A Conversational Tool: Co produced with NW Children and Families

This tool is designed to support conversations, not replace professional judgement. It helps create a shared understanding of how life feels for a child or family right now, what is working, and what needs to change.

It should be used to open up dialogue, not to score, categorise or make decisions in isolation.

Use the battery as a starting point for conversation:

• Ask what feels most relevant today
• Explore what sits behind the rating or description
• Stay curious — “tell me more” matters more than getting a ‘right answer’

The aim is to understand daily lived experience and build a shared picture of what could help the family and child. 

Strength-based questions should always be applied with professional judgement. In some situations, particularly where there is immediate action required, conversations may need to prioritise safety and clarity before reflection.

You can return to the tool later to support understanding and planning.

This tool will not look the same in every conversation.

Adapt your language, pacing and approach depending on:

• The child’s age and communication style
• The family’s understanding of services
• The level of concern or urgency
• The setting you are working in

The principle remains the same: work with people, not to them.

Frontline / first contact / crisis response

In urgent or high-risk situations:

• Focus first on safety, clarity and immediate information gathering
• Use plain, direct language (“I need to understand what’s happening to keep you safe”)
• Avoid overloading with reflective questions if the moment isn’t right

The battery can still be used:

• As a check-in (“how are things feeling right now?”)
• Or after immediate risk is managed, to understand context and next steps

Ongoing work / relationship-based practice

For Family Help, or ongoing social work:

• Use the battery more fully to explore patterns over time
• Revisit it regularly to understand what is changing
• Use it to connect behaviour with underlying need

Start with Clarity

Be clear why you are having the conversation. Families said they want honesty, not uncertainty. 

Make sure the family, child or young person knows this is an honest conversation, not an inspection, and they don’t have to worry about “being in trouble”. 

Stay Curious, Not Assumptive

The tool works best when you:

• Explore before concluding
• Ask questions and check understanding 
• Understand behaviour as communication

Avoid treating initial answers as the full story. And never assume how the family, child or young person thinks and feels. 

Balance Strengths and Risk

Strength-based does not mean avoiding difficult conversations.