Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Professional Competencies for Social Change

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Social Work in the Frame of a Professional Competencies Approach

Part of the book series: European Social Work Education and Practice ((ESWEP))

  • 185 Accesses

Abstract

Social work practice is not solely defined through direct social work practice with service users. Social work is theoretically imagined as an agent of social change, and one may say that this is dominant theoretical or even academic position, but that is not that visible in direct practice. However, the dominant social work literature and professional community agrees that social work mission is about contributing to positive social change. Groups of competencies that contribute to social change are: (a) critical structural analysis that takes into account societal, ecological, economic, political influences that make impact on social inequalities and human right; (b) cross-cultural competencies and respect for diversity, (c) critical approach, social justice, and human rights; and (d) community and macro practice. Later we will specifically address competencies for environmental practice as an emerging field of social work practice.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abrams, L. S., & Moio, J. A. (2009). Critical race theory and the cultural competence dilemma in social work education. Journal of Social Work Education, 45(2), 245–261. https://doi.org/10.5175/JSWE.2009.200700109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allan, K. D. (2006). Confict and critical theories. Corwin. A Sage Publishing company. https://us.corwin.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/13636_Chapter7.pdf. Accessed 28 Jan 2021.

  • Australian Association of Social Workers. (2008). Practice standards for mental health social workers. AASW.

    Google Scholar 

  • Australian Association of Social Workers. (2014). Practice standards for mental health social workers. AASW.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ayón, C., & Becerra, D. (2013). Mexican immigrant families under siege: The impact of anti-immigrant policies, discrimination, and the economic crisis. Advances in Social Work, 14(1), 206–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Azulai, A. (2014). Ageism and future cohorts of elderly: Implications for social work. Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics, 11(2), 2–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Besthorn, F. H. (2015). Ecological social work: Shifting paradigms in environmental practice. In J. D. Wright (Ed.), International encyclopedia of the social & behavioral sciences (pp. 871–877). Elsevier. ISBN: 9780080970868.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Boone, K., Roets, G., & Roose, R. (2018). Social work, poverty and anti-poverty strategies: Creating cultural forums. The British Journal of Social Work, 48(8), 2381–2399. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcy006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boone, K., Roets, G., & Roose, R. (2019). Social work, participation, and poverty. Journal of Social Work, 19(3), 309–326. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468017318760789

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • British Association of Social Workers (2013). The professional capabilities framework. https://www.basw.co.uk/pcf/PCF10EntryLevelCapabilities.pdf. Accessed 18 Apr 2018.

  • British Association of Social Workers, The Policy, Ethics and Human Rights Committee. (2014). The code of ethics for social work. BASW.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chau, K. L. (1990). Social work with ethnic minorities: Practice issues and potentials. Journal of Multicultural Social Work, 1(1), 23–40. https://doi.org/10.1300/J285v01n01_03

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coates, J., & Gray, M. (2019). How green is social work? Towards an ecocentric turn in social work. In M. Payne & E. ReithHal (Eds.), Routledge handbook of social work theory (pp. 171–180). Routledge International Handbooks.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Crisp, C., & McCave, E. L. (2007). Gay affirmative practice: A model for social work practice with gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 24(4), 403–421. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-007-0091-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Danso, R. (2015). An integrated framework of critical cultural competence and anti-oppressive practice for social justice social work research. Qualitative social work, 14(4), 572–588. https://doi.org/10.1177/1473325014558664

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dominelli, L., & Campling, J. (2002). Introducing anti-oppressive theories for practice. In J. Campling (Ed.), Anti-oppressive social work theory and practice (pp. 7–36). Palgrave. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4039-1400-2_2

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Fish, J. (2009). Invisible no more? Including lesbian, gay and bisexual people in social work and social care. Practice: Social Work in Action, 21(1), 47–64. https://doi.org/10.1080/09503150902746003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Furness, S., & Gilligan, P. (2010). Social work, religion and belief: Developing a framework for practice. British Journal of Social Work, 40(7), 2185–2202. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcp159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Healy, K. (2000). Social work practices: Contemporary perspectives on change. SAGE.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, P., & Thomas, D. N. (2013). Skills in neighbourhood work. Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ife, J. (2012). Human rights and social work: Towards rights-based practice. Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Irfan, F. (2021). Neo-colonial philanthropy in the UK. International Journal of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Marketing, e1726. https://doi.org/10.1002/nvsm.1726

  • Jack, G., & Gill, O. (2013). Developing cultural competence for social work with families living in poverty. European Journal of Social Work, 16(2), 220–234. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691457.2011.649347

