Lesson 12: Developing Service Goals

Attention

That little red piece is the service plan!

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson's material, students will be able to:

  • Identify the importance of recognizing a client's strengths and potential barriers when developing a service plan.
  • Write measurable service plan goals

Teaching

Client Strengths

Another aspect of the PSR Values that comes into play is the focus on client strengths. Much of medicine and treatment focuses on what is "wrong" with the client. We want to focus on what is "right" with the client, because it is based on this that we will lead clients to work on their goals.

Examples of client strengths might include:

  • Past experience with similar problems
  • Resources (money, job, car, license, etc.)
  • Attitude
  • Intelligence
  • Degrees and/or Work Experience
  • Friends and/or Family
  • Familiarity with "System"
  • Longevity in Remission
  • Motivation
  • Personality
  • Specific Skills (writing, cooking, cleaning, accounting, computers, etc.)
  • Specific Knowledge (hunting, auto, movies, scholastic subjects, etc.)

As we identify a client's goals we turn to these starting points to build a plan...in fact, to some degree these strengths help define which goals we can pragmatically work on!

Measurable Goals

The service plan provides an individualized plan that outlines the client's goals. It is important to be very clear what the client wants to work on as well as the client's needs and how to meet those needs. It is also important to clearly know when the plan is complete and the goal is met because we want to celebrate it!

Writing goals is a skill in and of itself. First and foremost the goal has to be clear and understandable by everyone who is involved, including the client.

In order to test if a goal is well-written we borrow from the field of Behavior Management by asking two questions:

  1. Can a dead man do this? (Dead Man's Test)
  2. Would a stranger know when this is happening? (Stranger Test)

IF the answer to question 1 is "NO" and the answer to question 2 is "YES" then the goal is well-written. This is tricky, so you have to think outside the circle a bit to critique your own work.

  • Hint about Dead Man's Test - this test eliminates all the "Thou shall not..." type goals
  • Hint about Stranger Test - this test eliminates all the vague language that we use to describe behavior like "good" or "appropriate"

In addition to "passing" both tests, a goal should identify, as appropriate, the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, and WHERE components of a behavior.

This app is called Caseload Free and is free. This app allows users to create one case in the app for free. Using the information you gathered during your intake and treatment plan process go into the app, add your client (using a different name to protect your volunteer's confidentiality). Then proceed to add in client details, case notes, referrals and phone calls/contacts based on the interactions you will be having with this client. As you proceed through your work with them you will be asked to add additional information into the app to gain practice in how to keep track of appointments and tasks.

The app does have a purchase version but for the exercise we are working in the free app.

 

 

Assessment

Lesson 12 Discussion

Discuss the reasons you think it is important to recognize a client's strengths as well as potential barriers to treatment when developing a service plan

Lesson 12 Quiz

For this assignment I want you to identify two personal, short-term goals that you have and write them out as if you were writing a plan for yourself to accomplish them. They both need to meet the Dead Man's Test and the Stranger Test.

An example of a personal goal I might have might have to do with exercise:

"I will exercise a total of 3 times per week. Each time I exercise I will ride the stationary bike for 30 minutes and do the circuit training routine for 30 minutes."

(This goal statement passes both the Dead Man's Test and the Stranger Test)

In addition to two goals for yourself, I want you to compose two example goals that you might write out for a client who is working on ADL (Activities of Daily Living). An example of this is as follows:

"Mike will engage in personal hygiene every morning by taking a shower, using deodorant, wearing clean clothes, and combing his hair."

(This goal statement passes both the Dead Man's Test and the Stranger Test)

Click HERE to download a very comprehensive list of ADL skills.

In the quiz itself you will see the questions listed below...simply write out your goal statements, one in each question.

  1. Your Goal #1
  2. Your Goal #2
  3. Client ADL Goal #1
  4. Client ADL Goal #2

 

Possible iPad Integration Option:

You could write out your two client ADL goals in the Caseload Free app (using a client note), email the PDF to yourself and submit the PDF to your instructor.