The Science of Situational Assessment

Situational Assessment is a very specific method of evaluating function over time, and in context. Not all situational assessments are the same. A quality-assured Situational Assessment requires three key components: Expertise, Resources, and Rigorous Methodology.

Expertise:

For more than 20 years, Situational Assessment has been a primary clinical focus for our director, Ms. Ross. The value of our particular approach to Situational Assessment is intimately tied to Ms. Ross’ recognized expertise in Situational Assessment for the evaluation of Work Function and Catastrophic impairment. Ms. Ross has conducted over 1,000 Situational Assessments and her expertise has been recognized by the judicial system. Through continuous program development, research and evaluation, our team has developed an exceptional Situational Assessment Service.

Resources:

As noted, for more than 20 years Ms. Ross has painstakingly developed and invested in an invaluable resource, our Situational Assessment Centre, which is located in Hamilton, Ontario. We have clients traveling from all over the province to participate in our Situational Assessments. Our Situational Assessment Centre offers over 50 different standardized work samples, internally developed work tasks, and functional activities. In addition, we have several standardized assessments to specifically evaluate the underlying components of function, including physical and cognitive capacity. The environment is thoughtfully designed and can be adapted to provide the context required to realistically evaluate both work function and mental and behavioural impairment.

Method:

We have developed a systematic, rigorous assessment method to make full use of our resources and expertise. Our assessment method is designed to ensure we obtain quality information before forming opinions on function. Our method is based on research and theoretical models, involves securing data from multiple sources, and assessing our client over an adequate period of time to accurately evaluate function.

Our process includes an initial intake assessment conducted by Ms. Ross, following which the particular work samples, activities, and clinical assessments are chosen in order to specifically address the referral questions, with consideration for client’s history and individual goals. Following the Situational Assessment, a feedback session takes place and a Situational Assessment Report is prepared.

Please feel free to contact Ms. Ross directly to learn more about our Situational Assessment Centre.