Social Work Assessment Quiz

Social Work Foundations and Fields of Practice

• Course: SWK6405
• Lecture: 5, Week 5
• Topic: Introduction to social work collaborative assessment and record keeping

Acknowledgment of Country

• ECU commits to promoting awareness and respect for traditional owners of the land.
• ECU recognizes the significance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities, and histories.

SWK605 Session Topics

• Week 1: Introduction to social work and the unit.
• Week 2: Historical, social, and political contexts.
• Week 3: Knowledge bases of social work.
• Week 4: Introduction to theories (covered in SWK6410).
• Week 5: Introduction to social work record keeping - collaborative strength-based assessments and case notes.
• Week 6 & 7: Working with violence, abuse, and trauma.
• Week 8: Working with addiction.
• Week 9: Working with children and young people in diverse families.
• Week 10: Working with older persons.
• Week 11: Anti-racist approaches.
• Week 12: Organizational contexts of social work practice.
• Week 13: Review.

Unit Learning Outcomes

• 1: Critically reflect on values of social and ecological justice across varying social work fields.
• 2: Apply cognitive and practice skills to investigate and evaluate practice domains within a specific field.
• 3: Apply communication and collaboration skills to develop change strategies articulating social and/or ecological justice.
• 4: Critically reflect on self-use in social work and develop assessment reports exhibiting respect for diverse belief systems.

Topic Learning Outcomes

• Argue the relevance and importance of organisational theory and analysis in social work practice.
• Explain key theoretical principles applicable to organisational analysis and relate them to social work practice.
• Apply theory to analyse organisational systems and processes, focusing on barriers and injustice impacting clients and service delivery.
• Appraise the need for organisational change, outlining appropriate and reasonable steps to reduce social barriers, inequality, and injustice.

Lecture: Record Keeping

• Record keeping (progress notes/case notes)
• Traditional vs. strengths-based assessments
• Collaborative assessments
• Theoretical and value underpinnings
• Bio-psycho-social-spiritual assessments
• Respectful working with Indigenous Australian people.

Using Critical Reflection and Process Orientations

• Collaborative assessment is not possible without using micro-skills across the four phases of the helping relationship.
• Processes such as engagement, critical reflection, evaluation/closure, and collaborative assessment provide different purposes in the helping relationship.

Process Orientations (Micro-skills)

• Clear contracting, expanding boundaries
• Critical questioning, deconstruction, reflexivity, and reflexivity
• Cultural humility
• Culturally friendly attitude
• Resisting, witnessing, and validating
• Research, policy analysis, and advocacy
• Universalizing, individualizing, and externalising
• Mutual consciousness raising
• Deep, respectful ethical listening, and stillness/silence
• Dialogical praxis

Good Record Keeping

• Written communication skills are as important as verbal and non-verbal communication.
• Recording forms and methods vary based on practice areas and legislation.
• Organizations use record-keeping software and protocols to maintain worker transparency, consistency, and accountability.
• Records must comply with privacy and confidentiality legislation.

Ongoing Progress Notes/Case Notes

• Day-to-day actions, action plans, factual details, service continuity, legal requirements.
• Facilitate accountable and transparent practice with service users and within the agency.

Case Notes - Format

• Brief and factual, substantiated; not judgmental or prejudiced.
• Full format for legal reports/organizational assessments/letters.
• Other professionals and service users may read case notes.

What is a Social Work Assessment?

• Traditional assessments focused on pathology, problems, linear thinking, and the social worker as expert.
• Current models promote assessment as collaborative processes.
• Assessments should listen to people, validate experiences, and promote service users' strengths.
• The assessment process should be open to change and use dialogue to gather needed information.

Collaborative Assessment

• Advocates for a collaborative process that acknowledges socioeconomic contexts impacting client problems.
• Internal resources (coping, motivation, intellectual functioning, faith, self-esteem).
• External resources (relationships with friends, family, community, support services, and spiritual associates).

Domains explored in Collaborative Assessment

• Person, family, and relationships
• Environment
• Financial resources
• Health, function, and adjustment
• Legal
• Mental health and wellbeing
• Development history
• Care needs and choice
• Risk and protective factors

Strength-based Case Notes

• Employ a strengths-centered approach to promote hope and open-ended inquiry about strengths, capabilities, and resilience.
• Avoid labeling individuals as failures or inadequate.
• Frame information to show support of the client.

Components of Social Work Assessment

• Organising and interpreting information using critical thinking, and varied perspectives.
• Understand life course trajectory and ecological systems theory.
• Identifying and assessing client strengths and areas for change.
• Developing a mutually agreed-upon plan for intervention and selecting appropriate intervention strategies.

Bio-psycho-social-spiritual Assessments

• Shared approach to gaining holistic perspectives on the whole person.
• Incorporates cultural connections, safety, environment, health, spirituality, mental health, and relevant domains.
• Values the knowledge and ways of knowing of Aboriginal individuals.

Working Respectfully with Indigenous Australian People

• Importance of critically analysing preconceived assumptions.
• Connection with Indigenous Australians based on respect.
• Knowledge of history, particularly Indigenous history is crucial.
• Acknowledge Indigenous spirituality and the value of the "Dreaming."

Good Case Notes

• Accurately describe an individual, family or group's experience.
• Outline concerns, short- or long-term care needs, decisions and actions taken.
• Maintain an account of the client's contributions and reflect with supportive professionals.
• Consider presentation and message of the information.

Strength-based Case Note Writing Do's and Don'ts

• Use respectful, descriptive, and neutral language.
• Provide clear descriptions.
• Communicate effectively using relevant terminology.
• Avoid value judgments, personal opinions, or assumptions.

Strength-based Case Notes (Examples)

• Good examples show, rather than tell the reader about an issue.
• Use descriptive language and terms like "appears," but also give supporting details.
• Qualifying comments, showing the worker's insights that there might be uncertainty, are helpful.

Fundamental Principles of Person-Centered Strength-Based Case Notes

• Prioritize the person being documented.
• Understand how the record writing impacts the person's life and dignity.
• Every detail matters, records create narratives and memories.
• Name use is crucial for identity and dignity.
• Consider future readers of the documentation.

Technical Aspects of Record Keeping

• Proper redaction procedures are crucial.
• Double-checking all hidden information.
• Considering how the reader perceives redacted information.
• Maintaining consistent quality in documentation.

Impact of Quality Documentation

• Records shape perceptions and memories.
• Documentation can heal or harm the client.
• Quality records show respect and care.
• Every record entry is a part of the person's story.
• Write with empathy and clarity.

Strength-based Case Notes - The Data, Assessment, Plan (D.A.P) Framework

• Data, Assessment, Plan framework for case notes (information gathering, analysis, and future action).
• Involves gathering subjective and objective data, observing behaviour.
• Identifying key questions to gather complete and specific information.
• Utilises a sample template for organisation.

Thompson's (2012) PCS Analysis

• Individual (personal and psychological) level, thoughts, feelings, actions with service users, group/community.
• Social (cultural) level - shared ways of seeing/thinking/doing; commonly held values and patterns of thought/behaviour; professionalisation.
• Structural/political level - historically embedded social divisions, power dynamics, influence.

Reference List

• Various relevant resources for social work practice and case note writing.

Test your knowledge on social work assessment processes and frameworks. This quiz covers aspects like record keeping, client-focused assessment approaches and strength-based case notes.