CORE COMPETENCIES 6-10

PRESENTATION
By: Hillary Shore

COMPETENCY SIX

Engage in research-informed practice

and practice-informed research.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 6.1

Use practice experience to inform scientific inquiry.
Example: If a social worker goes out in the field and notices a
reoccurring pattern of clients who are suffering from drug abuse on
the same substance then they can do research on that substance. By
reading articles they can enhance their knowledge of the particular
substance, learn its effects and how one should take steps to get
clean. Most of the research I have done has been on domestic
violence against men because that topic is my agency project.
However, some of the social workers brought the problem to my
attention from their practice experiences and I am researching the
problem to make individuals more aware of this issue.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 6.2

Use research evidence to inform practice.

Example: Attending different types of social work related
trainings is a great way to let research build ones practice.
One of the trainings I attended was the Darkness to Light
training which is focused on children who have had to face
sexual abuse and the seven steps to protect children. I also
attended the Child Abuse and Neglect Training which is
focused on making individuals aware on what is considered
abuse and neglect and the precautions that should be taken. I
can now use what I learned in these trainings to enhance my
practice while out in the field.

COMPETENCY SEVEN

Apply knowledge of human behavior

and the social environment.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 7.1

Utilize conceptual frameworks to guide the processes of
assessment, intervention, and evaluation.
Example: Social workers should have the ability and knowledge to
use different frameworks to help improve practice. I have learned
how to use two different types of assessment tools at my internship
which were a Family Risk Assessment and a Family Assessment of
Strengths and Needs. In addition, Family Systems Theory helps one
to determine how a family is progressing and where they stand
within their family structure and within society. Also, Eriksons
Psychosocial Theory is one of my favorites because the stages are
mapped out over ones course of life making it very easy to use in
practice.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 7.2

Critique and apply knowledge to understand person and
environment.
Example: When I attend court sessions I get the opportunity to
observe all the individuals whether it is clients, family members,
friends, attorneys, social workers, and even the judge and I
observe their behaviors in a social environment where emotions
are escalated due to the situations that occurred. In addition, I get
to observe the behaviors of individuals in their home while out in
the field doing home visits with a CPS worker. When observing
their reactions to particular circumstances or statements I try to
determine why I think they are acting a particular way.

COMPETENCY EIGHT

Engage in policy practice to advance

social and economic well-being and to
deliver effective social work services.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 8.1

Analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance
social well-being.
Example: I had the opportunity to participate in the community
Palmer Prevention Event where they were advocating to
improve Robeson County. While at the event different speakers
discussed how substance abuse was affecting this community
as a whole and especially the youth. Along with what the
community could do to help prevent further problems with
substance and alcohol abuse.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 8.2

Collaborate with colleagues and clients for effective policy
action.
Example: I had a conversation with Carla Bass a Daycare
Social Worker at DSS and we discussed the Child Care Subsidy
Program and how legislation makes Smart Start provide 30
percent of their funds to the Subsidy program. We also talked
about how they receive their money and how they use the funds
to help families in Robeson County.

COMPETENCY NINE

Respond to contexts that shape

practice.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 9.1

Continuously discover, appraise, and attend to changing
locales, populations, scientific and technological developments,
and emerging societal trends to provide relevant services.
Example: I had the opportunity to help assist with an event at a
Head Start facility in Maxton where we displayed a table
presentation on child abuse and neglect. Along with having
many informational brochures for parents. I also participated in
two DSS trainings which were the Child Abuse and Neglect
Training and the Darkness to Light Sexual Abuse Training.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 9.2

Provide leadership in promoting sustainable changes in service
delivery and practice to improve the quality of social services.

Example: For my Agency Project I created a brochure for men

victims of domestic violence to use as a tool to help provide
them with valuable information on how to determine if they are
in a domestic violence situation and what steps they can take to
get out. By providing DSS with a tool for male victims it will
help the employees by having a source of information to give
the victims instead of not knowing how to go about helping
these men.

COMPETENCY TEN

Engage, assess, intervene, and

evaluate with individuals, families,
groups, organizations, and
communities.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 10.1

Substantively and affectively prepare for action with

individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Example: When completing this behavior I try to seek feedback
from a social worker about ways to build professional
relationships and trust with a particular client population. This
helped when I went to a Head Start Event in Maxton. Before
the event started I helped the social worker prepare her
presentation which was mainly based on providing information
to individuals and families about parenting and abuse and
neglect.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 10.2

Use empathy and other interpersonal skills.

