Siobhan Maclean's Weather Model
Siobhan Maclean's Weather Model is a creative reflective framework that uses
weather metaphors to help practitioners critically explore practice experiences
from multiple perspectives. Developed collaboratively by Siobhan Maclean and
social work students in 2016, the model encourages practitioners to examine
both the positive and challenging aspects of an experience while recognising
uncertainty, surprises and learning opportunities. Unlike more linear reflective
models, the Weather Model uses familiar weather conditions as prompts to
stimulate deeper thinking and discussion. Within social work, it is widely used in
reflective supervision, practice education, university teaching and continuing
professional development because it provides an accessible yet thought-
provoking approach to reflective practice.
The Weather Model was developed in response to the need for a more practical
and engaging approach to reflection within social work education. Maclean
recognised that many students found traditional reflective models overly
academic or difficult to apply in practice. By using weather as a metaphor, the
model helps practitioners reflect upon different dimensions of an experience in a
way that is memorable, flexible and applicable across a wide range of practice
situations.
The model consists of seven weather prompts, each encouraging reflection from
a different perspective.
Sunshine encourages practitioners to identify positive aspects of the
experience.
Questions include:
What went well?
What felt positive?
What strengths were demonstrated?
What should I continue doing?
This stage promotes strengths-based reflection by recognising effective practice
rather than focusing solely on problems.
Cloudy represents uncertainty or confusion.
Practitioners consider:
, What was confusing?
What was unclear?
What information was missing?
What questions remain unanswered?
This stage encourages professional curiosity and acknowledges that uncertainty
is a normal part of complex social work practice.
Rain focuses on aspects that did not go as planned.
Questions include:
What did not go well?
What challenges arose?
What difficulties did I experience?
What could have been improved?
Rather than assigning blame, this stage encourages constructive learning from
setbacks.
Storm explores conflict, pressure and emotionally difficult situations.
Reflection may include:
Was there conflict?
Were there competing opinions or priorities?
How did I respond under pressure?
How effectively did I manage the situation?
This stage is particularly useful when reflecting on safeguarding, ethical
dilemmas or emotionally demanding practice.
Lightning represents surprise or sudden insight.
Practitioners ask:
What surprised or shocked me?
Did anything happen that I was not expecting?
What assumptions were challenged?
What have I learned?
This stage promotes critical thinking by encouraging practitioners to examine
unexpected events and their impact on practice.
Siobhan Maclean's Weather Model is a creative reflective framework that uses
weather metaphors to help practitioners critically explore practice experiences
from multiple perspectives. Developed collaboratively by Siobhan Maclean and
social work students in 2016, the model encourages practitioners to examine
both the positive and challenging aspects of an experience while recognising
uncertainty, surprises and learning opportunities. Unlike more linear reflective
models, the Weather Model uses familiar weather conditions as prompts to
stimulate deeper thinking and discussion. Within social work, it is widely used in
reflective supervision, practice education, university teaching and continuing
professional development because it provides an accessible yet thought-
provoking approach to reflective practice.
The Weather Model was developed in response to the need for a more practical
and engaging approach to reflection within social work education. Maclean
recognised that many students found traditional reflective models overly
academic or difficult to apply in practice. By using weather as a metaphor, the
model helps practitioners reflect upon different dimensions of an experience in a
way that is memorable, flexible and applicable across a wide range of practice
situations.
The model consists of seven weather prompts, each encouraging reflection from
a different perspective.
Sunshine encourages practitioners to identify positive aspects of the
experience.
Questions include:
What went well?
What felt positive?
What strengths were demonstrated?
What should I continue doing?
This stage promotes strengths-based reflection by recognising effective practice
rather than focusing solely on problems.
Cloudy represents uncertainty or confusion.
Practitioners consider:
, What was confusing?
What was unclear?
What information was missing?
What questions remain unanswered?
This stage encourages professional curiosity and acknowledges that uncertainty
is a normal part of complex social work practice.
Rain focuses on aspects that did not go as planned.
Questions include:
What did not go well?
What challenges arose?
What difficulties did I experience?
What could have been improved?
Rather than assigning blame, this stage encourages constructive learning from
setbacks.
Storm explores conflict, pressure and emotionally difficult situations.
Reflection may include:
Was there conflict?
Were there competing opinions or priorities?
How did I respond under pressure?
How effectively did I manage the situation?
This stage is particularly useful when reflecting on safeguarding, ethical
dilemmas or emotionally demanding practice.
Lightning represents surprise or sudden insight.
Practitioners ask:
What surprised or shocked me?
Did anything happen that I was not expecting?
What assumptions were challenged?
What have I learned?
This stage promotes critical thinking by encouraging practitioners to examine
unexpected events and their impact on practice.
