CSWE Competencies
A student reviews the NASW Code of Ethics, follows agency policies, and consults a supervisor before making a difficult decision. Which competency is demonstrated?
What is Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior?
A social worker helps a client connect with food, shelter, and other essential resources. Which core value is most directly reflected?
What is Service?
An intern is working in the agency when a friend approaches and asks whether a mutual acquaintance has been receiving services there. The intern knows the individual is a client. How should the intern respond to protect the client's confidentiality?
What is protecting client confidentiality by neither confirming nor denying an individual's involvement with the agency?
What is protecting client confidentiality by neither confirming nor denying an individual's involvement with the agency?
What are possible barriers such as transportation, work, caregiving, disability, language access, or other needs?
An intern is unsure how to respond to a client's request and seeks guidance from their field instructor before acting. What professional practice is demonstrated?
What is appropriate supervision and consultation?
An intern helps a client challenge a discriminatory barrier to housing and advocates for equitable access to community resources. Which competency is most directly demonstrated?
What is Competency 2: Advance Human Rights and Social, Racial, Economic, and Environmental Justice?
A social worker challenges unfair treatment and advocates for equal access to services. Which core value is most directly reflected?
What is Social Justice?
A client asks the intern to promise that everything shared will remain secret. What should the intern explain?
What are the limits of confidentiality, how information is handled, and any relevant exceptions, using clear language and supervisor guidance?
An intern gathers information about a client's strengths, needs, risks, and available supports before collaborating on goals. Which competency applies?
What is Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities?
A client offers an expensive gift to an intern. What should the intern do before accepting or declining it?
What is consult the supervisor, review agency policy and ethical standards, and consider the gift's meaning, value, impact, and professional boundaries?
An intern reflects on personal assumptions about a family whose cultural practices differ from their own and adapts their approach without stereotyping. Which competency applies?
What is Competency 3: Engage Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in Practice?
An intern respects a client's right to make an informed choice, even when the intern would personally make a different choice. Which core value applies?
What is Dignity and Worth of the Person?
A client says a recommended service does not fit their goals. What should the intern do?
What is listen to the client's perspective, explore alternatives collaboratively, respect self-determination within applicable limits, and consult the supervisor as needed?
After assessing needs with a client, an intern helps develop a service plan and connects the client with appropriate resources. Which competency applies?
What is Competency 8: Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities?
An intern notices they feel frustrated with a client and that the frustration is affecting their judgment. What should the intern do?
What is use self-awareness, seek supervision, reflect on personal reactions, and ensure that client care remains respectful and competent?
An intern reviews credible research on an intervention and uses the findings, together with client preferences and supervision, to inform practice. Which competency applies?
The intern uses research to inform practice decisions and connects practice questions to evidence.
A social worker collaborates with a client's family and support network, with the client's consent, to strengthen support and improve outcomes. Which core value applies?
What is the Importance of Human Relationships?
A coworker discusses a client's identifiable information in a public waiting area. What is an appropriate response for an intern?
What is to protect privacy, address the concern appropriately, and consult the supervisor or follow agency reporting procedures?
A program's records suggest that one group of clients is less likely to complete services. What should the intern do to explore this responsibly?
What is examine relevant data and context, consider access barriers and bias, consult the supervisor, and use findings to inform equitable service or policy improvements?
An intern is asked to share case details during a multidisciplinary meeting. What should guide what the intern shares?
What are the client's privacy rights, consent and applicable confidentiality rules, the purpose of the meeting, and agency policy?
An intern identifies that an eligibility policy creates barriers for eligible clients, reviews the policy's impact, and brings recommendations to the appropriate decision-makers. Which competency applies?
What is Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice?
A social worker acknowledges a documentation error, corrects it through agency procedure, and takes responsibility rather than hiding it. Which core value is most directly reflected?
What is Integrity?
An agency asks an intern to perform a task beyond the intern's training and competence. The intern worries that refusing will disappoint the supervisor. What should the intern do?
What is to be transparent about their limits, seek supervision and appropriate training, and avoid independently providing services beyond their competence?
An intern discovers a possible conflict between an agency procedure, a client's wishes, and an ethical responsibility. What is the best first approach to ethical decision-making?
What is identify the competing obligations, review the NASW Code and applicable law and policy, consult supervision, consider options and likely consequences, document appropriately, and follow through responsibly?
A supervisor gives an intern constructive feedback that feels uncomfortable. The intern disagrees with part of it. What is a professional response?
What is listen, ask clarifying questions, reflect on the feedback, explain concerns respectfully, and collaborate on a learning plan?