Example: Social workers have to have proficient social and
personal skills to be able to work sufficiently with clients. They
have to have compassion and be understanding towards clients
especially children. Sometimes it is hard for clients to open up
to social workers because they might be ashamed of what they
have done. On the other hand, they could have the belief that
there is no need for social workers to be involved in their lives.
However, social workers need to use effective social work
skills no matter how the client is acting because we have to do
what is best for the client which is to support them.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 10.3

Develop a mutually agreed-on focus of work.

Example: Social workers have to have the ability to work
with others in order to solve client conflicts. In the
Multidisciplinary Team Meetings (MDT) that I observe all
different types of professionals come together in a room to
talk and discuss cases and try to agree on what should be the
necessary steps taken for each of the clients in the case. This
way they can all give their professional input to help clients
in the best way they see fit to do so.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 10.4

Collect, organize, and interpret client data.

Example: Before meeting with clients social workers have to
get all of the clients information together by doing this they
are collecting and organizing their information; however,
after the meeting they have the opportunity to interpret the
clients data and what new information was found during the
meeting. Additionally, the case managers have to get their
client information together and interpret the information to
the individuals that are sitting in on the meeting.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 10.5

Assess client strengths and limitations.

Example: Social workers try to build on clients strengths
and help them overcome their limitations by putting services
in place. When going out on home visits with a social
worker I have noticed that they will reiterate what the clients
strengths are and what they are doing correct but the worker
will also tell them what they need to work on in order to get
their case closed. Additionally, I have completed a Family
Assessment of Strengths and Needs while interning at DSS
which has helped me to determine what would be a strength
and a need in similar cases.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 10.6

Develop mutually agreed-on intervention goals and

objectives.
Example: During a Child and Family Team Meeting the Case
Worker and the client agree on specific goals and
interventions that need to be put into place so that the client
can get their case with DSS closed. Usually the social worker
lets the client know what the services needed are; however,
they give them a chance to say if they have any other goals
they would like to accomplish. Then the client has the choice
whether or not they sign the Case Plan and comply with it.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 10.7

Select appropriate intervention strategies.

Example: This behavior relates a lot to behavior 10.6 because
when social workers and clients complete a Family Service Case
Plan they are discussing specific goals and how these
interventions will work within the clients lives. DSS usually
refers the client to a specific provider but all the client has to do is
complete the service or program. However, the case workers
usually know what the interventions are before going to the CFT
meetings because they have discussed the case with their
supervisor.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 10.8

Initiate actions to achieve organizational goals.

Example: I created a brochure for male victims of

domestic violence for my agency project with the hope
of providing the agency with a great source of
information for men that they can continue to use even
after I finish my internship.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 10.9

Implement prevention interventions that enhance

client capacities.
Example: When attending Child and Family Team
Meetings I get to observe Family Service Case Plans
being developed and interventions that are being put
into place which will in turn help enhance a clients
ability to change.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 10.10

Help clients resolve problems.

Example: During the Child and Family Team Meetings
I get to observe all the interactions that are displayed;
along with getting to witness the social worker trying
to help the clients achieve their goals by offering them
transportation if they need it along with other services.
However, I try to empathize and use appropriate
interpersonal skills with clients when it is necessary.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 10.11

Negotiate, mediate, and advocate for clients.

Example: During the Child and Family Team meetings a
worker from the Child Advocacy unit will facilitate these
meetings and their job is to negotiate, mediate, and
advocate for the client. They are also there to make sure
everything goes along smoothly and that the client
understands everything that has been said. Still, the clients
social worker will identify the clients needs and help
connect them with the community resources that will help
assist them and their progress.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 10.12

Facilitate transitions and endings.

Example: I attended a closing Child and Family Team
Meeting that took place at the clients home. During the
meeting I had the opportunity to observe how the case
workers close a case. They just discussed all the
progress the mother had made and told her to stay on the
right track. Also, they told her she has been a great
client and was really focused and compliant with
everything they had asked her to do. At the end they had
her to sign a form saying she understood everything and
her case closed.

PRACTICE BEHAVIOR 10.13

Social workers critically analyze, monitor, and evaluate

interventions.
Example: Before completing my case presentation
interview I reviewed all of the information and forms that
were in the clients file. Along with the help of Ms. Marilyn
we determined that no progress has been made toward the
Family Services Case Plan that was agreed upon with the
mother. I also evaluated the assessments that I completed
on this client and discussed them with Ms. Marilyn who is
her Case Management Social Worker.