Identifying a client's needs and responding to those needs in an expedient manner is an essential function of any social services agency. In a social context, everyone has six basic needs: food, shelter, health, education, finance, and safety. All of these needs are intertwined in a complex relationship. When one of these immediate needs is not being met, it is likely that the person is suffering in other areas too. Triage allows the worker to quickly gauge a client's needs when they phone or visit by asking a core set of fundamental questions. The result allows the worker to understand the client's situation in relation to the core needs.
In CCI, Triage can be performed by the worker resulting in a list of suitable services, service providers, and programs to help meet the client's needs. For example, a client named John Smith has recently lost his job. He arrives at the agency and it is determined that he is behind on his monthly rent payments and has an immediate need for food for his family. Triage will identify these needs and provide a list of suitable services and programs to help meet those needs. In this example, John may be recommended to apply for rent relief and food assistance.
Triage can be performed at any time by the worker, but it is normally used when a client needs help and they are not familiar with the services and programs they are eligible to receive.