In this Assignment, you gain practice in synthesizing and summarizing the information collected for a client’s initial assessment. As you do so, you keep in mind the tenets of ethical and professional writing and language use.

ASSESSMENT SUMMARY

Assessment data can include notes, history forms, genograms, questionnaires, and numerical rating scales, among other information. Typically, following this collection of client data, a social worker must draft a succinct summary to bring it all together, highlight relevant points, and easily communicate the case to interested parties such as supervisors. So, how do you sift through the information to summarize effectively? What is important and what is not so important? 

In this Assignment, you gain practice in synthesizing and summarizing the information collected for a client’s initial assessment. As you do so, you keep in mind the tenets of ethical and professional writing and language use.

To prepare:

• Revisit the Learning Resources on professional writing and documentation.

• Review the Initial Assessment document in the Learning Resources, in which information has been recorded from a client’s biopsychosocial assessment and diagnostic interview.

• Imagine that you are the social worker working with this client. You must now summarize the information in order to consult with your supervisor.

BY DAY 7

Submit an assessment summary using professional and culturally sensitive language that is appropriate for multiple audiences. The summary should be 200 to 300 words.

Note: Do not engage in diagnosis.

References 

• McDonald , D., Boddy, J., O’Callaghan, K., & Chester, P. (2015). Ethical professional writing in social work and human services.Links to an external site. Ethics & Social Welfare, 9(4), 359–374. https://doi.org/10.1080/17496535.2015.1009481

• Pierson , J., & Thomas, M. (2010). Dictionary of social work: The definitive A to Z of social work and social care.Links to an external site. Open University Press. 

• Document: Initial Assessment (PDF)

Media 

• Walden University, LLC. (2023). Professional documentationLinks to an external site. [Interactive media]. https://waldenu.instructure.com