Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which of the following is NOT one of the ten process orientations (micro-skills) in collaborative assessment?
Which of the following is NOT one of the ten process orientations (micro-skills) in collaborative assessment?
Good record keeping is not important in social work.
Good record keeping is not important in social work.
False
Name one requirement that record keeping must comply with in social work.
Name one requirement that record keeping must comply with in social work.
Privacy and confidentiality legislation
The assessment approach that focuses on client strengths rather than deficits is known as ___________ assessment.
The assessment approach that focuses on client strengths rather than deficits is known as ___________ assessment.
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Match the following elements with their descriptions:
Match the following elements with their descriptions:
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What is one purpose of ongoing progress notes or case notes?
What is one purpose of ongoing progress notes or case notes?
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Case notes must be judgmental and prejudicial.
Case notes must be judgmental and prejudicial.
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What model heavily influenced traditional forms of social work assessment?
What model heavily influenced traditional forms of social work assessment?
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The assessment process in social work should promote the service user's _____ rather than solely focus on their problems.
The assessment process in social work should promote the service user's _____ rather than solely focus on their problems.
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Match the following aspects of ongoing progress notes or case notes to their purposes:
Match the following aspects of ongoing progress notes or case notes to their purposes:
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What approach allows for multiple and diverse understandings in social work assessments?
What approach allows for multiple and diverse understandings in social work assessments?
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Assessment in social work should only rely on restrictive assessment proformas.
Assessment in social work should only rely on restrictive assessment proformas.
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What is a key benefit of using a narrative approach in assessments according to Milner et al. (2020) and Fook (2016)?
What is a key benefit of using a narrative approach in assessments according to Milner et al. (2020) and Fook (2016)?
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What is considered an essential factor for human service professionals regarding the history of Australia?
What is considered an essential factor for human service professionals regarding the history of Australia?
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Spirituality is an insignificant aspect of Indigenous Australians' professional lives.
Spirituality is an insignificant aspect of Indigenous Australians' professional lives.
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A strengths-based approach to case note writing promotes open and ongoing ________.
A strengths-based approach to case note writing promotes open and ongoing ________.
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Match the following concepts with their correct descriptions:
Match the following concepts with their correct descriptions:
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What is a key characteristic of a good case note?
What is a key characteristic of a good case note?
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Clients and other workers do not need to read or rely on case notes.
Clients and other workers do not need to read or rely on case notes.
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What should a strengths-based approach to case notes acknowledge about truth?
What should a strengths-based approach to case notes acknowledge about truth?
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What is one key aspect that should be evaluated to support families in a social and emotional wellbeing assessment?
What is one key aspect that should be evaluated to support families in a social and emotional wellbeing assessment?
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Respect is based on the belief that all individuals have essential worth that is unequal.
Respect is based on the belief that all individuals have essential worth that is unequal.
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What concept encourages mutual benefit in social work interactions?
What concept encourages mutual benefit in social work interactions?
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What is considered best practice in formulating an assessment with families?
What is considered best practice in formulating an assessment with families?
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Mutual respect means valuing the contributions of all team members in the assessment process.
Mutual respect means valuing the contributions of all team members in the assessment process.
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Reciprocity encourages _______ sharing rather than imposition in social work relationships.
Reciprocity encourages _______ sharing rather than imposition in social work relationships.
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What type of data may be recorded using the D.A.P framework?
What type of data may be recorded using the D.A.P framework?
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The D.A.P framework is a complex method for recording case notes.
The D.A.P framework is a complex method for recording case notes.
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List one question that is useful to gather data in the D.A.P framework.
List one question that is useful to gather data in the D.A.P framework.
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The individual level of Thompson's PCS analysis addresses thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and _______.
The individual level of Thompson's PCS analysis addresses thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and _______.
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What is included in the structural/political level of Thompson's PCS analysis?
What is included in the structural/political level of Thompson's PCS analysis?
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The social level of Thompson’s PCS analysis addresses how workers guard against their own prejudices.
The social level of Thompson’s PCS analysis addresses how workers guard against their own prejudices.
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In the context of Thompson's analysis, what influences people’s internalization of social values and norms?
In the context of Thompson's analysis, what influences people’s internalization of social values and norms?
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Match each level of Thompson's PCS analysis to its main focus:
Match each level of Thompson's PCS analysis to its main focus:
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Study Notes
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.
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Description
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.
