Competency Needs and Observed Societal and Practice Realities of Development and Social Workers: Implications to Social Work Education in the Philippines.

Competency Needs and Observed Societal and Practice Realities of Development and Social Workers:

Implications to Social Work Education in the Philippines in the era of ASEAN integration

Finaflor F. TaylanUniversity of the Philippines Open University

Research Objectives To identify competency needs of

development/social workers in terms of knowledge, skills, attitudes

To examine the practice realities of the Social Work profession and societal realities or conditions (including gender issues) that professionals face

To identify bridges and gaps between the Social Work education and competency needs of development/social workers and practice and societal realities

To develop recommendations on how Social Work education would appropriately respond to the practitioners’ competency needs and Social Work practice and societal realities

Framework

Results/ Findings

Practice Setting: Local government social welfare agency

Well compensated at work but not enjoying the allowances and privileges stipulated in Magna Carta

good working relationship; presence of co-employees who are difficult to handle or relate with because of attitude problem

Poor Management few technical staff; non social workers in social work

positions low budget for social welfare programs and services Politics Overwhelming workload

Clients served Clients/ Communities

ServedConditions or

ProblemsPrograms and Services

Families In difficult situation

(member of the family

is sick and

hospitalized)

Victims of disaster

Low income (below

poverty level

Assistance to

Individual in Crisis

Situation (AICS)

Emergency Relief

and Rehabilitation 

Livelihood projects 

Assist DSWD monitor SLP and 4Ps beneficiaries

Senior

Citizens

  ID provision for benefit/ entitlements

Burial Assistance by virtue of

SP Ordinance #93

Assistance to Provincial

Federation of SC (meeting,

celebrations)

Shelter based program

Women Low income

and

participation

VAW

Case management Empowerment

Livelihood Assistance

Assistance to Provincial Federation

of Women Associations (capability

building, women’s month

celebration, honorarium,

provincial meeting

OSY   Assistance to Provincial

Federation (capability

building)

Children Abused

children

(CNSP)

CICL

3-4 yrs old

Psychosocial intervention

ECCD/Day care service –

augmentation for honorarium of

day care workers, capability

building of day care workers

and municipal counterparts,

day care

projects-construction/rehab of

center, provision of

indoor/outdoor facilities.

Shelter based program Child protection

Practice setting: humanitarian organization Always on the go Strict HR policies Risks at work especially during

emergencies Fast turn over of staff

Clients served: Families and communities Conditions

poor health access to programs and services; and poor disaster preparedness

Community/government politics Programs

Disaster management Sanitation and water facilities

Practice Setting: International organization

Work conditions Good remuneration; international employees which are often

difficult to deal with; knowledge and skills in programme

management is a must

Clients served: women

Reproductive Health; Humanitarian, Population and

Development, Gender/Gender based violence

Practice setting: Auspice

Clients/ Communities

Served

Conditions or Problems Programs and Services

Terminally –

ill patients

Suffering of patient from

too much pain

Hospice and palliative care

  Patient’s non-acceptance of

conditions

Counseling services and

spiritual care

  Lack or limited knowledge

in coping with the medical

condition

Counseling services

  Suicidal tendencies of

some patients

Counseling services

provided by volunteer

psychologist/psychiatrist

Spiritual care

  Non-acceptance of

family members of

the patient’s

condition and lack of

knowledge in

handling the

patient’s illness

Family counseling services

  Financial problem to

support medical needs

Referral to PCSO and other institutions

Financial assistance from the organization’s

volunteers and other concerned citizens

Provision of medicines (if available in the

stocks)

Provision of free morphine as recommended

and provided by the DOH as pain reliever for

terminal cancer patients

Provision of medical equipment

Free medical check-ups and monitoring by

the doctor

  Grieving and

Depression of

family members

after the

patient’s death

After care

services---

Individual

counseling

and support

group

sessions

Field/ Setting

Work conditions

HOSPITAL

SETTING

(outside the

Philippines)

