ASWB ASWB Certifications LCSW Questions & Answers

• Question 11:

  All clinical social work services should be directed at meeting a specific goal with a pre-determined outcome defining the time of termination. Professionals can provide their opinions based on the need for further care and help the client achieve these recommendations. Termination of services is primarily up to what party?

  A. Psychologist

  B. Clinical social worker

  C. Client

  D. Referent

  Correct Answer: C

  Clients have the responsibility of determining when to terminate clinical social work services. Recommendations can be given for further treatment, but the client can deny them. The only time a professional can interfere with this decision is when there are foreseen dangers or violations of legal codes.

• Question 12:

  Clinical social workers providing treatment to indMduals have the responsibility to allow full participation of the client when determining goals. Expected outcomes and the treatment of termination should be clearly specified and understood by both parties. What is the best way to develop this mutual understanding?

  A. Therapeutic observation

  B. Treatment contracts

  C. Court order

  D. Task-centered education

  Correct Answer: B

  Treatment contracts help define interventions, length of treatment, goals established and the method of termination. If changes occur along the way, both client and social worker will reestablish the contract. Services that may reach beyond the agreement should be specified.

• Question 13:

  There are 2 types of family-centered services utilized by clinical social workers. The first service consists of family support with the intention of helping families cope with everyday parenting stress. The primary focus of the professional is to prevent child maltreatment by strengthening the skills and knowledge of all members. The second type of family-centered approach was developed to help those at serious risk or in crisis. This service is commonly known as:

  A. Foster care

  B. Family crisis intervention

  C. Family preservation

  D. Target identification

  Correct Answer: C

  Family preservation is often sought for families who are actively working with Child Protective Services or the juvenile court system. This approach targets those who are facing immediate threat of children being placed outside of the home. The goal is prevention and/or reunification if the children are coming home to their family.

• Question 14:

  Clinical social workers learn to identify deficiencies in knowledge when working with indMduals. Professionals collaborate with other advocates to obtain necessary information and resources. Once obtained, it is important to express all information to the client in an understanding manner. What role is the clinical social worker portraying?

  A. Supervisor

  B. Educator

  C. Administrator

  D. Therapist

  Correct Answer: B

  Clinical social workers have the ability to implement learning theories in educational programs. Once they assess the needs of a client and/orfamily, they will obtain the necessary resources. Delivery of information relies on the facilitation of learning. All knowledge should be addressed in a manner conducive to the cIient's communication skills.

• Question 15:

  Documentation is a necessity in the field of clinical social work. Often it is a refilection of the service quality to clients and acts as a communication source for other professionals. Record keeping often consists of comprehensive assessments and a plan of care. Which ofthe following should documentation include?

  A. Goals and planning

  B. Referral sources

  C. Receipts and disbursements

  D. All of the above

  Correct Answer: D

  Clinical social work documentation includes a vast amount of information. It starts with the first assessment and ends with the closure of a cIient's case. Knowledge found within the record keeping will include: ongoing interventions and treatment planning, collaborations, outcomes, confidentiality rights, and signed releases. It is pertinent to always document dates, times and descriptions of client contact.

• Question 16:

  The multi-disciplinary approach involves indMduals from several professions that are responsible for the delivery of services. Each team member is only accountable for actMties related to their discipline.

  Although this method is easy, it is not always effective. What approach involves constant interaction between professionals, working towards the same goal?

  A. Trans-disciplinary

  B. IndMdualism

  C. Interdisciplinary

  D. None ofthe above

  Correct Answer: C

  The interdisciplinary approach to service enhances communication among several professionals. A client and their family will be among the team participants. Each indMdual will collaborate with the others to ensure smooth progress and a positive attitude towards all disciplines is quite apparent. Professional actMties appearto flow into one another with no break in services.

• Question 17:

  A multi-d isciplina ry team supports the progress and development of indMduals with disabilities. The focus of the group is to ensure the person maintains as full a life as possible. Often the members include doctors, occupational therapists, psychiatrists, teachers and clinical social workers. Which of the following areas would a professional social worker typically not engage?

  A. Identifying gaps in service provision

  B. Promoting the rights ofdisabled indMduals

  C. Locating respite andfamily support

  D. Diagnosing the disability

  Correct Answer: D

  Clinical social workers stay within their boundaries while acting on a multi-disciplinary team. They help assess the situation, identify community resources, and advocate for the disabled indMdual.

• Question 18:

  Beverly is a 72 year old female who suffers from diabetes. She lives independently, but her health was recently diagnosed by a doctor as slowlyfailing. The medical professional sees the cause as being a lack of nutrition and failure to take medication as prescribed. Beverly does not drive and stays within her home. Neighbors have noticed a lack of food in the house and Beverly not appearing to be very clean. A clinical social worker is assigned to handle case management. What will be this indMduaI's main function?

  A. Short-term communication and planning

  B. Assessment, education and coordination of services

  C. Administering medication, daily lMng skills, assessment

  D. Preparing the indMdual for assisted lMng

  Correct Answer: B

  Case management is a service ideal for supporting indMduals with chronic diseases. In BeverIy's case, she is losing the ability to self-manage. The clinical social worker will assess appropriate long-term care needs. The focus is on collaboration between social and health care providers. Effective case management supports the indMdual in a manner that allows effective community involvement while maintaining that person in their home.

• Question 19:

  Anger management helps the indMdual deal with their feelings in an assertive not aggressive manner.

  This is the healthiest way to express oneself without hurting others. Being assertive helps make a person's needs clear without behaving in a demanding manner. Expression is just one of three approaches utilized by clinical social workers when dealing with anger management. What are the other two?

  A. Suppressing and calming

  B. Passive-aggressive and transference

  C. Criticism and behavior

  D. Respect and hostility

  Correct Answer: A

  The correct manner of suppressing anger is by redirecting it into something constructive. If this is not done in an outward expression, anger can remain inward and cause hypertension, depression and high blood pressure. Unexpressed anger can often lead to passive-aggressive behavior or a hostile personality.

• Question 20:

  During a crisis situation, it is important to prevent extreme mental, physical, behavioral and emotional reactions. A system of interventions begins shortly after the incident by a team of highly skilled professionals. This team normally includes mental health experts, support personnel and clergy. The intervention system includes support groups, stress management and one-on-one programs. What system is being described?

  A. Critical incident stress management

  B. Critical incident post reactive

  C. Positive debriefing

  D. None ofthe above

  Correct Answer: A

  Critical incident stress management or CISM, refers to a system that was initially designed for high-risk professional groups such as disaster response units, military and emergency personnel. This team of professionals helps prevent post-traumatic stress disorder and other associated problems. It is recommended that debriefing occur within 24 hours of the crisis by peer support personnel or emergency service workers.