Service Plan Drafting with Claude Pro

Go to claude.ai. Click Start for free and create an account with your personal email.

What you should see: A clean chat interface ready for your first message.

Before opening Claude, prepare a quick summary of:

• The presenting concerns that led to case opening (e.g., "neglect due to parental substance use and housing instability")
• The client's strengths and existing support systems
• The specific goals the case requires (your state may mandate certain goal areas)
• Any preferences the client expressed about their goals (critical for authentic service plans)
• Any services already in place

Start a new Claude conversation. Open with a context-setting message:

Type this:

I'm a social services caseworker creating an individualized service plan for a client. I'll describe the situation without identifying information. Please help me draft SMART goals with action steps. The plan must:
- Use plain language the client can understand (6th-8th grade reading level)
- Include specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound goals
- Include 2-3 action steps per goal
- Be realistic for a 6-month review period
Ready for my description.

In the next message, describe the situation and what you need. Be specific about the goal areas required.

Example:

Create service plan goals for the following situation: Single parent, two children ages 4 and 7. Case opened due to housing instability and inconsistent school attendance. Parent strengths: motivated, has extended family support, working part-time. Needed goal areas: (1) stable housing, (2) consistent school attendance, (3) parenting skills/routine. Parent wants to involve grandmother in the plan.

Claude will produce a set of SMART goals with action steps. Read through them:

• Are the goals realistic for your client's actual situation?
• Do the timeframes match your agency's review schedule?
• Is the language plain enough for the client to understand?
• Do the action steps match what services are actually available in your area?

Once the professional version is approved, ask Claude to generate a version for the client to sign.

Type this: "Now write a simplified version of these goals for the client to read and sign. Use shorter sentences, everyday words, and a warm tone. Format it as a list the client can check off as they complete each action step."

Copy the goals into your agency's service plan template (Word document, state system form, or whatever your agency uses). Add the client's name, case number, signature fields, and any required agency language. The AI-drafted goals are a starting point. Adapt them to what was actually discussed with the client.