The Creating Values and Core Competencies of Professional Social Workers

Abstract

The objective of research on “Value and Core Competencies of Professional Social Workers in Government Agencies” is twofold: to study the value and essential core competencies of professional social workers in the government agencies, and to find out the Increase of core competency guidelines of professional social workers. The mixed methods were composed of quantitative to survey 1,250 samples in 11 government agencies, and in-depth interview 15 professional social workers for qualitative research.  

The study was revealed the most important value of a professional social worker is human dignity, the top five core competencies of professional social work include 1) Cautiously in fact-finding, 2) Knowing the updated situation including logically in thinking/analysis, 3) Evaluation of the clients' condition, family, risk, and violation that might be happening to clients, 4) Holistic view and able to integrate problems that related to a holistic approach, 5) Understanding of a variety of social and cultural of clients. Guideline for creating the core competency is capacity building on systematical of data collection of casework, increasing competency to develop data-based online, developing digital data which is the role of educational institution that teaches the social work profession to improve the necessary courses of society towards the social work profession.

Recommendations to the Office of the Civil Service Commission (OCSC) should pay more attention to the social work profession, supporting social workers to receive professional compensation. Council of Social Work Professions, Association of Social Workers, and the Thai Association of Social Work and Social Welfare Education should integrate cooperation to develop professional competence in practice on knowledge about the situation analytical/rational thinking ability, worthwhile resource management, transparency, teamwork. synthesis of knowledge from research for use at each level including developing a public policy. The educational institutions should improve their teaching and learning curriculum by focusing on practical training, increasing the duration of skill training.