Provide at least two examples of how you have used outcome measures to change your practice focus with a client. Describe an outcome measure you have used.
Assignment Question
Provide at least two examples of how you have used outcome measures to change your practice focus with a client. Describe an outcome measure you have used.
This discussion question is informed by the following EPAS Standard: 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities word mines different
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Using outcome measures to change practice focus with clients is a valuable approach in social work, as it allows for ongoing assessment and adaptation of interventions to better meet the clients’ needs. Here are two examples of how I have used outcome measures to adjust my practice focus with clients, along with a description of one outcome measure: Assessing Mental Health Progress: In working with a client experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety, I regularly used outcome measures to monitor their mental health progress. One outcome measure I employed was the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), a self-report tool to assess depression severity. Over the course of our sessions, the client’s PHQ-9 scores initially indicated moderate depression. However, as we continued our therapeutic work, the scores began to decrease,indicating improvement in their depressive symptoms. This allowed me to tailor our interventions, accordingly, shifting the focus from crisis management to building coping strategies and enhancing their overall well-being. By regularly reviewing the PHQ-9 results, I could objectively track the client’s progress and adapt our treatment plan accordingly (Jolly et al., 2021). Evaluating Family Functioning: Another example involves a family I worked with to address issues related to family dynamics and communication. To assess their progress, I used the Family Assessment Device (FAD), which measures various dimensions of family functioning. Initially, the family’s FAD scores indicated significant dysfunction in areas like role clarity and communication. This information guided our interventions to target specific aspects of family dynamics. As the family engaged in counseling and developed better communication skills, we observed improvements in their FAD scores. These positive changes allowed us to shift our practice focus from crisis intervention to family strengthening and conflict resolution. Regularly using the FAD helped us track changes in family functioning objectively and adjust our interventions accordingly (Walsh, 2015). Incorporating outcome measures into social work practice aligns with EPAS Standard 9, which emphasizes the evaluation of practice with individuals and families. Outcome measures provide concrete data to inform practice decisions and ensure that interventions are effective in addressing clients’ needs and goals. By utilizing tools like the PHQ-9 and FAD, social workers can assess progress, adapt interventions, and ultimately enhance the well-being of the individuals and families they serve (Fox et al., 2022). References Fox, K. E., Johnson, S. T., Berkman, L. F., Sianoja, M., Soh, Y., Kubzansky, L. D., & Kelly, E. L. (2022). Organisational-and group-level workplace interventions and their effect on multiple domains of worker well-being: A systematic review. Work & Stress. Jolly, P. M., Kong, D. T., & Kim, K. Y. (2021). Social support at work: An integrative review. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 42(2), 229-251. Walsh, J. (2015). Theories for direct social work practice (3rd ed.). Cengage, ISBN-13: 9781285750248 Please use different references