- exposure to infection

- stress due to long hours of work and lack of

social life as women are not free or too tired to

go out

- complete and high-tech facilities with free

personal protective equipment

INTL

FOREIGN

SETTING

- need to adapt to different cultures

- need to learn their language and communicate

well

- discrimination as Philippines being a 3rd world

country and has different religion and culture

Clients/ Communities

Served

Conditions or Problems Programs and Services

Healthcare

workers

- overworked

- dispensable/can easily be

replaced by Saudis

- unfair salary scale

- non-tax income

- free medical

coverage

- free housing &

transpo

Local from

Receiving country

- lazy and dependent

- if they like you; they feel

like owning you and you

will not be allowed to

transfer work

- loyalty to supervisor

Migrant filipinos - regionalism; family

dynasties; crab mentality

- community work and

organizing

Practice setting: hospital in other country

Practice setting: Human Relations/ HR HR concerns Trade/ labor unions: collective bargaining

agreement Role performance of staff Programs: trainings, counseling, referral

Practice Setting: Environment Conditions:

Destruction of environmental resources Lack of venue for people’s participation

Programs Community-based Resource Management Advocacy Capacity building Livelihood

Practice/ Field Setting: AcademeWork Conditions values interpersonal relationship and

provides access to additional learning Salary Lack of Participation in decision making Limited Library resources and facilities Policies on curriculum not implemented

Clients Served Students Problems: bullying, early pregnancy,

time management, failing grades, study habits

Programs: Academic counseling, referral

Other problems/ realities Worsening poverty situations and

manifestations Peace and order – insurgency – resulted

to rise in number of internally displaced families – livelihoods of rural folks are affected

climate change and natural/ human-made calamities

Competency Needs Skills on clinical setting: case management Social marketing, networking and linkaging Planning, programming, monitoring and

evaluation Disaster management Community organizing; community based

approaches Advocacy People skills Oral and writing skills Critical thinking/ analysis skills

Conflict management/ peace building International relations Intergovernmental approach to provision of

social services Migrant workers’ plight vis-à-vis other

countries’ context/situation Cultural competency Higher sense of self awareness and genuine

acceptance of the needs of others Hardwork and dedication

Recommendations to acquire competencies Exposure to clinical setting & cultural

practices in other countries Updating of SW curriculum: theories to

understand people’s behavior, integrate law, policies, business models; exposure to international practice

Participation to Trainings; continuing education

More researches on SW practice and clients

POLICIES, STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES FOR THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN SOCIAL WORK

“shift to learning competency-based standards/ outcomes-based education.”

Preparation for generalist social work practice acquisition and application of beginning level of

knowledge, attitudes, values and skills in enhancing the social functioning of individuals, families, groups, and communities, linking people [client systems] with needed resources, improving the operation of social service delivery networks, and promoting social justice through organizing and advocacy

micro to macro practice continuum, focusing on human development and social transformation

integrates internationally benchmarked outcomes (based on 2014 global definition) without ignoring the particularities and priorities of the national situation

Integrates Specific Professions/careers/occupations or Trades

Program Outcomes (SW specific)

Demonstrate knowledge, skills, and attitudes in engaging in a generalist helping process and planned change process for therapeutic, protective, preventive, and transformative purposes.

Analyze critically the origin, development, and purposes of social work in the Philippines.

Critique the impacts of global and national socio-structural inadequacies, discrimination, and oppression on quality of life.

Apply knowledge of human behavior and social environment with emphasis on the person-in-situation dynamic for social work assessment and intervention.

Critique social welfare policies, programs, and services of the locality, country and /or region in terms of relevance, responsiveness, accessibility and availability to target populations.

Engage in advocacy work to promote socio-economic and cultural rights and well-being.

Generate resources for networking and partnership development.

Identify with the social work profession and conduct oneself in accordance with social work values and ethical principles.

Engage in social work practices that promote diversity and difference in client systems.

Use supervision to develop critical self-reflective practice for personal and professional growth.

Produce a portfolio of recordings, case studies and other social work documentation to reflect the quality and progress of practice

Conclusion Competency needs and practice

realities are captured in the policies, standards and guidelines (PSG) for Social Work

PSG captures generalist nature of Social Work and the realities

Implications/ Recommendations

Need to strengthen exposure to international settings, standards, and contexts

Emphasis on exposure and study on the “new normal”: disaster, climate change, peace work, emerging concepts/ perspectives

Exposure to and opportunities for multidisciplinary nature of work

Preparations for personality development and character building are necessary