Topic 02 - About Me
How to build rapport and engage claimants
from the start of the conversation
February 2017
V1.0
About Me
1. Claimant fills in
'About Me' - a short
2. Discussion of
3. Optional: Claimant
form with questions
responses to About
completes My Values
to help focus
Me
exercise
conversation
4. Claimant uses My
4 Steps to identify a
5. Action Plan is
goal and how to
completed
achieve it
2
What challenges can
About Me help with?
I’m not sure what
I don’t know much
to say to a
about the claimant
claimant when
and don’t know
they first walk in
what’s important to
the door
them
3
Overview
Explanation of About Me
Practice completing About Me
How to fill in About Me with claimants
What About Me can be used for
4
What is About Me?
A short form with questions
Completed by the claimant
before starting the conversation
Aim is to make the conversation claimant-led
Completely fine not to answer all the questions
5
Practice: filling in the About Me
Take a few minutes to fill in the About Me on the
Claimant copy of
the Booklet
Fill the About Me in as yourself
6
Discussion
What did it feel like to fill in the form?
How could this be useful for working with claimants with a
disability or health condition?
7
Benefits of using the About Me
Helps to break the ice/build rapport
Provides a starting point for the conversation
Encourages claimant to open up
Helps to identify wishes for My 4 Steps
Gives an overview of the person as a whole – including things
other than health
Focuses on things a claimant can do/strengths
Allows the Work Coach to focus on key information
8
How to discuss the
claimant’s answers
When the claimant has finished completing the About Me, tell
them you will take a few moments to look through it
Start the discussion by acknowledging the claimant’s health
condition but then quickly move onto something positive they have
mentioned
If you notice any specific support needs (e.g. referrals to mental
health services), make a mental note of these and come back to
them in the My Actions section at the end of the HWC
9
Any Questions
10