DESCRIPTION
Learn how to agree meaningful goals with young people, record progress in context and use regular reviews to improve support. See how OVcare can help teams keep goals and care records connected.
When
May 2024
Who
Paula Martinez
Clear, achievable goals can help young people and staff understand what they are working towards. Progress reviews are most useful when they include the young person's own views, recognise their strengths and explain what support will help. The purpose is to improve care and celebrate meaningful steps forward.
The Heart of Goal Setting
Agree goals with each young person wherever possible, using language they understand and linking the goals to their care plan. A goal might involve building confidence at school, trying an activity or practising an independence skill. Break it into manageable steps, agree the support staff will provide and choose a review date. Avoid applying the same targets to every child.
Why Tracking Progress Matters
Tracking progress helps the young person and staff see what is working and where support needs to change. Record small achievements, the help provided and any barriers, alongside the young person's perspective. A missed target can prompt a conversation about whether the goal, timing or support was right. Progress is not always linear, so review the context as well as the numbers.
How OVcare helps track and monitor
OVcare brings individual goals, care-plan objectives and progress records together. Its goal and incentive-chart tools can help teams keep agreed targets visible and prepare for review conversations. Use them as part of a personalised care approach, with the young person's voice at the centre.
Incentive Chart: Agree suitable targets with the young person and record the steps towards them. Keep any incentive arrangement appropriate to the child's needs and the home's care approach.
Progress updates: Record observations promptly so the next staff member can see what happened, what helped and what still needs attention. Include a short explanation alongside any score or completed target.
Regular review: Choose a review interval that suits the goal, such as a weekly conversation. Discuss achievements with the young person, identify barriers and agree any changes to the support or target.
Useful reporting: Use the recorded evidence to prepare for care reviews and team discussions. Check the information for accuracy and explain patterns in context before drawing conclusions.
Clear records help staff continue agreed support across shifts. Keep goals under review so they remain meaningful to the young person, and recognise effort and learning as well as completed tasks.
In Conclusion
Effective goal setting combines listening, realistic expectations and consistent support. OVcare can help organise the records, while staff and young people use those records to decide what should happen next. In England, the children's homes quality standards include children's views, wishes and feelings, and effective care planning; using software alone does not demonstrate that these standards are met.
The Heart of Goal Setting
Agree goals with each young person wherever possible, using language they understand and linking the goals to their care plan. A goal might involve building confidence at school, trying an activity or practising an independence skill. Break it into manageable steps, agree the support staff will provide and choose a review date. Avoid applying the same targets to every child.
Why Tracking Progress Matters
Tracking progress helps the young person and staff see what is working and where support needs to change. Record small achievements, the help provided and any barriers, alongside the young person's perspective. A missed target can prompt a conversation about whether the goal, timing or support was right. Progress is not always linear, so review the context as well as the numbers.
How OVcare helps track and monitor
OVcare brings individual goals, care-plan objectives and progress records together. Its goal and incentive-chart tools can help teams keep agreed targets visible and prepare for review conversations. Use them as part of a personalised care approach, with the young person's voice at the centre.
Incentive Chart: Agree suitable targets with the young person and record the steps towards them. Keep any incentive arrangement appropriate to the child's needs and the home's care approach.
Progress updates: Record observations promptly so the next staff member can see what happened, what helped and what still needs attention. Include a short explanation alongside any score or completed target.
Regular review: Choose a review interval that suits the goal, such as a weekly conversation. Discuss achievements with the young person, identify barriers and agree any changes to the support or target.
Useful reporting: Use the recorded evidence to prepare for care reviews and team discussions. Check the information for accuracy and explain patterns in context before drawing conclusions.
Clear records help staff continue agreed support across shifts. Keep goals under review so they remain meaningful to the young person, and recognise effort and learning as well as completed tasks.
In Conclusion
Effective goal setting combines listening, realistic expectations and consistent support. OVcare can help organise the records, while staff and young people use those records to decide what should happen next. In England, the children's homes quality standards include children's views, wishes and feelings, and effective care planning; using software alone does not demonstrate that these standards are met.
Sources and further reading
Reviewed and updated 28 October 2026.
Read next
Explore personal goals and ways for young people to share their views in OVcare’s Young Person’s Portal.