Mindeo MP725 - Foundation Year Competencies

9
are two distinct sets of competencies – those for students in the foundation year and those for
students in the advanced year. While curriculum development efforts were undertaken with
these competencies in mind, students also embrace the competencies in their assessment of
learning needs and subsequent goal setting for the field. Individual courses in the Program are
designed to help students develop skills in each of the fourteen competency areas.
Foundation and advanced competencies (fourteen each) are written in a general way, which
allow students to tailor their concentration (either direct practice or administration and
management) and their special interests (child welfare, mental health, criminal justice,
gerontology, etc.) to their field experiences. The foundation and advanced year competencies are
listed below. These competencies reflect ―end points‖ or outcomes students are expected to
achieve by the time they graduate from the program. Foundation year competencies indicate
steps toward achievement of these outcomes, levels at which MSW students should be
performing by the time they complete the foundation curriculum.
Foundation Year Competencies (Student Outcome Objectives)
• MSW Foundation 1: Link interdisciplinary knowledge, including that developed in prior
practice, to emerging assessment, intervention and evaluation skills.
• MSW Foundation 2: Recognize and utilize social work values, understanding their
implications for generalist practice.
• MSW Foundation 3: Carry out assessment, planning and intervention activities that reflect
generalist social work practice principles and approaches.
• MSW Foundation 4: Seek out and evaluate ―best practice‖ models in generalist social work
practice.
• MSW Foundation 5: Develop and strengthen relationship and enabling skills in generalist
practice contexts.
• MSW Foundation 6: Recognize resource gaps and participate in activities designed to redress
these gaps.
• MSW Foundation 7: Create alliances and collaborations with diverse clientele.
• MSW Foundation 8: Articulate an understanding of the role of the generalist practitioner in
organizational program planning and policy development.
• MSW Foundation 9: Engage in activities designed to improve services and make them more
congruent with client needs.
• MSW Foundation 10: Function effectively in one’s role as a generalist practitioner in a
particular social service organizational setting.