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The Agency Perspective Administrative tasks Accountability Financial constraints Documentation Record-keeping and what information to include © 2011 Taylor & Francis
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CHAPTER FOURISSUES RELATED TO ASSESSMENT AND PLANNINGThe Practice of Generalist Social Work (2nd ed.)
Key Ideas
Assessment and planning in practice often is not a straightforward process.
There are many issues and dynamics related to the agency, clients, and outside systems that can impact assessment and planning processes and that need to be considered.
© 2011 Taylor & Francis
The Agency Perspective
Administrative tasks Accountability Financial constraints
Documentation Record-keeping and what information to
include
© 2011 Taylor & Francis
The Client Perspective Involuntary, mandated, and nonvoluntary clients Engagement with involuntary clients
Prepare yourself to deal with a variety of emotions coming from clients
Explore how clients see their situations Legal and power issues
Avoid making assumptions about clients’ situations
Help clients see situations from the perspectives of others and anticipate legal processes
Create transparency around the unequal power dynamic between social workers and clients
© 2011 Taylor & Francis
The Client Perspective Client anger and skills for working with
anger issues
Recognize and control your own feelings of tension, anger, and defensiveness
Avoid returning angry or hostile comments Acknowledge clients’ strengths in a genuine
way Focus on alternatives that are realistic to
clients Avoid moralizing or lecturing
© 2011 Taylor & Francis
The Client Perspective Client crises: What constitutes a crisis?
When, because of a stressful situation and/or a precipitating event, a system, such as an individual or family, that has had a satisfactory level of social functioning develops a state of disequilibrium, or loses its steady state. Coping mechanisms that have worked in past situations no longer are working, although there is usually some considerable struggle to cope.
© 2011 Taylor & Francis
The Client Perspective Steps in crisis intervention
Assess crisis including lethality, danger to self or others, and immediate psychosocial needs
Rapidly establish rapport Identify the issues pertinent to clients Use active listening skills to deal with clients’
emotions Explore alternatives by identifying clients’
strengths and previous successful coping mechanisms
Establish and implement action and follow-up plan© 2011 Taylor & Francis
The Client Perspective Suicide assessment
Focus questions on thoughts clients might have about death and suicide
Ask if clients have a plan, time frame, and method
Assess the lethality of the method Know and assess risk factors for suicide Know legal and agency procedures for
responding to high- and low-risk clients
© 2011 Taylor & Francis
The Social Worker Perspective Painful events and triggers
Recognize that painful events will occur in practice Be aware of personal signs of trauma and burnout Get help and support Practice self care
Use self as resource Understand shared power Focus on practical goals Develop support systems Develop a healthy lifestyle
© 2011 Taylor & Francis