Social Work Competency #4

Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice

APRIL MARTIN
Use practice experience and theory to
inform scientific inquiry and research.
Using scholarly research to find the underlying causes of a client issue.
Client issue: unemployment
Underlying causes:
Structural decline of the industry
Seasonal nature of activities
Level of education
Lack of initiative
Inability to adapt to inappropriate work
Bekesi, D., Coturbas, L., & Onica-Chipea, L. (2014). Causes of unemployment,
concrete research on the population of unemployed from Bihor County.
Revista De Asistenta Sociala (Social Work Review), 13(3), 107-115.
Apply critical thinking to engage in analysis of quantitative
and qualitative research methods and research findings.

Apply findings in research to

work with clients.
Help with and encourage
furthering education.
Work on resume building,
interviewing, and skills of
professionalism.
Make a list of the benefits of
being employed.
Set goals: buying a home/car, not
relying on government benefits.
Use and translate research evidence to inform and
improve practice, policy, and service delivery.

Help client find employment opportunities.

Provide child care services.
Provide transportation if needed.
Provide clients with resources on how to obtain appropriate work
attire.
Collaborate with employment agencies to determine strengths
and weaknesses of employees (clients) and need for
improvement.
Discuss with client any concerns or ethical dilemmas that need to
be addressed.