The SHANARRI wellbeing indicators are not just a framework. They are used every day by professionals across Scotland to understand, record and support the wellbeing of children and young people.
In schools, residential care settings and local authority services, SHANARRI provides a consistent way to assess needs, share information and evidence outcomes. The challenge is not understanding the indicators. The challenge is applying them consistently in day-to-day practice.
SHANARRI in Schools
In schools, SHANARRI is used to support both learning and wellbeing. Teachers and support staff observe behaviour, engagement and progress, linking these observations to the eight indicators.
For example:
- A pupil’s participation in class may relate to Achieving and Included
- Behavioural changes may link to Safe or Nurtured
- Attendance patterns may indicate issues across multiple indicators
These observations help schools identify when additional support may be required and ensure that wellbeing is considered alongside academic progress.
SHANARRI in Residential Care
In residential care settings, SHANARRI plays a more continuous role. Staff are responsible for monitoring wellbeing across all aspects of a young person’s life, from daily routines to emotional support.
Observations are recorded throughout the day, often across multiple systems. These may include:
- Behavioural incidents
- Health and wellbeing updates
- Interactions with staff and peers
- Participation in activities
When recorded consistently, this information builds a detailed picture of each young person’s experiences and progress.
The Challenge of Fragmented Recording
While SHANARRI is widely used, many organisations still face challenges in how information is recorded and shared.
Common issues include:
- Duplication of information across systems
- Inconsistent recording practices
- Difficulty accessing a full picture of wellbeing
- Time spent preparing reports for inspections
These challenges can limit the effectiveness of SHANARRI, even when professionals understand the framework well.
A Shared View Across Teams
One of the key aims of SHANARRI is to create a shared understanding of wellbeing across services. This requires information to be accessible, consistent and aligned.
In practice, this means care staff, teachers and leadership teams need to work from the same information. Without this, important insights can be missed and support may become less coordinated.
Digital platforms like Geco Connect are designed to support this by organising observations around the SHANARRI wellbeing indicators. This allows teams to record information once, share it across services and build a clearer, more consistent picture of each young person.
A Practical Example
Consider a young person in a residential school setting.
A teacher notices a drop in engagement during lessons. At the same time, care staff observe changes in behaviour during evening routines. Individually, these observations may seem minor.
When brought together and linked through SHANARRI, they highlight a broader change in wellbeing. This allows the team to respond earlier and provide coordinated support.
Making SHANARRI Work in Practice
SHANARRI works best when it is applied consistently across all aspects of a young person’s life. This requires clear processes, shared understanding and the right tools to support recording and reporting.
When done well, it enables professionals to move beyond isolated observations and build a meaningful understanding of wellbeing over time.
See SHANARRI in Practice
If you would like to see how organisations are applying SHANARRI in a more consistent and efficient way, Geco Connect can help.
Book a demo to see how it works in practice.