When assessing a client’s needs, which tool is often used for gathering information?

The assessment interview is commonly used as a tool for gathering information when assessing a client’s needs because it allows the social worker to engage directly with the client in a conversational format. This method enables the social worker to build rapport, understand the client's perspective, and delve deeply into specific issues surrounding their situation. Through an assessment interview, social workers can ask open-ended questions, explore the client's feelings and thoughts, and gather qualitative data that may not be captured through other means.

This approach also allows for the flexibility to adapt questions based on the client’s responses, leading to a more nuanced and personalized understanding of their needs. Additionally, the relational aspect of an in-person or face-to-face interview can foster a sense of trust and openness, making clients more willing to share sensitive information.

While client feedback forms and case studies are valuable for understanding past and ongoing issues, and standardized tests can provide quantitative measures of certain competencies or symptoms, the dynamic nature of an assessment interview is particularly effective for comprehensive needs assessment in social work practice.