The SHANARRI wellbeing indicators are central to social work practice in Scotland. Within the GIRFEC approach, social workers play a key role in assessing need, coordinating support and making decisions that shape outcomes for children and young people.
For social workers, SHANARRI provides a structured way to understand complex situations and ensure that decisions are informed by a complete picture of wellbeing.
The Role of Social Workers in SHANARRI
Social workers are often at the centre of multi-agency support. They bring together information from education, health, residential care and families to assess needs and plan interventions.
SHANARRI supports this by providing a consistent framework for:
- Assessing wellbeing across all areas of a young person’s life
- Identifying strengths as well as concerns
- Informing decisions about support and intervention
- Reviewing progress over time
This helps ensure that decisions are based on a holistic understanding rather than isolated information.
SHANARRI in Assessment and Planning
SHANARRI is used throughout key social work processes, including assessments, reviews and the development of the Child’s Plan.
In practice, this involves:
- Gathering information across all eight indicators
- Analysing patterns and relationships between factors
- Identifying areas where support is required
- Setting clear outcomes and actions
Tools such as the My World Triangle and Resilience Matrix support this process, helping social workers understand both risks and strengths.
Managing Complexity and Caseloads
Social workers often manage complex caseloads, balancing multiple responsibilities and time pressures. This makes clear, accessible information essential.
Challenges can include:
- Information spread across multiple systems
- Inconsistent recording from different professionals
- Time required to gather and interpret data
- Difficulty maintaining a clear overview of each case
These challenges can impact decision-making and slow down the response to emerging concerns.
Supporting Multi-Agency Collaboration
Effective use of SHANARRI relies on strong collaboration between professionals. Social workers need access to up-to-date information from care staff, teachers and other services.
A shared understanding of wellbeing helps ensure that:
- Information is consistent across agencies
- Decisions are based on a full picture
- Support is coordinated effectively
- Outcomes are clearly defined and monitored
Geco Connect supports this by providing a shared platform where information is organised within the SHANARRI framework. This allows social workers to access a clearer view of each young person and work more effectively with other professionals.
Improving Decision-Making and Outcomes
When SHANARRI is applied consistently, social workers are better able to make informed decisions that support positive outcomes.
This includes:
- Identifying needs earlier
- Coordinating support more effectively
- Monitoring progress over time
- Providing clear evidence for decisions
By combining a structured framework with consistent recording, social workers can strengthen both practice and accountability.
See SHANARRI in Practice
If you would like to see how social workers are using SHANARRI more effectively to support decision-making and outcomes, Geco Connect can help.
Book a demo to see how it works in practice.