Social Work Professional Competency Framework (General)

(Tripartite, three-tier eight domains and 47 aspects) (HKASW, 2023)

1.1 Emphasize Humanity

• Honor autonomy
• Respect for inherent worth, uniqueness and dignity
• Embrace diversity
• Believe in potential to change

1.2  Promote Justice

• Promote social justice
• Promote economic justice
• Promote environmental justice
• Facilitate social inclusion

1.3  Demonstrate Commitment

• Enhance human well-being
• Improve global well-being
• Develop quality service
• Develop and advocate for policy change
• Build healthy human relationships

1.4 Adhere to Professional Ethics

• Practice with the social work professional code of ethics
• Make ethical decisions in the social work process
• Uphold professional integrity
• Protect service users’ right

2.1 Demonstrate Knowledge and its Application

• Use knowledge-based assessment
• Use of theories in planning and intervention
• Apply diverse theories to work with service users with special needs
• Understand legal requirements relevant to social work practice
• Know the availability of community resources
• Possess up-to-date professional knowledge
• Sustain understanding of socio-economic political conditions of the society
• Understand and apply knowledge of research
• Maintain professionalism
• Apply a strength-based perspective

2.2 Demonstrate Skills

• Engage service users with effective interpersonal and dynamics skills
• Conduct assessment systematically and accurately
• Demonstrate advocacy skills
• Carry out knowledge-informed or evidence-based practice
• Offer culturally sensitive practice for local communities
• Implement critical evaluation of intervention
• Engage in reflective practice to advance professional performance
• Manage crisis and the unexpected
• Proficient at task, time, administrative and people management
• Utilize proper information technology
• Promote community participation
• Maintain physical, psychological, emotional and social well-being to deliver best practice
• Demonstrate appropriate use of self in practice

3.1 Generate Societal Impact

• Build social capital
• Advocate for policy change
• Develop innovative interventions
• Promote human equity and global justice

3.2 Exert Professional Impact

• Contribute professional expertise in inter-disciplinary collaboration
• Expand new knowledge to advance professional practice
• Conduct knowledge transfer