Competency 1

By Nauteca Sweat
 Competency One: Ethical and
professional behavior

Ethical and professional behavior is very important while working in any agency. While
acting as such a person should always:
● NASW code of ethics
● Correct thinking skills before making a decision
● Knowing the background of the population you will be working with
● Not making assumptions about anyone
Ethical and Professional Behavior
Continued
1. If a client declines meeting you and just meeting with the case manager
and not you do not push them

2. Dress like you would dress if this was your full time job. The better you
dress honestly the better the clients will respect you.

3. Even if clients are rude to you still be kind and understanding. NEVER
say you understand when in reality you do not!

4. Keep all information confidential. Think if you were going through

something would you want everyone in your community to know.

5. Shadow the case managers in your office to adapt to what they are doing
so you can learn more. The more open you are the more open your
The Case
A client came in and wanted to be a new intake. This was my first intake and I was
extremely nervous. My first thought when meeting this client was how nice and mellow
they are. During the intake the client expressed that they were coming to get support
from my agency because they did not know how they were going to continue to get the
medicine for the virus and needed to go to the dentist. The agency wants to help every
person that comes in to visit us. When income was talked about the client stated they
only made 1,200 a month and after all bills were paid that left them with only $20. The
client is elderly and cannot get a job. The client has a very high educational level, a
rasta and loves the beach. The client still has no clue where or how they contracted the
virus. They were married twice and It was only a few years before when they found out
that they had AIDS thinking it was regular pneumonia. When AIDS is in someones
body it slowly starts to break their body down and makes them look much older than
they really are. This was a person that was open to telling their story and doing now
whatever they can to get some help and still try to live productively.
Thoughts and Bias

There are so many different stereotypes while working with HIV/AIDS clients. People think just looking at
someone they can tell they have the virus or that they cannot shake their hands. In reality people can have
the virus and someone would never know! My thoughts when working with this client was that they really
needed our assistance with getting new meds. I kept thinking am I too closed because they seemed closed as
well. The client also stated they had herpes before getting the virus. In my head I was thinking why were
they still having unprotected sex, why didn't they know they had AIDS until getting sick, if they have
herpes why weren’t they going to the doctor. Instantly I began to sort of judge this person. Judging them is
not my place I set back and listened to everything the end of the session they were here for help and they
should get just that. Working with a population were are unfamiliar with it tends to show how quick we are
to judge because its out of our norm.
Continued

Everyday being around a new population is different but having an open mind is key.
Helping any and everyone meet their needs is key. There is no question how and why a
person made the decisions they did in life. In every situation you just have to flip the
roles as if it were you who needed the assistance. NASW code of ethics helps guide
people to treat people with respect. Regulating your own personal values, keeping great
behavior and true to everyone around you will lead you in a long way. At my internship
is nothing but room to grow as a person and professional.
Competency two

While working with any population it is always key to seek out diversity. Each person
has taken different routes in life and will always be around different races and
backgrounds. No matter their background remember their dignity and worth at all times.
My supervisor told me something great : “No matter how many times it takes give
chances. It may take people 100 times but each person is worthy. On the 100th time
they will be sure to get it right and be proud of them”
Diversity and Difference

When you are working with any population:

● Use the NASW code of ethics!!!

● Always in someway inform of diversity and how you’ve worked with
others
● It is never too much to learn about new cultures and backgrounds.
Listening to people is key. Develop a great understanding but never say
you understand
● Never make someone feel uncomfortable
● Even if someone or their culture does something you do not like never
show it. Keep biases to yourself
The case
We had a client come in that we needed to see that had been going through
depression because of his partner dying. We were happy he came to see us
because he had cancelled appointment due to depression. I shadowed my
supervisor because she really wanted to take on his case since he was
suicidal. Our agency is full of african american women which he said he was
surprised that we treat him like family. He then went on say how he does
not want to be hispanic anymore because all they do is cause trouble and it
has made his life a mess. We encouraged him to embrace himself and love
who he is. We all began to tell him no matter his race and background we
appreciate him coming to visit us.
Even though a client was surprised that we were nice because we
were african american surprised me as well. I still felt for him and
wanted to help him. That did not make me block him out but embrace
helping him more. He also did not like that he was hispanic and this
made me want to show him how important it was to show him no
matter what race you are you are still important. My own biases
would have gotten offended that he made the comment about african
americans being not so nice but because of self awareness I was able
to move past it.
Competency 3

When dealing in a social work setting you will come across different backgrounds, economic
status and you have to advocate for them.

