Devising an Assessment Package for an Employment Rehabilitation Service

The investigations required before selecting appropriate pre-vocational assessment tools for clients, mainly with mental health problems, in a work rehabilitation unit included reviewing available research projects, literature and assessments, and looking at locally available resources. It was necessary to find out why an assessment package was required and what it should assess, then appropriate tools could be chosen for the package. The assessment package selected comprises an application form, a detailed interview and an observation of the client's mental state followed by three standardised assessments. The first assesses temperament (introversion/extroversion and reaction to stress), the second assesses life-style preferences (interests and attitudes) and the third assesses basic work-related skills. The final part of the assessment package is an observation of performance in a workshop setting.