Standard 2

The benefits of providing resources early in the emergence of problems, to prevent escalation of problems.

The longer term benefits of addressing factors that lead to the development of problems, rather than waiting for the problem to develop. 

Engage with people and community resources to identify creative options.

Plan a sequence of actions to achieve specific aims.

Review and evaluate effectiveness of preventative actions.

Work in a structured, collaborative way with people and community resources to deal with problems, resolve conflicts, and avoid crises.

Collaboratively plan, and implement approaches and actions, to support people and improve situations and outcomes.

Collaboratively review and evaluate the outcomes with people and community resources. 

Factors influencing the selection and testing of relevant information, especially if it is collected within tight timescales.

The nature of professional judgement and of risk assessment.

The nature of crisis and how it is different from related ideas such as emergency.

Plan a sequence of actions to achieve specific aims.

Manage the process of change and identify opportunities for growth within crisis and change.

Identify priorities and meet agreed deadlines.

Review and evaluate interventions and plans as appropriate.

Critically assess the urgency of requests and requirements for action.

Identify, collaborate, and agree with others the need for statutory and procedural intervention.

Plan implement and record action taken to meet immediate needs and requirements.

Review the outcomes with people receiving services, their carers and key people. 

Exercise professional judgement based on a critical analysis of all aspects of the situation.

The importance of emotional intelligence, use of self, managing relationships and professional boundaries effectively within social work practice.

Sociological, psychological and physiological theories of individual and social development, identity and functioning from infancy to old age and death.

The nature, characteristics and effects of developmental delay, disruption and trauma, and the nature of resilience across the lifespan.

Research based concepts and critical explanations from social work theory and other disciplines that contribute to the knowledge base of social work, including their reliability and how they contribute to an evidence base.

Theoretical ideas and evidence from international research on designing and putting into practice effective social work services for a wide range of people.

Develop relationships with people that show respect for diversity, equality, dignity, confidentiality and privacy.

Use knowledge of a range of interventions and evaluation processes to build and maintain purposeful partnerships with people and organisations, in community-based and professional contexts, including group care.

Implement plans through a variety of processes including contracting, drawing on community assets and working in partnership with others, to co-produce services designed to meet individual circumstances, needs and strengths.

Bring work to an effective conclusion taking account of the implications for everyone involved.

Use effective inter-personal communication and engagement skills with people, appropriate to age, ability and disability, language and culture.   

Maintain purposeful, professional relationships for as long as is necessary.

Apply and justify social work methods to achieve change, maintain stability, promote independence and improve life opportunities.

Regularly monitor, record and review.

Reduce contact and withdraw appropriately from relationships.

Approaches and methods of intervention in a range of organisational and community based settings including group care.

The nature and characteristics of effective practice skills, in working in partnership with a range of people receiving services, and in a variety of settings including group care.

Factors guiding the choice of evaluation of interventions in different circumstances.

Practice ethically and in partnership with those who receive services and others to make decisions, set goals and develop specific plans to achieve these.

Take account of relevant factors including: own level of competence; codes of practice; agency guidance and legislative requirements.

Consult actively with, and where appropriate use the knowledge and skills of, other people who have relevant experience, information or expertise, including people receiving services and their carers.

Creatively and innovatively develop and deliver person-centred services to achieve outcomes.

Collaborate, negotiate and appropriately influence the services and resources that will be included in plans.

Identify and record responsibilities and actions to be taken, developing and recording plans based on these.

Carry out own responsibilities and monitor, coordinate and support the actions of others involved in putting plans into practice.

Regularly review the effectiveness of plans with the people involved.

Renegotiate and revise plans to meet changing needs and circumstances.

The current range and appropriateness of statutory, third sector and private agencies providing community-based, day care, residential and other services and the organisational systems within these.

The significance of inter relationships with other services, especially education, housing, mental and physical health, community justice, income maintenance and other services provided by partner organisations.

Develop effective helping relationships and partnerships with key people that strengthen communities, to bring about change and achieve planned outcomes.

Consult actively with others who have relevant experience, information or expertise, including people who receive services and their carers.

Negotiate goals and plans with others, analysing and dealing creatively with human, organisational and structural barriers to change.

Demonstrate leadership in challenging others when necessary, in ways that are most likely to produce positive outcomes.

Work collaboratively with people to identify, explore and evaluate support networks that can be accessed and developed.

Work in partnership with people who receive services, their carers and other key people to maintain community supports, networks and resources and build community capacity.

Contribute effectively to the development, maintenance and evaluation of integrated support networks and services. 

In partnership with others, manage complex aspects of dependency and, where appropriate, access and enable direct care and personal support in everyday living situations.

The relevance of sociological, psychological and criminological perspectives to understanding societal and structural influences on human behaviour at individual, group and community levels.

Understand the cultural context of the locality in which practice takes place.

Social science theories explaining group and organisational behaviour.

Understand group processes and dynamics.

Involve people who receive services, and where appropriate their carers, in ways that increase their resources, capacity and power to influence factors affecting their lives and promote social inclusion.

Identify and use opportunities for purposeful and supportive communication with people who receive services in their everyday living situation, including children and adults with additional support needs.

Develop relationships with and access community networks and assets.

Help groups to achieve planned outcomes for their members, and to evaluate the value and appropriateness of their work.

Identify opportunities to support existing groups and to help new groups to develop.

Use group processes and dynamics to improve participation of group members and to promote wellbeing, choice, potential, dignity and independence.

Engage in and disengage from groups appropriately.

The complex relationships between justice, care and control in social welfare and community justice, and the practical and ethical effects of these.

Social workers’ roles as statutory agents with duties and responsibilities to protect the public and uphold the law.

Models, methods, and processes of risk assessment and risk management.

Knowledge of relevant literature including research.

Help people to gain, regain or maintain, control of their own affairs while taking account of the safety, wellbeing, protection and rights of self and others.

Identify protective factors and promote resilience to enhance wellbeing and reduce risks.

Use holistic assessment, including observation, to guide interpretation of behaviour and to assess risk.

Plan for and manage situations in which there is a significant element of risk.

Exercise appropriate professional judgement.

Work in partnership with people, their carers and communities to identify and evaluate situations and circumstances that may increase risks.

Take prompt action to deal with behaviour or situations that present a risk to people and reduce or contain the level of risk.

Plan, manage and record intervention designed to manage and change the identified risk behaviour.