The SHANARRI Responsible indicator focuses on helping children and young people develop the skills, confidence and awareness needed to take an active role in their lives and communities. It is about preparing young people for independence while ensuring they are supported appropriately for their age and circumstances.
For professionals, Responsible is not about expectation without support. It is about guiding young people to make informed choices and develop a sense of accountability over time.
What Responsible Means in Practice
Within SHANARRI, Responsible includes:
- Developing independence and decision-making skills
- Understanding actions and consequences
- Contributing positively at home, school and in the community
- Receiving appropriate guidance and supervision
This looks different at each stage of development. Younger children may begin with simple responsibilities, while older young people may take on more independence as they prepare for adulthood.
Supporting Responsibility in Different Settings
Responsibility is developed across all environments where young people live and learn.
In schools, this may involve participation in classroom activities, leadership roles or contributing to group work. In residential care, it may include daily routines, personal responsibilities and preparation for independent living.
Professionals support this by:
- Encouraging participation and decision-making
- Providing clear expectations and boundaries
- Offering guidance and support where needed
- Recognising progress and development
Consistency across settings is key to ensuring that young people receive clear and supportive messages.
The Link Between Responsibility and Resilience
Developing responsibility is closely linked to building resilience. When young people are supported to make decisions and learn from experience, they develop confidence and problem-solving skills.
For those with care experience, this can be particularly important. Opportunities to build independence may have been limited or inconsistent, making structured support essential.
By focusing on responsibility within SHANARRI, professionals can help young people develop the skills needed for adult life.
Recording Progress and Development
Tracking progress in responsibility can be challenging. Development often happens gradually and may not always be captured clearly in traditional reporting systems.
Geco Connect helps organisations record observations related to responsibility within the SHANARRI framework. This allows teams to track progress over time, identify areas for support and build a clearer understanding of each young person’s development.
It also supports organisations in evidencing how young people are being prepared for independence.
Preparing for the Future
Responsible is about more than day-to-day behaviour. It is about preparing young people for life beyond school or care.
This includes:
- Building confidence in decision-making
- Developing practical life skills
- Encouraging participation in the community
- Supporting transitions into adulthood
When supported effectively, young people are better equipped to navigate challenges and take ownership of their future.
See SHANARRI in Practice
If you would like to see how organisations are supporting and tracking responsibility through the SHANARRI wellbeing indicators, Geco Connect can help.
Book a demo to see how it works in practice.