Developing and evaluating a social work assessment model based on co-production methods

Building Better Futures (BBF) is a structured and systematic model developed in Northern Ireland for assessing parenting capacity when there are childcare concerns. This article focuses on the iterative development of the model, through a social work, practitioner–academic, research collaboration. BBF was developed using a mixed method, flexible and multi-modal, iterative design embracing a collaborative approach between social work academics and practitioners. Five senior practitioners (SPs) were appointed for a three-year period to work on the project. The formative implementation and evaluation of the model consisted of a series of co-produced, in-depth mixed-method evaluation studies across the region. The project outcomes confirmed the utility of the model for social work practitioners and the benefits to families. An evaluation of the co-production methodologies identified the importance of building an inclusive, collaborative team with shared trust. The importance of managing power between the groups was identified, and the absence of parents as part of the collaboration was acknowledged. Engagement in research can enhance professional identity and job satisfaction for social workers and develop social work tools and processes which are ‘fit for purpose’ because they have been influenced by the views of the end users.