Introduction to the Professional Competency Framework in Social Work

Abstract

In past two decades, there has been growing interest to define social work profession within the framework of professional competencies. Professional competencies are considered in their complexity as a triangle of knowledge, skills, and values. Professional competencies are not solely a tool for education and practice but also are important for professional socialization and professional identity. Competency-based approach has been used to define standards and expectations for social workers–practitioners, it is an evaluation tool for formal education programs and lifelong learning programs, it provides guidance for field practice and field placements for social work students and it could be a frame for distinguishing levels of professional expertise. This chapter aims to explain professional competence framework through several basic arguments. First, we will elaborate the concept of “competence” and knowledge-skills-values triangle in social work. We will also elaborate different traditions in considering professional competencies. Moreover, we will map heuristic potential of competency-based approach, including its implications for social work research, for formal education and field practice in social work, for lifelong learning program and professional career development.