Domains within the PCF.

The Professional Capabilities Framework has nine domains (or areas) within it. For each one, there is a main statement and an elaboration. Then at each level within the PCF, detailed capabilities have been developed explaining how social workers should expect to evidence that area in practice. The nine capabilities should be seen as interdependent, not separate. s the! interact in professional practice, so there are overlaps between the capabilities within the domains, and man! issues will be relevant to more than one domain. "nderstanding of what a social worker does will onl! be complete b! taking into account all nine capabilities. Professionals and their practice will be assessed #holisticall!$, b! which we mean that throughout their careers, social work students and practitioners need to demonstrate integration of all aspects of learning, and provide a sufficienc! of evidence across all nine domains. 1. PROFESSIONALISM - Identify and beha e as a !"ofessiona# so$ia# wo"%e"& $ommitted to !"ofessiona# de e#o!ment %ocial workers are members of an internationall! recognised profession, a title protected in "& law. %ocial workers demonstrate professional commitment b! taking responsibilit! for their conduct, practice and learning, with support through supervision. s representatives of the social work profession the! safeguard its reputation and are accountable to the professional regulator. '. (AL)ES AND E*+ICS - A!!#y so$ia# wo"% ethi$a# !"in$i!#es and a#,es to -,ide !"ofessiona# !"a$ti$e %ocial workers have an obligation to conduct themselves ethicall! and to engage in ethical decision'making, including through partnership with people who use their services. %ocial workers are knowledgeable about the value base of their profession, its ethical standards and relevant law. .. DI(ERSI*/ - Re$o-nise di e"sity and a!!#y anti-dis$"iminato"y and antio!!"essi e !"in$i!#es in !"a$ti$e %ocial workers understand that diversit! characterises and shapes human experience and is critical to the formation of identit!. (iversit! is multi'dimensional and includes race, disabilit!, class, economic status, age, sexualit!, gender and transgender, faith and belief. %ocial workers appreciate that, as a conse)uence of difference, a person$s life experience ma! include oppression, marginalisation and alienation as well as privilege, power and acclaim, and are able to challenge appropriatel!. 0. RI1+*S& 2)S*ICE AND ECONOMIC 3ELL4EIN1 - Ad an$e h,man "i-hts and !"omote so$ia# 5,sti$e and e$onomi$ we##beinDomains Within the PCF_Version1 01/05/2012 Page 1 of 3

%ocial workers recognise the fundamental principles of human rights and e)ualit!, and that these are protected in national and international law, conventions and policies. The! ensure these principles underpin their practice. %ocial workers understand the importance of using and contributing to case law and appl!ing these rights in their own practice. The! understand the effects of oppression, discrimination and povert!.

6. 7NO3LED1E - A!!#y %now#ed-e of so$ia# s$ien$es& #aw and so$ia# wo"% !"a$ti$e theo"y %ocial workers understand ps!chological, social, cultural, spiritual and ph!sical influences on people* human development throughout the life span and the legal framework for practice. The! appl! this knowledge in their work with individuals, families and communities. The! know and use theories and methods of social work practice. 8. CRI*ICAL REFLEC*ION AND ANAL/SIS - A!!#y $"iti$a# "ef#e$tion and ana#ysis to info"m and !"o ide a "ationa#e fo" !"ofessiona# de$ision-ma%in%ocial workers are knowledgeable about and appl! the principles of critical thinking and reasoned discernment. The! identif!, distinguish, evaluate and integrate multiple sources of knowledge and evidence. These include practice evidence, their own practice experience, service user and carer experience together with research'based, organisational, polic! and legal knowledge. The! use critical thinking augmented b! creativit! and curiosit!. 9. IN*ER(EN*ION AND S7ILLS - )se 5,d-ement and a,tho"ity to inte" ene with indi id,a#s& fami#ies and $omm,nities to !"omote inde!enden$e& !"o ide s,!!o"t and !"e ent ha"m& ne-#e$t and ab,se %ocial workers engage with individuals, families, groups and communities, working alongside people to assess and intervene. The! enable effective relationships and are effective communicators, using appropriate skills. "sing their professional +udgement, the! emplo! a range of interventions, promoting independence, providing support and protection, taking preventative action and ensuring safet! whilst balancing rights and risks . The! understand and take account of differentials in power, and are able to use authorit! appropriatel!. The! evaluate their own practice and the outcomes for those the! work with. :. CON*E;*S AND OR1ANISA*IONS - En-a-e with& info"m& and ada!t to $han-in- $onte<ts that sha!e !"a$ti$e. O!e"ate effe$ti e#y within own o"-anisationa# f"amewo"%s and $ont"ib,te to the de e#o!ment of se" i$es and

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o"-anisations. O!e"ate effe$ti e#y within m,#ti-a-en$y and inte"-!"ofessiona# settin-s %ocial workers are informed about and pro'activel! responsive to the challenges and opportunities that come with changing social contexts and constructs. The! fulfil this responsibilit! in accordance with their professional values and ethics, both as individual professionals and as members of the organisation in which the! work. The! collaborate, inform and are informed b! their work with others, inter'professionall! and with communities.

=. PROFESSIONAL LEADERS+IP - *a%e "es!onsibi#ity fo" the !"ofessiona# #ea"nin- and de e#o!ment of othe"s th"o,-h s,!e" ision& mento"in-& assessin-& "esea"$h& tea$hin-& #eade"shi! and mana-ement The social work profession evolves through the contribution of its members in activities such as practice research, supervision, assessment of practice, teaching and management. n individual$s contribution will gain influence when undertaken as part of a learning, practice'focused organisation. -earning ma! be facilitated with a wide range of people including social work colleagues, service users and carers, volunteers, foster carers and other professionals.

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