What is a retrospective Star? #
A retrospective Star is a Star completed about an earlier point in time rather than the present.
While a standard Star captures where someone is when the conversation takes place, a retrospective Star helps practitioners and the person you support look back and reflect on an earlier stage in their journey.
The aim is not to identify a perfectly accurate historical score. Instead, the purpose is to develop a shared understanding of where the person feels they were at that point in their journey and what has changed since.
When should I use a retrospective Star #
A retrospective Star may be appropriate when there is a genuine reason why a collaborative Star was not completed at the time.
Common examples include:
- You were providing support to someone before your service started using Outcomes Star.
- The person was not ready, willing or able to engage when support began.
- The person was experiencing crisis or dealing with other immediate priorities.
- A practitioner-only Star was completed initially, and now there is an opportunity to participate in a collaborative conversation with the person being supported.
- A Star was missed at an intended review point.
- A short intervention or pilot requires an approximate starting point.
- The person would benefit from reflecting on how far they have come.
One of the most common uses of retrospective Stars is when a service starts using Outcomes Star with an existing caseload. In these situations, a retrospective Star can help establish a picture of where someone was when support began, while recognising that it is not equivalent to a Star completed at the time.
When should I avoid using a retrospective Star? #
A retrospective Star should not be used simply to ‘go back in time’ and to create a larger apparent outcome or demonstrate greater change.
Be cautious if:
- there is very limited information about the period being discussed
- the person cannot meaningfully reflect on that time
- readings are being influenced by assumptions or guesswork
- there is pressure to show improvement rather than understand experience
- the practitioner is leading the person towards a particular reading.
If a reliable collaborative Star already exists for that point in time, it will usually provide the best representation of the person’s situation.
Lastly, action planning does not work with Retrospective Stars, as it doesn’t make sense to action plan for the past. If you want to focus on action planning, complete a standard Star about how things are for the person now.
How to complete a retrospective Star #
1. Agree the point in time
Start by clearly identifying the period you are discussing.
For example:
- when support began
- before entering the service
- a particular review point
- a significant life event
- another clearly defined period.
Being specific helps both practitioner and the person you support focus on the same point in time.
2. Explain the purpose
Explain why you are looking back.
For example:
“We’re going to look back at where things were when you first came to the service. This isn’t about getting the right answer. It’s about understanding what life was like for you at that point and reflecting on what has changed since.”
3. Use open questions
Encourage the person to draw on their own memories and experiences.
Questions might include:
- What was happening for you at that time?
- Where do you think you would have placed yourself on this area?
- What makes you choose that point?
- What was making things easier or harder then?
The focus should remain on understanding the person’s experience rather than finding a precise historical reading.
4. Accept uncertainty
People may not remember everything clearly, particularly when discussing difficult periods in their lives.
Where uncertainty exists, acknowledge it. A reasonable reflection is more valuable than a forced level of precision.
5. Record the Star correctly
Make sure the reading is recorded as a retrospective Star so that it can be identified appropriately in records and reporting.
Talking about retrospective Stars with people you support #
Many practitioners find retrospective Stars valuable because they help people recognise their progress and identify what has helped them move forward.
Useful messages include:
- there is no reading or number that practitioners are trying to achieve
- it is acceptable not to remember everything exactly
- the aim is to reflect honestly on the past
- the conversation is an opportunity to recognise strengths, progress and learning.
Keeping the discussion collaborative and person-centred helps ensure the retrospective Star remains a meaningful reflection rather than a technical exercise.
Below are some helpful ways to explain elements of a Retrospective Star to someone you are supporting.
Explaining why you are doing a restrospective Star
“We’re going to look back at where things were for you when you first came to the service. This isn’t about getting the ‘right’ answer. It’s about using what you remember to help us understand where things were for you at that time.”
Explaining that it won’t be exactly the same as a Star completed at the time
“Because we’re looking back, we can’t know exactly what you would have put on the Star at the time. Your understanding of things may also have changed. So this is your best reflection now on how things were then.”
If the person is looking back at a difficult period
“Take your time. We’re not trying to make that period sound worse than it was. We’re trying to understand what things were like for you then, based on what you remember.”
If the person is unsure about a reading
“It’s okay not to remember exactly. Let’s talk about what you remember about that time and what makes you think you were around this stage of the Journey of Change.”
An important ressurance
“There isn’t a reading we are trying to get. The important thing is that the Star reflects your experience as honestly as possible.”
Recording retrospective Stars on paper and on Outcomes Star Online #
Star Charts for all Star versions include an option to record a Star as a retrospective Star at the top of the page. You can also specify whether the retrospective Star is, or should be recorded as, the first Star in someone’s engagement with the service.
On Outcomes Star Online, if you are using the ‘Enter Star from Paper’ option:
You will be asked the question, ‘Is this a standard or retrospective Star?”
If you choose retrospective, you will be presented with an additional date field and asked to enter a date the retrospective Star is being completed about, rather than the date it is being completed on.
On Outcomes Star Online, if you are using the Collaborative Session option:
You will be asked the question, ‘Are you completing a Star about how things are now’ and the options ‘Yes – I am completing a Star about my life now’ or ‘No – I am completing a Star about a previous point in time.’
If you choose ‘No – I am completing a Star about a previous point in time’, you will see a date field for the ‘month and year of the period you are reflecting on.’
Please note, on Star Online for either option, you cannot add actions to a Retrospective Star.
If you don’t use Outcomes Star Online, you may or may not be able to record retrospective Stars and will need to refer to guidance from your software provider or team.
Using retrospective Stars in reporting #
Retrospective Stars can provide useful information about a person’s starting point, particularly where no collaborative baseline exists.
However, they should be interpreted differently from Stars completed at the time because they rely on reflection and recall. For this reason, organisations may wish to develop clear guidance on when retrospective Stars should be used and how they should be considered in reporting and analysis.
A useful rule of thumb is:
| Purpose | Appropriate use of a retrospective Star? |
| Supporting reflection on a person’s journey | Yes |
| Establishing an approximate historical baseline | Yes, with caution |
| Making outcomes appear larger than they are | No |
Top tips for practitioners #
- Have a clear reason for looking back.
- Define the period you are discussing.
- Keep the conversation collaborative.
- Let the person’s recollection lead the discussion.
- Use the conversation as an opportunity for reflection and learning.
- Be transparent about the limitations of retrospective readings.
Key takeaway #
Retrospective Stars are most valuable when they help people understand their own journey. They can provide useful insight into a person’s starting point and create meaningful opportunities for reflection, provided they are used thoughtfully, collaboratively and with appropriate caution.