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knežević, M., Miljenović, A., & Branica, V. (2013). Teorija socijalnog rada (Theory of social work). Biblioteka socijalnog rada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohli, H., Huber, R., & Faul, A. (2010). Historical and theoretical development of culturally competent social work practice. Journal of Teaching in Social Work, 30(3), 252–271. https://doi.org/10.1080/08841233.2010.499091

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krumer-Nevo, M. (2016). Poverty-aware social work: A paradigm for social work practice with people in poverty. British Journal of Social Work, 46(6), 1793–1808. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcv118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Littlechiled, B. (2012). Values and cultural issues in social work. ERIS Web Journal, 5(1), 62–76. UUID: 04102364-fe67-48f5-8778-72172cec09a1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthies, A.-L. (2017). The conceptualisation of ecosocial transition. In A.-L. Matthies & K. Närhi (Eds.), The ecosocial transition of societies: The contribution of social work and social policy (pp. 17–35). Routledge. Routledge Advances in Social Work.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCave, E., Shepard, B., & Winter, V. R. (2014). Human sexuality as a critical subfield in social work. Advances in Social Work, 15(2), 409–427.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLeod, A. (2006). Respect or empowerment? Alternative understandings of ‘Listening’in childcare social work. Adoption & Fostering, 30(4), 43–52. https://doi.org/10.1177/030857590603000407

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morrow, D. F. (2004). Social work practice with gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender adolescents. Families in Society, 85(1), 91–99. https://doi.org/10.1606/1044-3894.246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morrow, D. F. (2006). Sexual orientation and gender identity expression. In D. F. Morrow & L. Messinger (Eds.), Sexual orientation and gender expression in social work practice: Working with gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people (pp. 3–17). Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mullaly, R. P. (2007). The new structural social work. Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Association of Social Workers. (2015). Standards and indicators for cultural competence ins social work practice. NASW.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Association of Social Workers. (2016). NASW standards for social work practice in health care settings. NASW.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, T. D. (2011). Ageism: The strange case of prejudice against the older you. In R. L. Wiener & S. W. Wilborn (Eds.), Disability and aging discrimination (pp. 37–47). Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Penhale, B., & Parker, J. (2008). Working with vulnerable adults. Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pierson, J., & Thomas, M. (2010). Dictionary of social work: The definitive A to Z of social work and social care. Opern University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheyett, A., Kim, M., Swanson, J., Swartz, M., Elbogen, E., Van Dorn, R., & Ferron, J. (2009). Autonomy and the use of directive intervention in the treatment of individuals with serious mental illnesses: A survey of social work practitioners. Social Work in Mental Health, 7(4), 283–306. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332980802051979

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schlesinger, E. G., & Devore, W. (1995). Ethnic sensitive social work practice: The state of the art. Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, 22(1), 29–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simmons, C. S., Diaz, L., Jackson, V., & Takahashi, R. (2008). NASW cultural competence indicators: A new tool for the social work profession. Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 17(1), 4–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/15313200801904869

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sousa, P., & Almeida, J. L. (2016). Culturally sensitive social work: Promoting cultural competence. European Journal of Social Work, 19(3-4), 537–555. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691457.2015.1126559

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steketee, G., Ross, A. M., & Wachman, M. K. (2017). Health outcomes and costs of social work services: A systematic review. American Journal of Public Health, 107(S3), S256–S266. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2017.304004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stier, J. (2004). Intercultural competencies as a means to manage intercultural interactions in social work. Journal of Intercultural Communication, 7(23), 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sung, K. T., & Dunkle, R. E. (2009). How social workers demonstrate respect for elderly clients. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 52(3), 250–260. https://doi.org/10.1080/01634370802609247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tesoriero, F. (2006). Personal growth towards intercultural competence through an international field education programme. Australian Social Work, 59(2), 126–140. https://doi.org/10.1080/03124070600651853

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Touwen, A. (2009). Community empowerment: Approach for social inclusion with the accent on gender. AT Consult.

    Google Scholar 

  • Twelvetrees, A. (2008). Community work. Palgrave.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Wahler, E. A. (2012). Identifying and challenging social work students’ biases. Social Work Education, 31(8), 1058–1070. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2011.616585

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, C., & Soydan, H. (2005). When and how does ethnicity matter? A cross-national study of social work responses to ethnicity in child protection cases. British Journal of Social Work, 35(6), 901–920. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23720636

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Social Work Study Centre, Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

    Marko Buljevac & Ana Opačić

Authors
  1. Marko Buljevac
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ana Opačić
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marko Buljevac .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Social Work Study Centre, Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

    Ana Opačić

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Buljevac, M., Opačić, A. (2022). Professional Competencies for Social Change. In: Opačić, A. (eds) Social Work in the Frame of a Professional Competencies Approach. European Social Work Education and Practice. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13528-6_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-13528-6_4

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-13527-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-13528-6

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation