About this resource
A biopsychosocial summary brings together what is known about a person's health, wellbeing, relationships and circumstances. This template covers biological, psychological, social and cultural or spiritual domains, strengths, the person's own view, a brief formulation and a plan.
Purpose
To summarise assessment information clearly and holistically.
Who it is for
Primary profession: Social workers. Also relevant for allied health and multidisciplinary teams, psychologists.
Client or participant group: Social workers and practitioners completing assessments.
Practice setting: Hospital, mental health, community and allied health services.
Suggested uses
- Psychosocial assessments
- Referrals and handovers
- Team meetings
- Supervision
Instructions for practitioners
- Include the person's own view and words.
- Balance strengths with difficulties.
- Use respectful, specific language.
- Record risks using your organisation's tools and procedures.
Accessibility considerations
Editable HTML source available for adaptation.
Scope and limitations
A summary template. It does not replace your organisation's assessment or risk tools.
Research basis
Biopsychosocial and ecological models describe how health, relationships and wider systems interact in a person's life.
- Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The Ecology of Human Development: Experiments by Nature and Design. Harvard University Press. https://doi.org/10.4159/9780674028845
- Engel, G. L. (1977). The Need for a New Medical Model: A Challenge for Biomedicine. Science, 196(4286), 129–136. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.847460
What is included
A 2-page printable A4 PDF, including a practitioner notes page with the research basis (version 1.0).
Originality
Original Practitioner Plus content: wording, activity structure, layout and icons were created for this resource. No third-party worksheets, illustrations or text were reproduced.
