There are many ways to translate Aims, Goals and Plans... and other words that could be used in their place. We define them below, in terms of the proximity/distance to the opportunities in the present. See the Formulation and Treatment Aims for consideration of how to develop these collaboratively and in ways that speak to the young person's own experience of life.

Note, there is an assumption of intention:

• Even if the young person's current behaviour (their immediate 'plan') is difficult to make sense of, their goals and more distant aims may be rather more understandable, even though they may take a little more "teasing out". (See the examples below.)
• Aims (and perhaps Goals) may often be the place where the keyworker and young person can have a "meeting of minds." Plans are often where the workers intentions and the young person's intentions most obviously diverge.
• One of the shared treatment aims that most AMBIT-influenced teams would agree on, is to have a positive impact upon the young person's Relationship to help.

What to do

There is Advice on setting Treatment Aims and Goals.

Definitions

Note that it may be much easier to find common ground about relatively distant, or more general Aims than it is about close-up Plans!

The "AIM"

...is the direction of travel towards the horizon.

Examples:
(a) - Be happy, create happiness
(b) - Be respected
(c) - Being truly and publicly myself

The "GOAL"

...is to get to “Town A” by nightfall.

Examples:
(a) - Hook up with good friends, enjoy ourselves
(b) - Feel good about myself with a cool phone
(c) - Develop a gorgeously shocking body

The "PLAN"

...is to start out on this road, here.

Examples:
(a) - Score some good weed, and persuade X to come dancing…
(b) - Hit the man with the iPhone
(c) - Get my tongue/nipple/penis pierced

Differences of opinion

There is a greater likelihood that a worker and client will find common ground in the more general/distant Aims, than there are in the more immediate Plans. See the Active Planning Map for the "Egg and Triangle" tool that can be used help draw these out and encourage collaboration.