● Some people are unaware of the rights that they have

● A person’s environment may need some a person they can go to if they want things in
their environment to change
● Use critical skills things to figure out the best way to help your client
● Let the code of ethics be your best judgement
The case

A lady was living in the projects and was being evicted because they said that she was not
paying her bills when they wanted her to. They give them a 5 day grace period but would always
send her threatening letters before that. She was an elderly woman with no car so it was hard
for her to get rides to get money orders from the store. As I am working in real estate besides
doing social work I was happy to be able to advocate for her and help her get put on a bus route
to take her to the bank downtown and also help her explain to her department her situation.
After I stepped in to help the threatening messages stopped and she was happy with the bus
route because it came monday through friday and she could get groceries as well.
Thoughts and Biases

Advocating for people that cannot or do not know how to advocate for themselves is always
key. People in communities sometimes do not know how far they can go on situations because
they do not know their rights or are afraid that if they speak out they will have to face
consequences. Always remembering dignity and self worth of each client when working with
them.
Competency 4

● When working with populations learn as much as you can about them.

● The more information on the population the better you can assist them.

● Learn about populations by working with them more

● Research their history to get a background on why they are the way they are

● Use NASW code of ethics to help understand how to handle situations with populations

that you are not used to

Competency 4 Continued..

● When working with clients its not harmful to do your own research studies.
● Doing research on how many people live in the same environments, different
environments and who are all the same or not alike.
● Looking at articles from different areas of the world to see if the people you are
working with are the same as what you are researching
● Gather more knowledge on how to understand that population without fully saying
you understand!
● Think rational on what to say and how to say it to anyone. Just because you do
not understand the differences from people does not mean that you treat them
different!
The Case

Working with people who are HIV positive I was not understanding men who come in and have

it that say they have it from jail but have full families home. I did my paper last semester on Men

who have sex with men and going into my internship still did not understand how this happens.

These men say they are not gay or bisexual. I did some more research on men in jail and got to

gain more knowledge on how men are when they have to be in jail for a long time. STDs are still

very wide in prisons.

Thoughts and Biases

Learning how people are different and how people have different thought processes

than me. My family raised me to think a certain way and about certain situations was just

taught certain things. So sometimes things are out of the norm for me and I am like

caught off guard. Pulling myself back together to realize what my main purpose is!! My

main person is to help people and not judge them on their actions.
Competency 5

● Gather more information about laws dealing with the population you work with

and what your agency can and cannot do legally

● Notice problems that may be short or long term and see how exactly you can

address it or advocate to make it better

● Notice how the policies they have in place economically can help or break down

your client on many levels

● Make plans for your clients to better themselves just in case the social service

does not provide for them.

Continued...

● Pay attention to the news, newspapers and magazines when working with

populations to see what exactly is new within that population that can maybe help

clients better

● See exactly what the clients think regards policy practice

● Encourage them to use their voice and stand up for what they believe in

● A Lot of clients have voices but are scared of the outcome or need motivation

● They are not alone there are others going through the same thing!
The Case

Many people that come into the agency are in desperate need of food nutrition but cannot
receive assistance because they do not meet the requirements. People who do not go to school
and work 25 hours a week cannot get food stamps or people without children. The people that
come to the agency have HIV and need ensure to help give them protein after taking all of the
medicines that make them sick. Maybe helping them with a plan with medicine and food to keep
them as healthy as possible. They policies can even give them a tad bit of money to better assist
with buying the ensure because many people cannot afford to pay for it out of pocket.
Thoughts and Biases

Not many Biases on this but more of why cant everyone understand the purpose of helping

others. This is something that many people need to help make it through but cannot get their

need met unless they fill out a lot of paperwork. Things like food stamps are given to people that

have children but do not work at all but cannot be used to help people that are really poor and

sick. Those to contradict themselves in my opinion that's where research comes in!!!
Competency 6

● Be ethical and always remember that people are different from you.

