95 Activities for Mastering Social Work Skills

1. Research eligibility requirements for services outside the agency
2. Take public transportation from home to the Department of Social Services
3. Walk around a neighborhood where many clients live
4. Spend a day at a food pantry
5. Visit the shelters in the community
6. Spend an afternoon at a WIC clinic
7. Assess client suitability for particular treatment (ex., group)
8. Assess a client using an eco-map or other assessment tool to determine strengths and intervention needs
9. Provide information to client regarding policies and services of the agency
10. Explain managed care benefits and policies to client
11. Complete “hot line” training or suicide prevention training
12. Assess the nature and severity of a client’s crisis situation
13. Assess a client’s use of alcohol, illegal drugs or prescribed medication
14. Assess the impact of addiction on client’s family
15. Perform a mental status exam
16. Obtain and formally write up a client’s biopsychosocial history
17. Assess the significance of cultural background to a client
18. Assess the significance of spiritual beliefs to a client
19. Gather and verify information about a client from collateral sources
20. Identify client’s use of defense mechanisms
21. Administer standardized instruments to measure client symptoms or behaviors
22. Assess client symptoms using DSM criteria
23. Develop a treatment plan based on diagnostic assessment
24. Assess need for Child Abuse Report
25. Assess parenting skills
26. Assess client’s ability to perform daily living skills
27. Develop measurable objectives to assess client change
28. Develop a time frame for intervention
29. Help parents to understand child development
30. Engage client in goal setting
31. Describe (in supervision) developmental issues relevant to client
32. Process recording of observed intervention
33. Process recording of own intervention
34. Process recording of staff meeting
35. Teach client communication skills
36. Teach client daily living skills
37. Arrange transportation for a client
38. Assist client to understand the implications of a medical or psychological report
39. Assist client to obtain needed resources
40. Update agency resource manual
41. Develop a resource list for a client for a particular problem
42. Observe a medication review
43. Observe parent interaction with children
44. Observe clients in classrooms or other group settings
45. Arrange for interpretation services for a client
46. Observe family court sessions
47. Observe a group and describe interaction patterns
48. Help group members understand their patterns of interaction
49. Develop curriculum for a group
50. Help a client advocate for their rights
51. Provide outreach services
52. Make home visits
53. Provide case management or intensive case management
54. Refer clients for services
55. Follow up on referrals
56. Write a discharge or transfer summary
57. Provide feedback to client about progress toward goals
58. Provide testimony in court
59. Provide testimony at a public hearing
60. Write a letter to the editor regarding a service issue
61. Write a letter to state or federal representatives advocating for resources
62. Write an article for the agency newsletter
63. Participate in the planning of a workshop or conference
64. Collaborate with other to address a community need
65. Participate as a member of an interdisciplinary team
66. Participate as a member of a multi-agency team
67. Facilitate a team meeting
68. Provide an in-service training
69. Participate in QA processes such as chart reviews
70. Prepare budget materials
71. Participate in development or revision of agency policy manuals
72. Advocate for policy change
73. Develop and write proposals for funding
74. Review proposals for funding
75. Develop program brochures
76. Make presentations in the community “selling” the agency or its programs
77. Develop measurable outcomes for evaluating a program
78. Review contracts to monitor agency compliance
79. Use research to support program planning
80. Create an organizational flow chart
81. Redesign an agency form
82. Analyze relative costs of service program alternatives
83. Recruit volunteers
84. Provide training to volunteers or staff
85. Provide supervision to volunteers or staff
86. Conduct performance appraisals of volunteers or staff
87. Participate in hiring interviews
88. Attend board meeting
89. Cover a shift at the receptionist desk
90. Read the Code of Ethics of other professionals working on the team
91. Journal
92. Participate in an intern peer support group: take turns chairing the meeting
93. Attend community cultural events related to the cultural background of current clients
94. Attend religious services at a faith community which is part of many client’s support system
95. Organize an activity or field trip for residents or participants