Reviewing and Evaluating refer to two slightly different processes.

Reviewing is an on-going process. It means checking in meeting by meeting to compare the results of the Implementation with the expected results from the Plan, based on the Assessment.  This forms the basis for meeting-by-meeting adaptations of the plan in response to feedback.

Evaluating is generally used at the end of the work. This involves going back to the engagement phase and checking to see if the work has achieved the results that formed part of the initial mandate. The exact nature of this evaluation will depend upon the model of social work used. In many ways, the easiest evaluations are those linked to the Managerial Model of social work. This is because there are pre-set targets, such as time-scales in which things should happen. The reality is that although this is simplest, it also has a key danger, that of work that “hits the target, but missed the point” (Williamson, 1995, cited in Colley, et al. 2007, p. 9).

For the other models of social work, it is far more important to check with the service user that they have got what they wanted from the process. Maintaining a Person-Centred and Anti-Oppressive focus in your evaluations is vital to best practice.

Created by M. Allenby. Last updated by M. Allenby 21.8.16