● Engage clients in everything and motivate them to do more than they think they can do.

● See what frameworks works best for the communities and individual.

● Use critical thinking skills when making decisions on what to do with communities and

clients

● Be open with your clients and let them be able to talk with you freely.

● Reflect on their goals and the community goals

● Show clients that you actually care

The case

One client lost everything during the storm and wanted helped within the community and
herself. It was sad to see she had no support and nowhere to turn. The community didn’t help
her and there was nothing that my agency could do. I showed her that I cared and listened to her
story and gave her resources that I thought might better help her. I also talked to her about
community goals and things that I thought would support her. I reflected on her goals and what
she thought she could do. Clients sometimes just need someone to listen to her and know that
they are heard.
Competency 7

When it comes to working with people you have to show people that you care about not only
them but their family matter and extended environment. It is always best for social workers
to address the clients needs but make sure that the clients have some support to help their
own needs as well.
7.1

7.1- Collect and organize data, and apply critical thinking to interpret information from clients and
constituencies.

Making sure that client files are in order for each session and have it organized to send off to
their doctors. Think about all the information you gathered from the client to best put together
their charts and paper work such as history, medical, dental etc
7.2

7.2- Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment,
and other
multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in interventions with clients and constituencies.

Making sure you and clients recognize that their environment plays a role in their everyday life.
Have sessions where it is discussed how they are in their environment and what they can do to
change their role and make their community better. Identify key concepts!!!
7.3

7.3- Develop mutually agreed-on intervention goals and objectives based on the critical
assessment of strengths, needs, and challenges within clients and constituencies;

Make sure you develop a sense of knowledge on what your client is struggling or needs help
with. Finding the right resources to help better meet their needs but also setting goals for them to
reach so they can also help themselves in the process. After awhile challenge your client and this
will help them see that they can do much more than they think.
7.4

7.4- Select appropriate intervention strategies based on the assessment, research knowledge, and
values and preferences of clients and constituencies.

Always look up and do research on something that is out of the norm for you that your client has
brought to your attention involving them. Always use a intervention that works for that certain client!! If
you use a assessment that is not for that client your results will not come out the way you think.
Remembering dignity and worth of the person as well
Competency 8 - 8.1

Find the right interventions to help clients meet their goals. If the wrong interventions
are chosen then it wont work for that particular client. Look back over your original goal
and make sure things are on the right track.
8.2

Put together a guide to help client with local resources and things they can use to help
better themselves. Keep in mind the entire session to use skills that better work for the
client. Getting to know your client's environment and background will definitely help
sessions better.
8.3

Motivating your client can take sessions a long way. Even something
as simple as showing them they are improving. If you are building
with them the better with them they will be outside and inside of
sessions.
8.4

Going out in community not just to help clients but everyone that needs guidance on
resources and just answered questions in the community. During hurricane florence a
lot of people were calling about help and just being there to advocate and help them as
well.
8.5

Meet with case managers about organization, organizing client charts and how to be
better on one task. The more everyone is in unity the better operations to go to not only
make the agency better but the case managers cases as well.
Competency 9 - 9.1

When working with clients and it is time to close cases make sure that everything is
fine with the case before it is closed. Use surveys or a discussion to see if the client
was content with progress or did they need additional services. Also going back over all
of the sessions just to make sure there is nothing else to be covered.
9.2

Let clients learn a little about the process you took to help them
which has sessions grow and ultimately come to an end. If a person
understands the skills used they can better continue to use them on
their own and hopefully share their skills with someone else.
9.3

See exactly how the sessions were able to succeed and what could have been better.
The better the social worker interprets the data the better their next session will be for
others. Not only letting the clients learn from the sessions but the social worker needs
to also learn about themselves.
9.4

Add the things learned to see how the agency can also improve. That's why it is
important for case managers to communicate to better improve the agency practice
with all of their different ways to do things.