COMPETENCIES

AND Latoshia Johnson

BEHAVIORS
 Demonstrate Ethical
COMPETENCY 1 and Professional
Behavior
COMPETENCY 1.1
Make ethical decisions by applying the
standards of the NASW Code of Ethics,
relevant laws and regulations, models for
ethical decision making, ethical conduct of
research, and additional codes of ethics as
appropriate to context.

The code of Ethics is a guide that helps make decisions based on

the clients. In the social services setting there will be different
dilemmas that will be faced. Things such as providing service,
having integrity and being competent in our area of focus.
COMPETENCY 1.2
Use reflection and self-regulation to manage personal
values and maintain professionalism in practice situations.

Using reflection and self-regulation to keep a hold on our own

personal values and beliefs will keep conflict and confusion
down with clients
COMPETENCY 1.3
Demonstrate professional
demeanor in behavior;
appearance; and oral,
written, and electronic
communication

Maintaining professionalism in the social service setting by

adhearing to the dress code policy and speak in a way of
showing professionalism by what we put on social media and
our actions
COMPETENCY 1.4

Use Technology ethically and appropriately to

facilitate practice outcomes

Only use the technology given by the agency in a confidential

way to keep files and records sealed and out of public view.
 Competency 1.5
USE SUPERVISION AND CONSULTATION TO GUIDE
PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT AND BEHAVIOR

If in doubt ask someone in

supervisory positions to help make
the right decision
COMPETENCY 2
Engage Diversity and Difference
in Practice
COMPETENCY 2.1

Apply and communicate understanding of the importance of diversity and difference in

shaping life experiences in practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels

Working in the social service field, having that knowledge of

diversity and understanding that every culture works differently from
your own can help guide workers in a way that they can help the
client
COMPETENCY 2.2
Present themselves as learners and engage
clients and constituencies as experts of their own
experiences

As a social service worker we are learning what the

client needs and wants. We have to listen to them and
understand that they know what they need.
COMPETENCY 2.3
Apply self-awareness and self-regulation to
manage the influence of personal biases and
values in working with diverse clients and
constituencies
Understand that every client will be of a different
environment and or culture. Keep personal feelings and
biases out of the equation. Staying objective in situations will
keep things running smoothly.
 Advance Human
Rights and Social,
COMPETENCY 3 Economic, and
Environmental Justice
 COMPETENCY 3.1

Apply understanding of social and economic, and environmental

justice to advocate for human rights at the individual and system
levels

Understand what policies are in place to help advocate for clients.

So that their rights are distributed to them equally. Workers have
to protect the rights of their clients.
Preventing discrimination
COMPETENCY 3.2

Engage in practices that advance social, economic and environmental

justice

Social workers understand strategies to promote

social and economic justice as well as human rights
 Engage in Practice-
COMPETENCY 4 Informed Research
and Research-
Informed Practice
COMPETENCY 4.1

Use practice experience and theory to inform scientific inquiry and research

Social Workers are faced with many challenges and dilemmas. To inform
team members of wanting to make a change within the agency, he or she
will research different theories to help explain why a change needs to
happen
COMPETENCY 4.2

Apply critical thinking to engage in analysis of quantitative an

qualitative research methods and research findings

Some methods and theories are not measurable in findings. As a

social worker, we have to find what will work and what will not
work within the communities that we are working for. This will help
with finding different approaches and or techniques.
COMPETENCY 4.3

Use and translate research evidence to inform and improve practice, policy, and
service delivery

Social workers will use evidence to strengthen an argument when trying to

implement a new service or intervention
COMPETENCY 5 Engage in Policy
Practice
COMPETENCY 5.1

Identify social policy at the local, state, and

federal level that impacts well being, service
delivery, and access to social services

Social workers should actively engage in

finding different policies on every level to help
the particular population that needs service (i.e.
see if the client qualifies for welfare services
such as food stamps or Medicaid)
COMPETENCY 5.2

Assess how social welfare and economic policies impact the

delivery of and access to social services

Social Workers should find out if their agencies have

certain policies in place that may keep them from getting the
serices that he or she may need (i.e. income and assets)
COMPETENCY 5.3
Apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and
advocate for policies that advance human rights and
social, economic, and environmental justice

Social workers considers the impact of agency policies

and regulations, they also join in with other social
workers to help make changes or get through loop holes
within the agency or local/state government to help client
get what they need
 Engage with individuals, Families,
Groups, Organizations, and
COMPETENCY 6 Communities
COMPETENCY 6.1
Apply Knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-
environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks to engage with
clients and constituencies

