Social Work Professional Competence Framework (General)
(Tripartite, three-tier eight domains and 44 aspects)
(HKASW, 2020)
P. 1/4
1.1 Emphasize Humanity
Honor peoples’ autonomy
Respect for the inherent worth, uniqueness and
dignity of human beings
Embrace diversity
Believe in people’s potential to change
1.2 Promote Justice
Promote social justice
Promote economic justice
Promote environmental justice
Facilitate social inclusion
1.3 Demonstrate Commitment
Commit to enhance well-being of individuals
through different methods of social work
practice
Commit to develop quality professional service
Commit to analyze, formulate, and advocate for
policies that promote social well-being
Commit to improve well-being of the world
Commit to promote the importance of human
relationships
1.4 Adhere to Professional Ethics
Understand and comply with the social work
professional code of ethics
Able to make ethical decisions in the social work
process
Uphold professional integrity
P. 2/4
2.1 Demonstrate Knowledge and its Application
Use appropriate knowledge base for
assessment
Understand and use of theories in the planning
and intervention process
Apply specialized theories to help service
users specific to certain practice settings
Understand legal requirements implied in
direct social work practice
Understand the availability of community
resources
Possess up-to-date professional knowledge
Sustain understanding of socio-economic
political conditions of the society
Understand and apply knowledge of
research
Able to behave and perform in a
professional manner
2.2 Demonstrate Effective Intervention
Sensitive to interpersonal dynamics in
engaging with target service users
effectively
Able to conduct assessment systematically
and accurately
Demonstrate skills in advocacy
Able to carry out knowledge-informed or
evidence-based practice
Offer indigenized practice to meet service
users’ specific and emerging needs
Implement critical evaluation
Always engage in reflective practice to
advance professional performance
Manage crisis and unprecedented incidents
Proficient at task, time, administrative and
people management
Utilize information technology appropriately
Maintain physical, psychological, emotional
and social health for provision of best
service
P. 3/4
3.1 Generate Societal Impact
Build social capital
Advocate for policy change to meet
emerging social needs and resolve social
problems
Develop innovative interventions
Promote global values (e.g. equality,
justice, human right, citizenship…) to
create a better world
3.2 Exert Professional Impact
Demonstrate professional expertise when
participating in inter-disciplinary
collaboration
Expand new knowledge to advance
professional practice
Generate innovative practice to inspire
social workers
Conduct knowledge transfer
Prepared in June, 2020
To be reviewed in May, 2023
P. 4/4
