The SBT has been developed to help leaders and practitioners in local authorities, adult social care, and partner organisations, such as the NHS and voluntary, community, and social enterprise sectors, assess their ambitions, strengths, and areas for improvement. The tool is specifically designed to help develop a system-wide approach to strengths-based working and aligns with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Quality Assurance Framework.
Who can use the SBT
The SBT can be used by a wide range of leaders and managers, including directors of adult social care, lead members, assistant directors, heads of service, principal social workers, and team leaders, as well as senior leaders from partner organisations. To get the best results, it should be completed by a wide range of stakeholders, including frontline staff and partners.. Adopting a co-production approach will ensure that perspectives are gained from a diverse group of stakeholders, particularly those with lived experience.
What the SBT is for
This is not an audit tool. Instead, it promotes reflection, discussion, and collaborative action to strengthen the current state of strengths-based working across your local area or system.
Evidence and experience show that strengths-based working is only successful when a whole-system approach is adopted. This involves collaboration across adult social care, the NHS, housing, community organisations, and residents. The SBT encourages leaders to consider the changes needed across their services, public sector partners, and communities to achieve this.
The tool focuses on nine areas of good practice to guide leaders and teams in understanding their current state of strengths-based working and identifying next steps for progress. To support the process, the tool includes examples of good practice, links to helpful resources, and case studies. The SBT draws on a wealth of evidence and resources, including:
- Strengths-based approaches – Care Act guidance
- Strengths-based approach: Practice Framework and Practice Handbook
- Research from SCIE and the University of Birmingham’s strengths-based leadership programme
- Insights from the Social Care Innovation Network
- Insights from the CQC Assessment Framework for local authority assurance.