When I accepted my job at NorthEast Family Services, I didn't totally know what to expect and what was expected of me! I think it would have been nice to have some insight from a past PASS worker, that worked with the same client I was assigned, to be able to fully grasp what the session would be like. I often found myself uncertain when it came to planning the day. Having an example of a session and what activities connect to what goals, would have been a great tool in my eyes!
Below, I included a mock schedule of what a day with the client may consist of. After that, I shared detail to what each activity may lead towards. Overall, the point of the session is to accomplish the client's set goals. Not all goals will always be worked on in each session so I just chose a few just as the real session would go.
Katja Livingston
Session with client
26 November 2017
1:30 PM – picked client up from work
2:00 PM – client wanted lunch (went to McDonald’s, attempted to get client to eat somewhere
healthier but insisted on McDonald’s)
2:30 PM – went to bank with client to deposit their check (client needed to be sure they had
money for groceries)
2:45 PM – ran errands with client (grocery shopping, client bought organic options)
3:45 PM – got to client’s home (client put all belongings away in proper places/bags)
4:00 PM – client wanted to relax/watch television (could tell client was getting bored)
5:30 PM – went to library (client doesn’t like going, but thought we should do something)
6:00 PM – client brought me on a hike on a trail near their house
6:40 PM – stopped at SIP ‘n’ DIP for client to get a smoothie
7:00 PM – returned to client’s home (talked with client’s sibling and parent for a little bit)
7:15 PM – I filled out weekly assessment/paperwork on client
7:30 PM – session ended
- This is a brief overview of what a shift as a PASS worker consists of. I broke it down by times to show the amount that goes into a six-hour shift. Throughout each element of the day, goals are worked on with the client to assure they are benefiting from the session.
- After I pick the client up from work, they almost always want to get food. I am working with the client on changing their eating habits to healthier options. Sometimes they are for it, other times they insist on Burger King or McDonald’s. Here, the client resisted the goal by not wanting to go somewhere healthy.
- Then, we went to the bank to deposit the client’s check. We do this a lot because they tend to get paid on the day’s I work. The client has been really good about assuring they have money for necessary expenses. Earlier in the semester when I began, I noticed the client enjoyed buying little things they saw that they found interesting. Overtime, from comments I have made about buying unnecessary things and maybe waiting until you need something to spend your money, I have noticed the client attempts to buy only what they need.
- At grocery store, the client purchased a few items that they needed. Cooking still needs to be worked on more, so client tends to buy microwaveable items. I was able to introduce client to an organic, healthier microwaveable option which they decided to purchase. Client could not find something in the store that we needed, so they initiated conversation with a cashier to help find the item.
- Once we got to the client’s home, they put away their groceries and items/devices they carry with them. Everything has a proper place in the client’s home, so they insist on doing this by themselves. Client has many purses and bags which they switch out throughout the day. Client will move belongings to next bag or purse they may use later on or tomorrow.
- Client really enjoys watching “Modern Family”. We usually watch a few episodes while client relaxes and calms down from busy day. Eventually, client gets very bored and irritated so we try to do something when this begins otherwise client shuts down in a way.
- The client doesn’t love the library but I got them to go for a little bit since we hadn’t in a while. It gave us something to do and client enjoyed looking through the teen section at comics. Usually, we don’t last long at the library, client gets bored and doesn’t like to stay too long.
- Client came up with the idea to go on a little hike on a trail near their house. Client really enjoyed doing this. It definitely sparked memories for the client because they told many stories about this place and family and friends. Client likes to create art with nature so this was a good place to find pieces for client to use.
- Client really enjoys smoothies, especially from SIP ‘n’ DIP, so we stopped there on way home for them to get one. Client did great in coming up with ideas and transitioning from preferred activities to non-preferred activities. Though client may not have enjoyed the library, they agreed to going before we did something they would enjoy.
- After we got home, client wanted to see their family. We went to their house and saw client’s sibling and parent. Here, the client initiated conversation between both of them and was really enjoying the time.
- While client interacted with family, I filled out weekly paperwork and assessments on the session. This is where I see what we worked on, what client resisted, and what was not instilled in that day. We had worked on a lot of goals set for the client, whether it was positive or negative. Client did a great job interacting, transitioning, and budgeting during this session. Maybe next time, we could work on preparing a real meal so client can have some cooking skills and eating a healthier lunch.