Making and evidencing defensible decisions
Explore the characteristics of analytical and defensible decision-making in adult social care.
Explore the characteristics of analytical and defensible decision-making in adult social care.
The workshop will support participants to be able to define and explain person-centred decision making in social care practice. Participants will consider the balance of intuitive and analytical approaches, using tools to support and record defensible decision-making.
Designed for
Social care practitioners working directly with adults.
Learning outcomes
As a result of attending this workshop participants will be able to:
- Explain what defensible decision-making is and why it is important in adult social care.
- Link defensible decision-making with the principle ‘nothing about us, without us’, and person-centred practice.
- Be alert to different forms of bias and how they can manifest in decision-making.
- Feel confident in using De Bono’s hats and can appreciate the role of perspective in decision-making.
- Understand the importance of reflection and reflective supervision in making and evidencing defensible decisions.
- Outline the importance of the written record and how it should evidence defensible decision-making.
Booking information
This is a full day interactive session delivered via Microsoft Teams and you are encouraged to contribute with the aid of break-out rooms, the chat function and large group discussions. Participants will benefit from having a quiet space to work without interruption. Slides will be sent out after the session.
Research in Practice Partners can use their membership allocation to book this workshop. Link Officers can use the booking request form to book this workshop. Please only use this form if you are authorised to choose your organisation's membership allocation.
Once your booking is received, our learning team will work with you to confirm a delivery date and provide relevant information.
The deadline for booking this year’s online workshops is 17 October 2025.
Organisations that are not Research in Practice Partners can commission this workshop individually by contacting our learning team.
The importance of legal literacy in adult social care: a legally literate decision-making model
Legal literacy involves connecting relevant legal rules with professional priorities and the objectives of ethical practice. In this short video, Professor Michael Preston-Shoot explores defensible decision-making and offers a legally literate decision-making model for adult social care practice.
Good Assessment Practitioners' Handbook: Second edition (2022)
Good practice in assessment is essential to effective social care. This handbook (second edition) sets out the law, ethics, evidence, practice approaches and theory that underpin good assessments. It helps assessors and organisations improve assessments in line with best practice and with the Care Act 2014.
Good decision-making: Practitioners' Handbook (2013)
This handbook sets out the evidence relating to decision-making in adult social care and provides a range of tools to support individuals and groups to explore their own decision-making.