Skills of the Social Work Professional

Presenter Carolene Fraser

Jamaica W.I.

Introduction

social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people often requiring a practitioner to wear many hats on any given day: adviser, therapist, caretaker, administrator, clinician and many others.

SkillsSkills of the Social Work of the Social Work ProfessionalProfessional

According to USC University of Southern According to USC University of Southern California Staff (2011) & Joshua John (2012)California Staff (2011) & Joshua John (2012)

Empathy

Empathy is the ability to identify with or vicariously experience another person’s situation. Empathizing is both an intellectual and emotional process that makes it far easier to understand and help others solve their problems. Most social workers are empathetic by nature; in fact, empathy is a major reason people enter the profession.

Self-Awareness

Social workers routinely receive feedback on their performance from clients, supervisors and other sources, but there is no substitute for self-awareness. Being able to evaluate one’s own performance and work toward improving it (while also taking valid criticism and praise into account) is an invaluable skill.

Boundary Setting

In addition to being empathetic, a social worker must also maintain the capacity to set boundaries and accept the limits of what can be accomplished during a specified period of time. The nature of the profession can be all consuming, especially for those who sense their work is never truly complete. Establishing boundaries and setting milestones can help set expectations that are more easily accepted.

Active Listening

The ability to listen carefully, ask pertinent questions and retain verbally transmitted information is vital to the counseling aspect of social work. It’s how we establish trust, open doors and discover valuable details about the individuals who seek our help in understanding their unique circumstances.

Social Perceptiveness

In addition to receiving and processing verbal information, a social worker must be sensitive to body language, social cues, implications and cultural patterns of behavior. While some clients may clearly state their needs and work toward solutions in a focused manner,

Social perceptiveness Cont'd

many others will find it more challenging to express themselves verbally, requiring a perceptive social worker to “read between the lines” in order to interpret the thoughts and feelings being held within.

Critical Thinking

How a social worker interprets data obtained not only through observation, interviews, and case file/document review but also clinical supervision, research, and consultation influences the client’s assessment, diagnosis, treatment, evaluation, and termination.

Critical Thinking Cont'd

Critical thinking asks the social worker to consider how his motivations, assumptions, expectations, and biases (self-awareness) shape the lens through which he analyzes and draws conclusions from the available data.

Written And Verbal Communication

“If it isn’t documented, it never happened” is one of the first lessons learned in almost any social work employment, particularly if programs are accountable to public or private funders. Micro-level practitioners gain legitimacy with their supervisors and colleagues by writing clear and concise progress notes, correspondence, and reports.

Written And Verbal Communication Cont'd

Verbal communication involves actively listening to understand and speaking to be understood by your audience. As a result, a social worker may alter her communication style multiple times during a single workday to maximize her effectiveness with clients, colleagues, supervisors, or community members.

Conclusion

The skills of the social work professional are endless due to the diversity of our society.Social Worker are called to fulfilled many roles which see the Social Worker as a generalist practitioner trying to meet the need of all who seeks their help.

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