ASSESSMENT SKILLS GROUP ACTIVITY

Using Final Group Project

By now you and your group should have formulated your client and the case management services you have to offer. This activity will help you to realistically professionalize your assessment of your client’s strengths and needs.

Remember, this activity is intended to help you with your intake/assessment. While you should be listening for clues of goals that the client may want to work on, be cautious not to move to quickly into Goal Planning or trying to "solve" or "fix" client concerns/problems/needs. (refer to your Schematic Model of Case Management)

DO WHAT?

PUT IT TO PRACTICE!

Break Into Groups

Break into your pre-chosen groups for this project. If needed, take a few minutes to refresh or review your client’s "case".

Individual reflection

Begin by individually making notes before discussing in the group.

Using the Strengths Assessment from Rapp’s book, make notes (general) about your client’s strengths and deficits using a bio-psycho-social focus. Also include strengths and deficits of the client’s environment and community.

Group reflection

(20 minutes)

In your group, discuss your individual impressions and assessment of the client. You may find that you had different ideas of what the client wants from case management or how a client may interact in your assessment interview. Now is the time to negotiate this within your group and come to agreements on characteristics and needs of your client.

NOTE: Just because we are using this Strengths Assessment document today does not mean that you must use this in your project. Using Rapp’s form will help you develop your assessment skills but you may decide to use a practicum agency or other form in your final project.

Assessment Interview Practice

(40 minutes)

CASE MANAGER: One person act as the Case Manager

YOUR CLIENT: One person act as the client, using agreed upon character. You may chose to interpret or integrate your own impressions of how the client might act into your role-play.

The remaining group members will observe and make notes of the interviewer styles and strengths. Document key questions that elicit the client’s story and set up an environment for client work. Also note responses and behaviors that made the client more realistic.

RESIST the urge the help the Case Manager if he/she is stuck or falls out of character. This is part of the learning experience. Make notes on what you might do differently or would like to incorporate into your practice.

Try to fit in at least TWO interviews/assessments using different group members.

Group Discussion

(15 minutes)

In your group, discuss key characteristics that emerged about your client in your role plays. Also give interviewers feedback on what they did well and what you might suggest they incorporate in eliciting client responses.

CASE MANAGERS: Share what you found challenging and what you might do differently last time. Ask your group if you have questions about specific feedback.

CLIENTS: Share what you felt about the interview. Maybe there were key things that were not brought up. Maybe there were signs or signals missed. Maybe you had hoped that the Case Manager had probed into a certain issue. What were the Case Manger’s strengths?

REGROUP with Class for Discussion

(15 minutes)
  1. What was challenging about this?
  2. Did you feel prepared to work with your client – if not what do you need to feel prepared?
  3. How has your client evolved after today’s activity? Maybe your client’s characteristics, strengths, deficits and needs remained established.
  4. What Case Management skills will you be incorporating in your project (from lecture, readings or practicum). Do you need suggestions from the class?
  5. Did anything surprise you today?
  6. If there is time, does any group want to reenact a strong assessment role-play for the class? ( a sneak preview of your group presentation??)

PRACTICE MANUAL

Finally, take time to journal this activity in your practice manual. This is YOUR practice manual so document things that are helpful for you to incorporate into your individual practice.

Suggestions include:

  • Key notes about your project, client, group member’s skills
  • Suggestions from your group members or classmates
  • Frustrations on where you got ‘stuck’
  • Notes on what you need from the Class Instructor, Practicum Instructor, Class Colleagues, Readings, etc. to improve your expertise
  • Your "to do" list for your group work
  • What you would like to develop or strengthen in your interview skills

Time Remaining in Class? Use this momentum!! Work on your project with your group for the remainder of class. Compare notes and incorporate class lessons, readings, models of practice, etc.