Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for carers

The QAF recognises that listening to carers is essential. Carers have first-hand experience of what a child or young person is experiencing, and can provide valuable insight into their social functioning, emotional and mental health.

The SDQ can be used as a screener to reliably flag a concern that may require further attention, it does not provide a diagnosis of a child or young person’s mental health.

Developed by Dr Robert Goodman, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, the SDQ is a short behavioural screening questionnaire.

A primary carer will complete the SDQ in Viewpoint, for all children and young people (aged 2 to 17 years) in their care. The carer reads statements, and selects an answer that describes the child or young person in regard to:

1. emotional difficulties
2. conduct problems
3. hyperactivity or inattention
4. peer relationship problems
5. pro-social behaviours

Resources for General Use  

Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire

• General Use QAF - User guide – Chapter 2 – Strengths and Difficulties – Questions for Carers (PDF, 972.5 KB)
• General Use QAF – Fact Sheet for Carers – Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (PDF, 331.4 KB)

Paper versions

• SDQ Questionnaire 2 - 4 years – non-school attendee – paper based version (PDF, 536.0 KB)
• SDQ Questionnaire 4 - 10 years –school attendee – paper based version  (PDF, 455.4 KB)
• SDQ Questionnaire 11- 17 years school attendee – paper based version (PDF, 535.6 KB)

Casework Templates and tips

• General Use QAF - Caseworker Checklist for Implementing Questionnaires (DOCX, 168.1 KB)
• General Use QAF - Annual Casework Review Template (DOCX, 70.5 KB)
• General Use QAF - Group Supervision Discussion Points (PDF, 242.6 KB)
• QAF - SDQ Scores Overtime (PDF, 360.4 KB)
• General Use QAF- SDQ Decision Making Pyramid (PDF, 153.6 KB)