13.A6 Effective Goals

Effective goals

Effective goals are:

  • Person centred
  • Focused on what the person wants to achieve.
  • Belong to the person, not to workers, clinicians or service providers. 
  • Are specific measurable and achievable enough to be useful
  • Are part of a goal setting and review process.

SMARTAAR Goals

Many people, when writing goals or objectives, think of SMART goals or objectives.

In individual service plans or rehabilitation plans it is useful to think of SMARTAAR goals.

The SMART part is about the nature of the goals.

The AAR part is about the nature of the process.

 

 

 

 

SMARTAAR Goals

Characteristics of SMART Goals

SMART is an acronym for the characteristics of effective goals.

What the letters in SMART stand for varies with different authors.

In this module SMART stands for:                                               
                        Specific
                        Measurable
                        Achievable
                        Relevant
                        Time-bound

It is possible to have SMART goals that meet the five criteria but are not effective rehabilitation goals, because for example they are not person centred.

The AAR Elements of the SMARTAAR Goal Process

The AAR elements of SMARTAAR Goal process identify three additional elements and address how SMART person centred goals are USED in rehabilitation. 

Goals are only effective when they are used in practice and engage people and their families, service providers, clinicians and stakeholders. 

The AAR elements describe:

Action Plan
Achievement Rating
Reporting Goal Outcomes

Action Plan

The Action Plan specifies each activity/behaviour that will contribute to achieving the steps.

Achievement Rating

Goal achievement needs to be measured if goals are to fulfill their purpose to guide further rehabilitation work

Reporting Goal Outcomes

Measurement of goal achievement is only useful if its communicated to everyone involved so that knowledge about goal achievement can be used in the rehabilitation work.

Your current practice

How do you rate your current practice?
Questions and answers here

To what extent are goals in your service / your work

Person centred

    

Focused on what the person wants to achieve.

    

Belong to the person, not to workers, clinicians or service providers. 

    

Are specific measurable and achievable enough to be useful

    

Are part of a goal setting and review process.

    

Use SMART Goals characteristics

    

Have achievement ratings for goals, steps and action plans

    


 

Print your responses for your records

What needs to happen in your service/ work to improve practice?