ORG09 ASSESSMENT – Define the Need
Before choosing an intervention, bring the available information together and define the functional need clearly.
Five things to consider
Collate relevant information
Bring together the person’s account, observations and existing information.
Define the functional problem
Describe the actual barrier rather than relying on a diagnostic label.
Separate fact from assumption
Be clear about what is known, reported, observed or inferred.
Prioritise
Identify which needs matter most to the person or require earlier action.
Establish a baseline
Know what is happening now so later change can be recognised.
Turning this into practical action
✓ Summarise the need in plain functional language.
✓ Check the summary with the person where possible.
✓ Identify what evidence supports the conclusion.
✓ Record a baseline that can later be compared with the outcome.
What this can look like in practice
Rather than “visual impairment affects cooking”, the defined need might be “cannot reliably identify the cooker control position and is worried about setting the wrong temperature”. That creates a clearer basis for action.
Question for your organisation
Can your team explain the functional need in one clear sentence before deciding what to do?
Important boundary
This resource supports organisational reasoning and does not replace specialist or clinical assessment where that is required.
Want to take this further?
A clearly defined need creates the foundation for proportionate action and meaningful outcomes. If this resource has highlighted gaps in your organisation’s sensory practice, Sensory Visionaries can help, from reviewing what you currently have in place to providing a structured approach through the Sensory Compliance System.