Biopsychosocial-Spiritual Assessment – Part I

Please refer to the Biopsychosocial Spiritual Assessment – Part I rubric for detailed grading information located in the Getting Started Section of the course.

Assignment Goal
A critical part of social work practice is to effectively communicate client information in a non-judgmental and balanced way. This assignment is designed to help students to understand how to gather client information and present it in a professional manner.

Assignment Description
At the beginning of the semester, students should discuss with their field supervisor the requirements of this assignment, as it requires that students be able to interview a client at their field placements to gather the information listed below. If after discussing the assignment with his/her supervisor a student is unable to conduct an interview with a client at his/her placement, the student should immediately contact his/her 605 instructor for a potential alternative option.

This assignment is part of a two-part assignment. In this first part, students are to interview a client and then summarize the required information. Students to attempt to use non-judgmental language, present facts only, avoid colloquial language, provide quotation marks when appropriate to indicate the client’s words, and identify the source of the information (e.g. according to the client; according to client records; the client’s parents stated). The paper should be no longer than 10 pages not including the title and reference pages, and should integrate at least two readings from the course.

Components to be included in the Psychosocial Assessment (10 pages): Part I

• Agency context
  • Describe briefly the purpose and mission of the agency
  • What types of services are provided
  • What is the primary client population served by the agency
• Referral Information
  • How did the client(s) come to be at this agency?
  • Is the client self-referred, involuntary, or some of each? What does the client say about being there?
  • What is the purpose of the referral?
• Client information (brief introduction)
  • Identifying information including: age, gender identity, marital and/or partner status, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, social class, income source(s), children, health status, spiritual affiliation.
  • Provide a brief physical description.
• Client issue and brief history of the issue
  • What is the primary issue that brought the client to the agency?
  • How does the client view her/his concerns/issues? How do other people, i.e. family friends, agency, you or any other relevant individuals view the concerns/issues?
  • When did these concerns/issues begin?
  • How has the client dealt with these concerns/issues in the past?
  • What would the client most want help with?
• Client data
  • Developmental history (Relevant childhood and family or origin information)
  • Medical history (medical concerns – past or present)
  • Mental health history (past history and other relevant issues, incl. substance use)
  • Substance use issues
  • Educational history (i.e. level of education, significant info about schooling)
  • Social history (i.e. friendships, social connections, partnership histories)
  • Spiritual/Religious beliefs and practices (past and present)
  • Employment history (past and present)
  • Military history (note if served or not and if so, any significant related information)
  • Legal history (i.e. arrests, incarceration history)
  • Family information:
    • life cycle stage
    • vertical and horizontal stressors
    • Include a genogram
  • Environmental context:
    • Ecomap
    • Environmental assets/stressors (i.e. neighborhood, housing, class status, access to services, membership in privileged or marginalized groups)
  • Strengths/resilience/protective factors
  • Unique qualities
    • Culture and diversity identity