All social workers should be well aware of the environments that their clients are in. With the
person-in-environment, a clients behavior is what type of environment he or she was/is in. For
example: It may be unusual for a parent to not allow a child to play outside because of outside
danger they live in a safe community and is not afraid of outside influences. Versus a parent who
lives in a overly dangerous neighborhood and will not allow their child to go outside and play
without the danger of being shot and or hurt physically. Be aware if the environment and assess
accordingly
COMPETENCY 6.2
Use empathy, reflection, and interpersonal skills to effectively
engage diverse clients and constituencies

When engaging with clients social workers should let the client
know that they are here to help them and that they are listening
to them. To show a client you are concerned about their present
issues use reflection and sometimes rephrase their statements to
let them know you are listening and understand what they are
saying.
 Assess Individuals, Families,
Groups, Organizations, and
COMPETENCY 7 Communities
COMPETENCY 7.1
Collect and organize data, and apply critical thinking to interpret
information from clients and constituencies.

Social workers have to keep a record of everything that has been

done during their day. The information that is given to the worker
they have to critically think of the cleints strenghts and
needs. Collecting the information needed, organizing it and then
apply that new information to help the client get what they need.
COMPETENCY 7.2
Apply Knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and
other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks to engage with clients and constituencies

All social workers should be well aware of the environments that their clients are in. With the
person-in-environment, a clients behavior is what type of environment he or she was/is in. For
example: It may be unusual for a parent to not allow a child to play outside because of outside
danger they live in a safe community and is not afraid of outside influences. Versus a parent who
lives in a overly dangerous neighborhood and will not allow their child to go outside and play
without the danger of being shot and or hurt physically. Be aware if the environment and assess
accordingly
COMPETENCY 7.3
Develop mutually agreed-on intervention goals and objectives based on the
critical assessment of strengths, needs, and challenges within clients and
constituencies

Allow the client to help come up with the goals that they think will benefit
from. For example if a client has issues with parenting, both the social worker
and client will agree to have parenting classes put in place to give them the skills
they will need for effective parenting.
COMPETENCY 7.4
Select appropriate intervention strategies based on the
assessment, research knowledge, and values and preference
of clients and cosntituencies.

Social workers should only use the intervention methods that

will help the client solve their current issues and problems
 Intervene with Individuals,
Families, Groups, Organizations,
COMPETENCY 8 and Communities
COMPETENCY 8.1
Critically choose and implement interventions to
achieve practice goals and enhance capacities of
clients and constituencies

Social workers should only give interventions based

on clients strengths and needs. This is to give them
the ability to solve the issues holding them back
from being productive in society
COMPETENCY 8.2
Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment,
and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in interventions with clients and
constituencies

Social workers should be informed/ familiar of the clients environment and

culture. Address each issue and assess each goal with the client according to their
lifestyle/culture.
COMPETENCY 8.3
Use inter-professional collaboration as appropriate to
achieve beneficial practice outcomes

When a social worker is in doubt and cannot come up

with a goal for their client, he or she should utilize
other employees and supervisors to help determine the
right outcome for that client.
COMPETENCY 8.4
Negotiate, mediate, and advocate with and on behalf of
diverse clients and constituencies

Social workers have to go beyond the agency to achieve

what's best for their client. They may have to challenge the
agency policy or challenge the court system to advocate for
the client.
COMPETENCY 8.5
Facilitate effective transitions and endings that advance mutually agreed-on
goals

Inform clients of case closings that way they will not be out of the loop. Both
the social worker and client should be in agreeance on goal settings and
outcomes
 Evaluate Practice with
Individuals, Families, Groups,
COMPETENCY 9 Organizations, and Communities
COMPETENCY 9.1
Select and use appropriate methods for evaluation of outcomes.

Social workers are given tool screenings for the clients they come in
contact with. Each screening tools has different age levels
appropriate for evaluation and needs of clients.
COMPETENCY 9.2
Apply Knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-
environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the evaluation
of outcomes

Social workers should be informed/ familiar of the clients environment and

culture. Address each issue and assess each goal with the client according to their
lifestyle/culture, then the social worker can form the evaluation. After the
evaluation is addressed then giving appropriate mutually agreed on goals for the
client.
COMPETENCY 9.3
Critically analyze, monitor, and evaluate intervention and program
processes and outcomes

When a client is referred to a case manager, that social worker has to

monitor the client to make sure they are utilizing the resources and
goals set for them to achieve success
COMPETENCY 9.4
Apply evaluation findings to improve practice effectiveness at the
micro, mezzo, and macro levels

Social workers policies often change with time. Any change in

findings and if there is a better way to effectively/easily help clients,
workers should implement these changes to their supervisors, CEOs,
and even at the court levels.
THANKS!