Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Social workers understand that assessment is ongoing throughout work with clients. Social workers understand and apply theories of human behavior, person in environment, interprofessional frameworks, and integrate cultural variables when assessing clients and constituencies. Social workers understand the value of supporting clients to identify barriers and strengths in achieving their goals to create a mutually agreed upon plan that adequately supports clients. Social workers value and understand the importance of interprofessional collaboration in the assessment process. Social workers are introspective and understand how their experiences, worldview, power and privilege can impact the assessment process and decision making. Accordingly, social workers are careful to keep personal biases from impacting the assessment process, and their decision making.