Assessing Social Work Generalist Practice Skills
The purpose of this assessment tool is to evaluate or self-evaluate a social worker’s
ability to implement the generalist intervention model in work with clients. It will greatly help a
social worker to improve their social work practice skills and to learn what they are doing well
and what they need to work on.
This assessment should be completed after working with a client. The assessment should
be repeated with various client types and results interpreted collectively to gain a more
comprehensive view of the social worker’s skills with various client demographics as well as
overall ability to successfully use the generalist intervention model.
Instructions: The assessment is completed at the conclusion of the social worker’s involvement
with a client. The first section is comprised of demographic questions about the client, with
subsequent sections of questions addressing use of generalist intervention skills in the work with
the client. Answer honestly and answer all questions with the choice that best fits the work
demonstrated with the client.
DEMOGRAPHICS (of the client):
1. What is the client’s age?
___0-9
___10-19
___20-29
___30-39
___40-49
___50-59
___60-69
___70+
2. What is the client’s gender?
____Female
____Male
3. What is the client’s ethnicity?
__African American __Alaska Native __Asian __Asian Indian __Caucasian
__Hispanic
__Native American __Pacific Islander __Other (Specify: _______________)
4. How long has the social worker known the client?
___First meeting ___< 6 mo.
___6 mo.-1 year
___ 1-2 years
___2-4 years
___4+ years
5. What is the primary relationship with the client?
___First assessment
___School
___Caseworker
___Therapist
___Public Assistance Provider
___Referral Agent
___Other (Specify: ______________)
6. Specify any additional unique characteristics of this client that may help in assessing the
social worker’s generalist intervention skills with various populations:
___________________________________________________________________________
Instructions: The remaining sections relate to how the social worker performs generalist
practice skills. Again, answer honestly and answer all questions with the choice that best fits the
work demonstrated with this client.
Engagement
Always
Sometimes
Always
Sometimes
Rarely
Never
1. Did the worker ask the client personable
questions to try to get to know that
client?
2. Was the worker open to client questions
or comments?
3. Did the worker use positive
communication strategies?
4. Did the worker give full attention to the
client?
5. Was the client responsive to the worker
by participating and answering
questions?
Total score for this section
Verbal Communication
6. Did the worker use age appropriate
words when speaking to the client?
7. Did the worker show honesty with the
client by accurately saying what can and
cannot be accomplished?
8. Did the worker use respectful / strengths
based terminology with the client?
9. Did the worker summarize periodically
to confirm the client’s understanding?
10. Did the worker use active listening skills
when the client was speaking?
Total score for this section
Rarely
Never
Diversity
Always
Sometimes
Rarely
Never
Always
Sometimes
Rarely
Never
11. Did the worker ask the client about
culture and unique interests?
12. Did the worker use perceptive skills to
identify the client’s uniqueness? (ex
culture, religion, race, SES, exposures,
geographic, gender, identity, etc.)
13. Did the worker incorporate culture and
unique interests in their work together?
14. Did the worker reflect understanding of
the client’s view of their differences?
15. Did the worker demonstrate respect to
the client’s uniqueness?
Total score for this section
Assessment
16. Did the worker gather information about
the client (including background and
current issues)?
17. Did the worker process this information
by reflecting it back to the client?
18. Did the worker confirm identified needs
with the client?
19. Did the worker identify strengths as well
as needs?
20. Did the worker include micro, mezzo,
and macro levels of need?
Total score for this section
Values and Ethics
Always
Sometimes
Rarely
Never
Always
Sometimes
Rarely
Never
21. Did the worker show respect for the
client’s basic rights?
22. Did the worker show belief in the
client’s social equality by advocating for
the client in some aspect?
23. Did the worker listen to the client and
respond to the client’s input?
24. Did the worker show belief in the
client’s self-determination by allowing
them to make their own decisions?
25. Did the worker treat the client fairly?
Total score for this section
International
26. Did the worker ask if there are any
international aspects of care needed?
27. Did the worker assess physical
appearance for international issues?
28. Did the worker’s assessment include
belonging in a community?
29. Did the worker use perception to
consider international issues such as
language, health, disease, standards of
living, perceived vs actual needs, etc.?
30. Did the worker give ample time to
assess, plan, intervene, and evaluate
international issues?
Total score for this section
Empathy
Always
Sometimes
Rarely
Never
Always
Sometimes
Rarely
Never
Always
Sometimes
Rarely
Never
31. Did the worker show caring through
reflecting and engaging the client?
