuine, not surface compliance to avoid intervention.
Practical Application
Before the Assessment
- Review records for evidence of past strengths and positive changes
- Prepare strengths-based questions
- Consider what resources might exist in the family's network
During Interviews
- Ask about what's going well, not just problems
- Notice and comment on strengths you observe
- Explore how the person has coped with previous challenges
- Ask about support networks and resources
When Writing
- Include strengths alongside concerns in each section
- Be specific about observed strengths
- Analyse how strengths might mitigate risks
- Base recommendations on building strengths
Capture Balanced Observations
SpeakCase helps you record both strengths and concerns as you observe them. Speak naturally about what you see and create balanced, professional documentation.
Try Free for 7 DaysConclusion
Strengths-based assessment isn't about ignoring problems or painting an unrealistically positive picture. It's about presenting a complete, balanced view that recognises both challenges and capabilities. This approach leads to better engagement, more sustainable change, and ultimately better outcomes for children and families.
The key is integration - weaving strengths throughout your assessment alongside a clear-eyed view of risks and concerns. When you build on what's working while addressing what needs to change, you create assessments that families can engage with and plans that have a real chance of success.