Youth, risk and rapid assessment: a new model for community social work assessment?

Abstract

Rapid Assessment and Response (RAR) is an international public health research methodology which has been widely used in developing nations in response to the spread of HIV/AIDS. RAR is pragmatic – focusing on speed, action, plus the triangulation and cross referencing of different methods with a view to increasing the validity of findings. This paper provides a description of the transfer of the RAR research instrument into community social work practice. Specifically, it describes its adaptation and use by a Norwegian city outreach team with the purpose of improving their own community needs assessment skills. The assessment experiences of the team of social workers are summarised, drawing on experience from five community assessments focusing primarily on young people at risk, undertaken in the city of Bergen between 2003 and 2006. Organisational challenges, methodological preferences, ethical dilemmas and social work role uncertainties are discussed. It is concluded that implementation of an adapted RAR methodology potentially has a ‘double empowerment’ effect. It both encourages the development of new transferable social worker skills as well as having local community development benefits.