Standard 5

The relationship between agency policies, legal requirements, ethical principles and professional boundaries, in shaping the nature of services.

Knowledge and understanding of emotional intelligence.

The effect that work situations may have on personal physical and emotional wellbeing and practice.

The nature, characteristics and boundaries of professional activity and judgement.

The characteristics of effective time management, workload management and project planning.

Use of digital technology in social work practice.

Increase learning and understanding with an appropriate degree of independence.

Identify, and keep under review, personal and professional boundaries in all situations. 

Plan, with support, how to prioritise work in order to use time effectively.

Implement strategies to develop personal and professional resilience in order to manage uncertainty, change and stress.

Manage inter-personal and intra-personal conflict constructively using social work knowledge and skills.

Use professional supervision and support to improve practice and to develop personal and professional resilience.

Demonstrate professionalism, professional integrity, self-leadership and emotional intelligence in the management of self and relationships.

Manage time and prioritise workload within organisational policies and changing demands.

Carry out duties accountably using professional judgement and evidence-informed social work practice.

Monitor and evaluate, through critical reflection, the appropriateness and effectiveness of intervention.

The importance of critical reflection and self-monitoring in defining new personal learning plans.

The use of conventional and digital resources in accessing learning.

Reflect on and change own professional behaviour in the light of growing experience and professional confidence.

Take responsibility for continuing development of knowledge and skills through research mindedness and continuous enquiry.

Demonstrate leadership in making a positive contribution to the continuing education of colleagues.

Using supervision, consultancy and professional support, take action to identify and meet continuing professional development needs.

Contribute appropriately to the learning of others.

The contribution of different approaches to improving management, leadership and quality enhancement social services within public, independent and third sectors.

Communication and information technology, especially information systems and their applications to service delivery.

Basic statistical, resource management, and budgetary procedures and techniques.

Safe and effective use of information and communication systems and technology for a variety of purposes including: professional communication; data storage and retrieval; information searching; resource management.

Calculate, analyse figures and interpret data in both statistical and financial contexts.

Maintain accurate and up-to-date administrative databases or records.

Contribute to monitoring the outcomes quality and cost effectiveness of services in meeting need.

Contribute to the processes involved in purchasing and commissioning services and setting and maintaining service standards.

Contribute to procedures for managing and sharing information.

The statutory basis of reports and the requirement to share these with relevant parties.

Legal requirements relating to data protection and the rights of citizens to have access to information held about them.

The value of accurate administrative databases for service development and research.

Values and principles of ethical recording.

The use of digital literacy and information technology in preparing reports and sharing and storing official information.

Synthesise and analyse information and lines of enquiry and sustain detailed reasoning at length and over time.

Present conclusions in a form that is appropriate to the audience for which these have been prepared.

Produce accurate and clear written reports in styles that are adapted to the audience, purpose and context of the communication.

Maintain accurate, complete, accessible and up-to-date records and reports.

Provide clear evidence and rationale for judgements and decisions.

Implement legal and policy frameworks for access to records and reports and protection of data.

Share records with people receiving services and other key people within legal and ethical guidelines and requirements.

The nature and characteristics of decision making in a variety of settings and in complex situations.

Issues and trends in modern public and social policy and their relationship to contemporary practice and service delivery.

Factors that inhibit effective participation in decision making in different settings.

The complexity and tension in exercising professional judgement within the context of organisational processes, policies and structures.

Communicate clearly, accurately and understandably in a range of formal and informal situations.

Prepare effectively for meetings and lead them in a productive and inclusive way.

Follow and develop lines of argument.

Respect and evaluate the viewpoints and evidence presented by others.

Work in partnership with people receiving services, carers and communities to enable their appropriate involvement in decision making forums.

Work collaboratively with people receiving services, carers and other key people to access the best forms of representation.

Present evidence to decision making forums and help people to understand the procedures involved and the possible and actual outcomes.

Prepare accurate, articulate, and evidence-supported reports and documents for decision making forums such as courts, hearings, tribunals, adjudications and case conferences.

Relationships between agency policies, legal and regulatory requirements and professional boundaries, in shaping the nature of services provided in inter-disciplinary contexts.

Opportunities and challenges associated with working across professional boundaries and with different disciplines.

Factors and processes facilitating effective service integration, inter-agency collaboration and partnership.

Develop, maintain and review effective collaborative relationships within and across agency boundaries.

Understand and take account of the roles, responsibilities, constraints and views of others, who are involved in collaborative practice.

Analyse and work with the factors that inhibit integrated working across disciplines and professional and agency boundaries, drawing on the conciliation skills of the social worker.

Contribute knowledge of best practice to the continuing development of the profession and wider social services.

Practise effectively, while upholding the role and function of social work, within a framework of complex accountability to people who receive services, agencies, the public and others.

Effectively carry out responsibilities for the wellbeing, support and protection of vulnerable children and adults, regardless of practice setting.

Clearly identify the goals and working procedures involved in collaborative practice.

Work effectively with others to demonstrate the contribution of social work in delivering integrated and multi-disciplinary services.

Apply social work knowledge and skills to deal constructively with disagreements and conflict within work relationships.