Evaluate individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
An advanced practicing social worker has to have the ability to conduct an evaluation with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities Their ability in implementing evaluations must not be hindered by size of the client, whether they are at a micro, mezzo, or macro level. This competency requires that the evaluations in the practice must be evidence-based. This means that the social worker cannot implement an evaluation strategy for their clients and claim its effectiveness if there is no data supporting that claim. The evaluation conducted must be focused on goals agreed upon, and it cannot be implemented on a client without their consent. Overall, an evaluation must focus on the efficacy and effectiveness of the practice, and it must focus on the result of the client in the practice.
Practice Behavior:
9.1 – Select evidence-based evaluation strategies according to their efficacy with specific client systems
Course Evidence: For the midterm assignment in SOCW-611, I recorded a 10-minute mock therapy session demonstrating my skill development as well as understanding of the theoretical process. After recording the video, I wrote a CBT Analysis and Self Evaluation to review and reflect on my demonstration of CBT. In this session, I followed a structure I created so I can practice in areas I felt I struggled in, such as such mood checks and presenting the problem. Doing this evaluation I realized I performed well in asking open-ended questions and had smooth flow of dialogue with the client when presenting the problem. I also recognized that I need to continue practicing and improving on my mood checks that help the client gauge the validity and intensity of their feelings. Overall, this evaluation made me see that my personal emphasis in problem solving continues to make it difficult to perform CBT
Field Evidence: One of my clients was within the six-month period from completing his maximum expiration date, or release date. Part of my duties in preparing for the discharge of my client is to conduct a comprehensive discharge summary. The discharge summary is Central New York Psychiatric Center’s form of a bio-psycho-social that is then given to the receiving counties. The discharge summary is a strength-based evaluation that focuses on the individual’s involvement in their mental health programing. In this Strength-Based Discharge Summary, I discussed the individual’s past experience with psychosis and admission into the Residential Crisis Treatment Program (RTCP) due to threats of self-harm and violence. In this evaluation, I highlighted the reasons for the individual’s success in staying out of RTCP for over 2 years contributing to his ability to self-regulate and manage his symptoms. In this summary, his increased cooperation with staff and sobriety was also noted to compare his initial behavior when he first arrived in the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. I had described the improvement as a step towards his successful rehabilitation.
9.2 – Evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of practice outcomes across systems
Course Evidence: In SOCW 618, Advanced Administrative Practice: Administration/Leadership, we created a New Organization Proposal Plan and within that plan, we designed and implemented evaluations for staff and volunteers. While creating these evaluations, we utilized data we found from academic journals to support the strategies we used in our evaluations. You can find more information about the evaluations on page 40 and an example of them under Appendix H on page 81.
Field Evidence:
In Week 2 of my November Monthly Journal, I document how I learned my mental health unit participates in an evaluation of its programing. The Corrections-Based Operations Patient Survey 2022 Memo explains the process. To simply put it, therapists in the mental health unit pass out Corrections-Based Operations Patient Survey 2022 in November and they are voluntarily returned to the therapists by December. I also participated in an evaluation for volunteers within the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. I evaluated the efficiency and effectiveness of the volunteer program that is offered across the DOCCS system. My participation in the process involved meeting with the Principal Psychologist. During this supervision, I evaluated my experiences in each unit at the Auburn Correctional Facility, such as the Special Housing Unit, Mental Health Unit, and General Population unit. I also recognized my strengths in therapeutic skills and interactions with the incarcerated individuals, and I concluded that my preference is working with individuals in the general population. I also process my experience in DOCCS and its effect on my well-being. I documented my final supervision in Week 1 of my May Monthly Journal. I also completed a Final Monthly Volunteer Log and Evaluation that is required by all volunteers within the DOCCS system. My methodology for the feedback on my evaluation of DOCCS and OMH was based on the amount of involvement I had in the units and the access I had to the prison’s software programs. Using these measuring tools, I was able to indicate in the evaluation and report to my field instructor that I received sufficient training. I documented my final supervision in Week 2 of my May Monthly Journal.
In Week 2 of my January Monthly Journal, I document that I was reviewing a file from an Incarcerated Individual that was recently added onto my caseload. I thoroughly read through the files within the first week of receiving the individual’s file. I looked for documents from other units and agencies to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of the services the individual had received. The metrics I used to perform a quantitative evaluation of the services were to review outpatient or hospitalization records, the RCTP admissions, past referrals, screenings and the Termination Transfer Progress Note. The evaluation I conducted helped me in gathering information on the individual so that I can provide more effective services that the individual needs for his rehabilitation.