You have a new client, Mr. Jones whose home you’ve just walked in to.  While in the living room, you see him looking distressed. He’s sitting at the kitchen table looking over a form for one of the children he is going to adopt and who is in need of services.  After asking him how he is, he tells you he's frustrated because there are some questions on the form that he doesn't quite know how to answer.  He tells you that he knows you aren't the worker for this child though, and pushes the forms to the side to give you his attention. 

The purpose for your visit was to have Mr. Jones fill out a slueth of documents for the child that is on your case.  This will take about 45 minutes if he fills out everything on his own.  But as you are taking your paperwork out, you notice the form he was struggling with.  It's very familiar to you and you know how to answer the questions that confused him. 

In a matter of seconds these thoughts go through your mind.  Mr. Jones may need to know how to advocate for himself and the children he is going to adopt.  Maybe you should let him deal with contacting the child's worker and letting him know he's struggling.  Then again, you could ask Mr. Jones who the child's worker is and send him or her an email letting them know Mr. Jones needs help with filling out the form.  Lastly, you could help Mr. Jones with your paperwork reducing the 45 minutes to 30 minutes and give you time to help him with both tasks.  

The time is 3:30 p.m. and you get off at 5 p.m.  If he does the work himself, after a little conversation and answering some questions, you are on the road by 5:15 p.m., but if you help him with the other child's forms as well as your own forms, you would be on the road around 5:45 p.m.  Though your job will allow you to take whatever time you use working past 5 p.m. and whatever delay you experience in traffic, it's still somewhat annoying to sit in traffic for however long it takes to get home. 

How do you handle this situation?

Use the form to show us how you would service Mr. Jones today.  Be specific and explain your reasoning. 

Thank you,