ABSTRACT
Before beginning the writing process, the assessor should consider what purpose the report will serve. What are reports for? Although at first this question may seem too elementary to pose, keeping the answers in mind will go a long way toward encouraging effective, helpful reports. The general purposes of any assessment report are: (1) to report the expert’s findings (conclusions accompanied by illustrations) back to the referring party; (2) when requested, to communicate suggestions based on the findings; and (3) to provide a record for professionals who may be working with the client in later years. We too frequently write our reports with only present concerns in mind. We should remember that the person who is in trouble now, or who is trying to get ahead now, may very well be in a similar situation in future years. At that time it is likely that the workers presently involved in the case will have forgotten many of the circumstances and concerns surrounding the assessment, if indeed these workers are still available. The client’s file, containing the assessment report, may be the sole informant.
