Signposting - Social care services - Assessment for social care - Tips for meetings with social services

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Section: Signposting

Subsection: Signposting - Social care services - Assessment for social care

Tips for meetings with social services

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Social workers are friendly and caring people who are trained to a very high standard. Although it is your social worker's job to help you get the most out of meetings with them, there are some things you can do to help improve the outcome.


The most important thing you can bring to your meeting is a willingness to work together. If you share responsibility for your outcomes with your social worker, then you stand a much greater chance of getting what you need.

Here are a few practical tips to help your meetings go as smoothly as possible:

  1. Be prepared: Make notes of keep a diary for a couple of weeks prior to the meeting, particularly in times of stress or difficulty. Read through any letters that you have written to the authorities about your child and also any that you have received. This will refresh your memory and help you to cover all the points you want to make.
  2. Have someone at the meeting with you: If you have a partner or spouse, make sure you are both present at the meeting. If you are a single parent, ask a friend to accompany you, or someone from a local support network, such as Carer Support Wiltshire.
  3. Keep calm: This may be easier said than done, especially when you're feeling emotional, but keeping calm is the best way to make sure you express all things you want to.
  4. Get a summary of the meeting: At the end of the meeting, your social worker will sum up the key points discussed. Ask to be sent a copy of the summary before it is actioned, to make sure that you receive services in a way to which you have agreed.


For more information to help you prepare for your social care meetings, see our Your social worker article.