32. Did the worker show sensitivity through
attentiveness and physical response to
the client when speaking?
33. Did the worker’s response to the client
lead to more open communication as
opposed to shutting it down?
34. Did the worker show expressions during
conversation with the client?
35. Did the worker offer positive comments
to the client for their willingness to share
with the worker?
Total score for this section
Non-Verbal Communication
36. Did the worker evaluate and respond to
client facial expressions including eye
contact?
37. Did the worker evaluate and respond to
client posture?
38. Did the worker evaluate and respond to
client gestures?
39. Did the worker demonstrate open body
posture?
40. Did the worker demonstrate attention to
eye contact?
Total score for this section
Documentation
41. Did the worker document each phase of
the GIM thoroughly?
42. Did the worker use unbiased language in
documentation?
43. Did the worker effectively record all
interactions?
44. Was the worker timely with
documentation?
45. Did the worker inform the client that
they could access their records?
Total score for this section
Planning
Always
Sometimes
Rarely
Never
Always
Sometimes
Rarely
Never
Always
Sometimes
Rarely
Never
46. Did the worker include the client’s input
in the planning?
47. Did the worker review assessment
information to develop a plan?
48. Did the worker and client prioritize
needs?
49. Did the worker and client develop a
mutual plan that included goals,
objectives, and action steps?
50. Did the worker research treatment
options for each client need?
Total score for this section
Implementation
51. Did the worker follow the plan?
52. Did the client participate in all steps laid
out in the plan?
53. Did the worker and the client reevaluate
the plan periodically?
54. Did the worker collaborate with other
professionals related to the client?
55. Did the worker provide the client with
written materials to support
implementation?
Total score for this section
Evaluation
56. Did the worker evaluate every step of
the GIM with the client?
57. Did the evaluation phase focus on client
progress?
58. Did the evaluation phase strengthen the
client’s ability to reach goals?
59. Was evaluation used to modify the plan
or services?
60. Did the evaluation phase provide
feedback to the worker/agency on
quality of services?
Total score for this section
Termination
Always
Sometimes
Rarely
Never
Always
Sometimes
Rarely
Never
61. Did the worker discuss termination with
the client early in the relationship?
62. Did the worker explain the termination
process to the client?
63. Did the worker include the client, as
much as possible, in defining
termination terms?
64. Did the worker explain what would
happen after the termination phase?
65. Did the worker provide the client with
the appropriate resources for after
termination?
Total score for this section
Follow-Up
66. Did the worker discuss follow up with
the client?
67. Were conditions of follow up completed
as planned?
68. Did follow up include an assessment of
sustained progress after termination?
69. Did the worker provide information
based on new information learned in
follow up?
70. Did the worker maintain client centered
care in follow up?
Total score for this section
TOTAL OVERALL SCORE
Social Worker being assessed ____________________________
Date of assessment ____________________________________
Scoring the Assessment
Instructions: Once all questions are answered, then add up the scores for each section using
the following rating scale.
4=Always, 3= Sometimes, 2- Rarely, and 1= Never.
For each subsection, review the scores. Any answer with 2 or 1 should be evaluated for ‘why’
the rating is low. If the reason is lack of opportunity, then the social worker should ask if it
should have been included, and why it was not. In the absence of any scores of 2 or 1, if the
score rates 15 to 18, then the social worker likely needs a little more practice to polish use of the
skills in the phase. Scores in each section that are between 18-20 likely indicate a proficient use
of the skills in the phase.
In reviewing the overall use of generalist intervention skills, the following legend provides some
insight into the social worker’s effectiveness.
< 175 Points
175-219 Points
220-254 Points
255-280 Points
The provider
needs to review
and practice all
areas of
generalist
practice skills
under the
supervision of a
strong clinician
as there are
likely multiple
skills lacking.
The social
worker’s skills
are lacking.
Review the
subsections as
there is likely to
be some area(s)
that needs work
or if overall skills
need to be
strengthened by
review and
practice under
supervision.
The social
worker’s skills
are good, but not
strong. Review
the subsections to
determine if one
category is
seriously
problematic, or if
several
subsections need
some attention.
The social
worker’s overall
skills are strong
and the provider
is likely utilizing
the generalist
model in practice.
Best practice involves using this instrument to assess one’s generalist skills periodically, and
using it with multiple client types. For any areas of shortcoming, the social worker should
research the GIM phase skills as well as researching characteristics of the population that
might require special or unique skills to improve quality of service.
(Assessment instrument initially created by Katie Shake, though modified as presented. 2014)