CSWE Competencies
Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
- 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
- Use reflection and self-regulation to manage personal values and maintain professionalism in practice situations
- Demonstrate professional demeanor in behavior; appearance; and oral, written, and electronic communication
- Use technology ethically and appropriately to facilitate practice outcomes
- Use supervision and consultation to guide professional judgment and behavior
Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
- Apply and communicate understanding of the importance of diversity and difference in shaping life experiences in practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels
- Present themselves as learners and engage clients and constituencies as experts of their own experiences
- Apply self-awareness and self-regulation to manage the influence of personal biases and values in working with diverse clients and constituencies
Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
- Apply their understanding of social, economic, and environmental justice to advocate for human rights at the individual and system levels
- Engage in practice that advance social, economic, and environmental justice
Competency 4: Engage in Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
- Use practice experience and theory to inform scientific inquiry and research
- Apply critical thinking to engage in analysis of quantitative research methods and research findings
- Use and translate research evidence to inform and improve practice, policy, service delivery
Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice
- Identify social policy at the local, state, and federal level that impacts well-being, service delivery, and access to social services
- Assess how social welfare and economic policies impact the delivery of and access to social services
- Apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance human right and social, economic, and environmental justice
Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
- Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks to engage with clients and constituencies
- Use empathy, reflection, and interpersonal skills to effectively engage diverse clients and constituencies
Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
- Collect and organize data, and apply critical thinking to interpret information from clients and constituencies
- Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the analysis of assessment data from clients and constituencies
- Develop mutually agreed-on intervention goals and objectives based on the critical assessment of strengths, needs, and challenges within clients and constituencies
- Select appropriate intervention strategies based on the assessment, research knowledge, and values and preferences of clients and constituencies
Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
- Critically choose and implement interventions to achieve practice goals and enhance capacities of clients and constituencies
- Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in interventions with clients ad constituencies
- Use inter-personal collaboration as appropriate to achieve beneficial practice outcomes
- Negotiate, mediate, and advocate with and on behalf of diverse clients and constituencies
- Facilitate effective transitions and endings that advance mutually agreed-on goals
Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
- Select and use appropriate methods for evaluation of outcomes
- Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the evaluation of outcomes
- Critically analyze, monitor, and evaluate intervention and program processes and outcomes
- Apply evaluation findings to improve practice effectiveness at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels
MSW EPAS Competencies
Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
- 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
- Use reflection and self-regulation to manage personal values and maintain professionalism in practice solutions
- Demonstrate professional demeanor in behavior, appearance, and oral, written, and electronic communication
- Use technology ethically and appropriately to facilitate practice outcomes
- Use supervision and consultation to guide professional judgment and behavior
- Practice person reflection and self-correction to assure continual professional development
- Evidences professional discipline and maturity
- Develops, manages, and maintains therapeutic relationships within the person-in-environment perspective
- Is knowledgeable and abides by laws relevant to clinical social work
Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
- Apply and communicate understanding of the importance of diversity and difference in shaping life experiences in practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels
- Present themselves as a learner and engage clients and constituencies as experts of their own experiences
- Apply self-awareness and self-regulation to manage the influence of your personal biases and values in working with diverse clients and constituencies
- Evidences an educated understanding of human behavior, and has specialized knowledge of populations and issues served by the field agency
- Treats diverse clients with dignity and respect
Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
- Apply your understanding of social, economic, and environmental justice to advocate for human rights at the individual and system levels
- Engage in practices that advance social, economic, and environmental justice
- Recognizes that client has basic human rights, such as self-determination, safety, privacy, adequate standard of living, health care and education
- Advocates for universal assess to health and mental health care
Competency 4: Engage in Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice
- Use practice experience and theory to inform scientific inquiry and research
- Apply critical thinking to engage in analysis of quantitative and qualitative research methods and research findings
- Use and translate research evidence to inform and improve practice effectiveness and/or outcomes
- Use the evidence based practice process in clinical assessment and intervention with clients
Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice
- Identify social policy at the local, state, and federal level that impacts well-being, service delivery, and access to social services
- Assess how social welfare and economic policies impact the delivery of and access to social services
- apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice
- Communicate to stakeholders the implication of policies and policy change in the lives of clients
- Use evidence-based practice and practice-based evidence in advocacy for policies that advance social and economic well-being
- Advocate with and inform administrators and legislators to influence policies that impact clients and service
Competency 6: Engage with Individuals, Families, Organizations, and Communities
- Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social experiment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks to engage with clients and constituencies
- Use empathy, reflection, and interpersonal skills to effectively engage diverse clients and constituencies
- Develop a culturally responsive therapeutic relationship
- Establish a relationally based process that encourages clients to be equal participants in the establishment of treatment goals and expected outcomes
Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
- Collect and organize data, and apply critical thinking to interpret information from clients and constituencies
- Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the analysis of assessment data from clients and constituencies
- Develop mutually agreed-on intervention goals and objectives based on the critical assessment of strengths, needs, and challenges within clients and constituencies
- Select appropriate intervention strategies based on the assessment, research knowledge, and values and preferences of clients and constituencies
- Use multidimensional bio-psych-social-spiritual assessment tools
- Select and modify appropriate intervention strategies based on continuous clinical assessment
Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
- Critically choose and implement interventions to achieve practice goals and enhance capacities of clients and constituencies
- Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in interventions with clients and constituencies
- Use inter-professional collaboration as appropriate to achieve beneficial practice outcomes
- Negotiate, mediate, and advocate with and on behalf of diverse clients and constituencies
- Facilitate effective transitions and endings that advance mutually agreed-on goals
- Demonstrates the selection and clinical application of academic theoretical material in work with clients congruent with their needs
- Demonstrates ability to creatively problem solve
- Demonstrates ability to formulate alternative treatment options
- Completes written reports that are well organized, clear, and comprehensive, yet concise
Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
- Select and use appropriate methods for evaluation of outcomes
- Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and the other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the evaluation of outcomes
- Critically analyze, monitor, and evaluate intervention and program processes and outcomes
- Apply evaluation findings to improve practice effectiveness at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels
- Uses research methodology to evaluate clinical practice effectiveness and outcomes
- Uses research findings to improve practice, policy, and social service delivery