The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)
The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a behavioural screening tool that supports Designated Teachers to identify signs of potential mental health issues in children and young people early on and act on them. It scores the young person on a series of scales:
- emotional problems scale
- conduct problems scale
- hyperactivity scale
- peer problems scale
- prosocial skills scales
The SDQ is a statutory part of the PEP process and must be completed by a member of school staff who knows the child well and can provide answers based on how they have observed the child to be over a period of time. Schools can also support children in care to complete their own SDQs to provide additional information. Carers complete an SDQ for the child too, and this is arranged by the child/young person's social worker to contribute at the PEP meeting.
Triangulation and discussion of the SDQ results at the PEP meeting should point to any additional support that is needed to help improve or maintain the child / young person’s emotional well-being or mental health over time.
The SDQ assessment can be found here:
The ‘Understanding Trauma and ACEs section’ explains about Trauma and Mental Health and Protective Factors for well-being that Designated Teachers should help to put in place at school.