At a glance

1:1 and group conversation

This approach was developed by Partners4Change, a social care consultancy, to promote relational and strengths-based practice in adult social care. Founded on a critical set of Three Conversations practice principles, it provides the tools to have conversations based on what people want to tell us, not what we want to ask them. It focuses on the whole person, their family, neighbourhood, and wider community, and recognises people as the experts in their own lives.

Three distinct conversations are carried out:

  • Listen and connect – to understand what really matters most to people; what is important to them
  • Work intensively with people – particularly useful when someone is in a crisis to help them consider what needs to happen to get back to a stable situation
  • Build a good life – how we can be most useful to support people.

About this approach

Useful for talking with

A person facing challenges arising from a disability or long-term health condition, and who would benefit from support to achieve their life ambitions.

Purpose of this type of conversation

To build relationships that help people plan their care and support. To help people to express what matters most to them and connect them to appropriate support. It enables real-time change on an individual/family basis.

Type of conversation

Semi-structured. Uses open questions, but useful to have a conversation guide or list of topics to cover. Allows the person to guide the conversation rather than the interviewer. A focus on listening carefully to understand what is important to an individual and why.

Training requirements

Learning the approach requires an understanding of the key practice principles from someone who has first-hand experience of using the model. Typically, the ‘training’ approach is through a process of action learning and co-design with a group of practitioners, which can be a whole team or part of a team, with frequent and regular check-ins.

Budget requirements

Consideration of allowing frontline practitioners access to a small budget for making small, immediate purchases that will support someone manage a crisis without the need for longer-term support.

Time commitments

Depending on the needs of the person, conversation length may vary – in some cases several shorter conversations might be preferable to a longer session.

Three Conversations

Where we’ve used this locally

Adults social care

Initially, this approach was developed in our adult social care contact centre, some adult and older people community mental health teams, and some long-term conditions teams within the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council area.

Three Conversations

Use this approach