Planning is about deciding who, will do what, and when, where, and how they will do it. The basis for deciding these things is what the assessment suggests is most likely to bridge the gap between the person’s perceived current position and their preferred futures. This means that as well as the who, what, when, where, and how of the opening sentence, they is a crucial question – why?

The ‘why’ of planning in not an explanatory why, what is causing you to do that; it is a goal-focused why; what is the result you are hoping to achieve by doing that. There are many reasons why it is important to address the ‘why’ question alongside all the pragmatic who, what, when, where, and how questions. Firstly, if you don’t know what you are trying to achieve, you will have no idea whether or not you have achieved it. Secondly, people are far more likely to carry out their plans if they how what those plans are likely to achieve. Thirdly, all the other questions will depend on what you are trying to achieve. You can only know what to do and when to do it if you first of all know what you are trying to achieve.Finally, for now, if you are paid to be a social worker you are being paid to achieve certain results. Whenever you plan an intervention with a service user you need to ensure that you are doing, at least to a minimal level, what you are being paid to do, otherwise you are taking your salary under false pretenses.

It is important to note that plans are maps for action, they are not absolute orders that have to be followed. Plans allow us to set an initial direction and define an initial destination, but as John Lennon wrote, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” It is vital for you to have a plan because you need to know what you are deviating from. The best plan is not always the most detailed, it is the one that can most effectively respond to the feedback that comes from the Implementation phase.

Created by M. Allenby. Last updated by M. Allenby 22.8.16