Introduction and Alignment

Self-awareness and reflection are critical to a social work professional’s ability to assess clients. In this activity, you will reflect on how you currently collect information about clients and what opportunities you have to refine and focus your future assessment skills. You will also have the chance to ask questions and express concerns about the engagement skills and strategies described in Social Work Skills for Beginning Direct Practice. You’ll consider how these skills and strategies translate to your working relationship with your client population in your future social work career.

Upon completion of this assignment, you should be able to:

• Utilize reflection and self-regulation to manage effectively the intersection of personal and professional values. (PO 1)

Resources

• Textbook: Social Work Skills for Beginning Direct Practice
• Website: National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
• File: Journal Worksheet: The Assessment Process.pdf

Background Information

As described in Social Work Skills for Beginning Direct Practice, Chapter 9, “The Assessment Process,” the ability to assess clients accurately and thoroughly is central to the effectiveness of social work practice. In the social work profession, there is a growing emphasis on open questions that use the strengths-based, narrative, solution-focused, and culturally competent perspectives (Saleebey, D. 2012). Furthermore, the significant use of questions in the assessment process reflects the social work ethical principle of dignity and worth of a person (NASW Code of Ethics, 2017) by reflecting a social worker’s respect for individual differences.

Instructions

1. In your textbook, Social Work Skills for Beginning Direct Practice, read Chapter 9, “The Assessment Process.”
2. Review the assessment criteria in the grading rubric below to understand the grading guidelines for this reflection.
3. Review and consider the application of the NASW Code of Ethics to the assessment phase of the social work practice framework.
4. Download the file Journal Process: The Assessment Process.docx. On the worksheet, complete the following:
   1. Assess your level of competency in the critical areas of social work practice and the assessment process listed on the worksheet.
      1. Reflect on your ability to execute each assessment skill or strategy before choosing your rating. Strive to provide an accurate rating of your abilities as they apply to each concept or skill today.
      2. You may refer to the readings for this activity to help clarify each concept or skill before rating your ability.
      3. For each type of question, provide two questions that you could use with the client populations you will work with in the future.
      4. Include any notes, questions, or concerns that you may have about assessment so that your instructor can respond to them.
   2. Reflect on your assessment abilities and values within your practice, and respond to both writing prompts at the end of the worksheet.