The CSWE began emphasizing a competency-based education in 2008. The 2015 EPAS include nine overall standards that are described below, . Each standard has learning outcomes, which are expressed as a set of practice behaviors that social workers should demonstrate in ongoing professional practice.
As expressed by CSWE (2015) Competency-based education rests upon a shared view of the nature of competence in professional practice. Social work competence is the ability to integrate and apply social work knowledge, values, and skills to practice situations in a purposeful, intentional, and professional manner to promote human and community well-being. EPAS recognizes a holistic view of competence; that is, the demonstration of competence is informed by knowledge, values, skills, and cognitive and affective processes that include the social worker's critical thinking, affective reactions, and exercise of judgment in regard to unique practice situations. Overall professional competence is multi-dimensional and composed of interrelated competencies. An individual social worker's competence is seen as developmental and dynamic, changing over time in relation to continuous learning (p. 6).
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- 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.
6: Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Social workers understand that engagement is an ongoing component of the dynamic and interactive process of social work practice with, and on behalf of, diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers value the importance of human relationships. Social workers understand theories of human behavior and the social environment, and critically evaluate and apply this knowledge to facilitate engagement with clients and constituencies, including individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers understand strategies to engage diverse clients and constituencies to advance practice effectiveness. Social workers understand how their personal experiences and affective reactions may impact their ability to effectively engage with diverse clients and constituencies. Social workers value principles of relationship-building and inter-professional collaboration to facilitate engagement with clients, constituencies, and other professionals as appropriate.
Social work practice skills:
a. Apply knowledge of Human Behavior Social Environment (HBSE), person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks to engage with clients and constituencies.
b. Use empathy, reflection and interpersonal skills to effectively engage diverse clients and constituencies.
7: Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities
Social workers understand that assessment is an ongoing component of the dynamic and interactive process of social work practice with, and on behalf of, diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers understand theories of human behavior and the social environment, and critically evaluate and apply this knowledge in the assessment of diverse clients and constituencies, including individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers understand methods of assessment with diverse clients and constituencies to advance practice effectiveness. Social workers recognize the implications of the larger practice context in the assessment process and value the importance of interprofessional collaboration in this process. Social workers understand how their personal experiences and affective reactions may affect their assessment and decision-making.
Social work practice skills:
a. Collect and organize data, and apply critical thinking to interpret information from clients and constituencies
b. 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
c. Develop mutually agreed-on intervention goals and objectives based on the critical assessment of strengths, needs, and challenges within clients and constituencies
d. Select appropriate intervention strategies based on the assessment, research knowledge, and values and preferences of clients and constituencies.
8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities.
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Social workers understand that evaluation is an ongoing component of the dynamic and interactive process of social work practice with, and on behalf of, diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. Social workers recognize the importance of evaluating processes and outcomes to advance practice, policy, and service delivery effectiveness. Social workers understand theories of human behavior and the social environment, and critically evaluate and apply this knowledge in evaluating outcomes. Social workers understand qualitative and quantitative methods for evaluating outcomes and practice effectiveness.
Social work practice skills:
a. Select and use appropriate methods for evaluation of outcomes
b. Apply knowledge of Human Behavior Social Environment (HBSE), person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the evaluation of outcomes
c. Critically analyze, monitor, and evaluate intervention and program processes and outcomes
d. Apply evaluation findings to improve practice effectiveness at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels