The SHANARRI wellbeing indicators are central to how inspections are carried out across Scotland’s care and education sectors. Both the Care Inspectorate and HMIe expect organisations to demonstrate how they are supporting children and young people’s wellbeing in a clear, structured and evidence-based way.
For many organisations, the challenge is not understanding SHANARRI. It is evidencing it consistently.
What Inspectors Are Looking For
Inspectors are focused on outcomes, not just processes. They want to understand how organisations are improving the lives of children and young people.
This includes:
- Clear evidence linked to SHANARRI indicators
- Consistent recording of observations and support
- Demonstration of progress over time
- A joined-up view across care, education and support services
It is not enough to show that processes are in place. Organisations must demonstrate that those processes are making a difference.
Common Challenges During Inspection
Many organisations face similar challenges when preparing for inspection.
These can include:
- Information spread across multiple systems
- Inconsistent recording practices
- Difficulty linking observations to SHANARRI indicators
- Time-intensive preparation of reports and evidence
As a result, teams often spend significant time gathering information that should already be accessible.
Building an Evidence Base Throughout the Year
Strong inspection outcomes are built on consistent practice, not last-minute preparation.
To evidence SHANARRI effectively, organisations need to:
- Record observations consistently and in context
- Link information clearly to wellbeing indicators
- Maintain a shared view across teams
- Track progress over time
This ensures that evidence is readily available and reflects the day-to-day reality of practice.
Supporting Multi-Agency Evidence
Inspection often requires input from multiple professionals, including care staff, teachers and external services. This makes it essential that information is accessible and aligned.
A shared understanding of SHANARRI helps ensure that:
- All contributions are consistent
- Information can be easily combined
- Decisions are based on a full picture of wellbeing
Without this, it becomes difficult to demonstrate coordinated support.
Moving Towards Inspection-Ready Systems
To reduce the burden of inspection preparation, organisations are increasingly adopting systems that support ongoing evidence collection.
Geco Connect helps by organising information within the SHANARRI framework, allowing teams to build an inspection-ready evidence base as part of everyday practice. This reduces duplication, improves consistency and provides leadership with clear visibility of outcomes.
Strengthening Confidence and Outcomes
When SHANARRI is embedded effectively, organisations can approach inspection with greater confidence.
This leads to:
- Clearer evidence of wellbeing and outcomes
- Reduced pressure on staff during inspection periods
- Stronger communication across teams
- More consistent, outcome-focused practice
By focusing on consistent recording and shared understanding, organisations can ensure that inspection reflects the quality of their work.
See SHANARRI in Practice
If you would like to see how organisations are strengthening inspection readiness through the SHANARRI wellbeing indicators, Geco Connect can help.
Book a demo to see how it works in practice.