In formulating a client assessment, which item would a social worker not include?

• A. the client's goals for the treatment
• B. the client's presenting problems
• C. the client's strengths
• D. the social worker's supervision plan

Answer: (A)

In a client assessment, the focus is on understanding who the client is and what they are dealing with—describing presenting problems, identifying strengths and supports, and noting risks or barriers within the client’s context. This phase is about building a clear picture of the client’s current situation so you know what needs attention and what resources can help.

The item describing the client’s goals for treatment is typically not part of the assessment itself. Goals for treatment are outcomes the client hopes to achieve and are usually developed during the planning stage after the assessment is complete. This is when the social worker and client collaborate to set specific, measurable objectives and outline the steps to reach them. Those goals then become part of the treatment plan, guiding interventions rather than just describing the client’s current state.

So, the reason this item is not included in the assessment is that it belongs to planning and goal-setting, not to describing the client’s present problems, strengths, or supports. The other items—presenting problems and strengths—are core pieces of the assessment because they establish what needs to be addressed and what assets can be leveraged. The supervision plan isn’t about the client either, but in typical practice it would appear in supervisory documentation rather than the client assessment.