Why did Dorset decide to develop Ask Me What Matters locally?
Dorset had already established The Network as an accessible and flexible way for care‑experienced young people to share their views, with strong evidence of Bright Spots findings shaping service planning through “You said, we are doing together” updates and visible senior‑leader support. Recently, ‘In my own shoes’ art exhibition and worker training has been developed by young people. Ask Me What Matters (AMWM) is seen as a complimentary next step – building on this strategic commitment to co‑producing solutions across services and further embedding young people’s voices in everyday practice.
How have Dorset involved children and young people?
During consultation sessions, young people expressed that some of the Bright Spots’ questions (like the ONS well-being scales) felt too restrictive for use in a conversation. They explained that using numerical scoring didn’t fully reflect or respect the complexity of their feelings. They worried that numbers reduced their experiences to facts without offering context. They wanted greater value placed on free‑text space, which they see as the main way that allows them to express themselves fully and in their own words.
What question areas have been chosen?
Children’s viewpoints informed the selection and style of the areas and questions to include in AMWM. For children in care there are 11 potential questions (plus one scale question with 12 sub‑questions), while care leavers have 12 questions (plus one scale question with 8 sub‑questions), with 10 core questions shared across both groups. The questions explore young people’s understanding of their story, trusting relationships, connection to important people, and sense of safety and stability in both their home and local area. They also ask about self‑confidence through a scaling question with a free‑text follow‑up on what helps, alongside two validated wellbeing measures (SWEMWBS and the Stirling Children’s Wellbeing Scale).
How is it working in practice?
Dorset has now finalised the AMWM questions following further check‑ins with young people, but progress has been slowed by challenges securing space for the changes on Mosaic (IT system) and by a wider reorganisation across children’s services. The plan remains for AMWM responses to be gathered through conversations during children in care and pathway plan reviews, with a separate Mosaic sheet used at rollout to keep things simple until full integration is possible.
The core focus is unchanged: AMWM is intended to help social workers and personal advisers ask more curious, meaningful questions, leading to clear actions and plans that reflect what matters to each young person and supports positive change in their lives.
What’s next for Dorset and Ask Me What Matters?
Dorset are continuing to prepare for AMWM going live, supported by a service‑wide communications plan that will include top tips from young people on why these questions and the conversations they spark matter to them.