SOCIAL WORK COMPETENCY EXAM
PRACTICE AREAS QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Professional Behavior - ANSWER-Self-Awareness
Communication Skills
Interpersonal Skills
Cognitive Skills
Stress Management
Emotional and Mental Capacities
Professional Commitment
Ethical Obligations
Professional Behavior:
Self-Awareness - ANSWER-1. Assessment of strengths, limitations and suitability
2. Knowledge of how beliefs, attitudes, emotions and past experiences affect
thinking, behavior and relationships
Professional Behavior: Interpersonal Skills - ANSWER-Compassion, empathy,
altruism, integrity and demonstration of respect for and consideration of others
Professional Behavior: Cognitive Skills - ANSWER-Ability to conceptualize and
integrate knowledge and apply to professional practice
Professional Behaviour: Stress Management - ANSWER-Ability to deal with current
life stressors through the use of appropriate coping mechanisms
Professional Behaviour: Emotional and Mental Capacities - ANSWER-Seeks out
support and help if needed
Professional Behaviour: Professional Commitment - ANSWER-Strong commitment
to the goals of social work and the ethical standards of the profession
Professional Behaviour: Ethical Obligations - ANSWER-Demonstrate adherence to
the ethical expectations and obligations of professional practice
Role and Function - ANSWER-Broker
Advocate
Case Manager
Educator
Facilitator
Organizer
Manager
Role and Function: Broker - ANSWER-The social worker is involved in the process
of making referrals to link a family or person to needed resources. Social work
, professionals do not simply provide information. They also follow up to be sure the
needed resources are attained. This requires knowing resources, eligibility
requirements, fees and the location of services.
Role and Function: Advocate - ANSWER-In this role, social workers fight for the
rights of others and work to obtain needed resources by convincing others of the
legitimate needs and rights of members of society. Social workers are particularly
concerned for those who are vulnerable or are unable to speak up for themselves.
Advocacy can occur on the local, county, state or national level. Some social
workers are involved in international human rights and advocacy for those in need.
Role and Function: Case Manager - ANSWER-Case managers are involved in
locating services and assisting their clients to access those services. Case
management is especially important for complex situations and for those who are
homeless or elderly, have chronic physical or mental health issues, are disabled,
victims of domestic or other violent crimes, or are vulnerable children.
Role and Function: Educator - ANSWER-Social Workers are often involved in
teaching people about resources and how to develop particular skills such as
budgeting, the caring discipline of children, effective communication, the meaning of
a medical diagnosis, and the prevention of violence.
Role and Function: Facilitator - ANSWER-In this role, social workers are involved in
gathering groups of people together for a variety of purposes including community
development, self advocacy, political organization, and policy change. Social
workers are involved as group therapists and task group leaders
Role and Function: Organizer - ANSWER-Social Workers are involved in many
levels of community organization and action including economic development, union
organization, and research and policy specialists.
Role and Function: Manager - ANSWER-Social Workers, because of their expertise
in a wide variety of applications, are well suited to work as managers and
supervisors in almost any setting. As managers, they are better able to influence
policy change and/or development, and to advocate, on a larger scale, for all
underprivileged people.
Micro work - ANSWER-Individuals and families
Mezzo work - ANSWER-Neighbourhoods, school, local organizations
Macro work - ANSWER-Large scale systems
GIM: Assessment - ANSWER-Acquire an understanding of a problem or issue, what
causes it, and what can be changed to minimize or resolve it:
1. Articulate a clear statement of the need, problem, or situation
2. Recognize the strengths, assets, skills, and abilities of clients
PRACTICE AREAS QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Professional Behavior - ANSWER-Self-Awareness
Communication Skills
Interpersonal Skills
Cognitive Skills
Stress Management
Emotional and Mental Capacities
Professional Commitment
Ethical Obligations
Professional Behavior:
Self-Awareness - ANSWER-1. Assessment of strengths, limitations and suitability
2. Knowledge of how beliefs, attitudes, emotions and past experiences affect
thinking, behavior and relationships
Professional Behavior: Interpersonal Skills - ANSWER-Compassion, empathy,
altruism, integrity and demonstration of respect for and consideration of others
Professional Behavior: Cognitive Skills - ANSWER-Ability to conceptualize and
integrate knowledge and apply to professional practice
Professional Behaviour: Stress Management - ANSWER-Ability to deal with current
life stressors through the use of appropriate coping mechanisms
Professional Behaviour: Emotional and Mental Capacities - ANSWER-Seeks out
support and help if needed
Professional Behaviour: Professional Commitment - ANSWER-Strong commitment
to the goals of social work and the ethical standards of the profession
Professional Behaviour: Ethical Obligations - ANSWER-Demonstrate adherence to
the ethical expectations and obligations of professional practice
Role and Function - ANSWER-Broker
Advocate
Case Manager
Educator
Facilitator
Organizer
Manager
Role and Function: Broker - ANSWER-The social worker is involved in the process
of making referrals to link a family or person to needed resources. Social work
, professionals do not simply provide information. They also follow up to be sure the
needed resources are attained. This requires knowing resources, eligibility
requirements, fees and the location of services.
Role and Function: Advocate - ANSWER-In this role, social workers fight for the
rights of others and work to obtain needed resources by convincing others of the
legitimate needs and rights of members of society. Social workers are particularly
concerned for those who are vulnerable or are unable to speak up for themselves.
Advocacy can occur on the local, county, state or national level. Some social
workers are involved in international human rights and advocacy for those in need.
Role and Function: Case Manager - ANSWER-Case managers are involved in
locating services and assisting their clients to access those services. Case
management is especially important for complex situations and for those who are
homeless or elderly, have chronic physical or mental health issues, are disabled,
victims of domestic or other violent crimes, or are vulnerable children.
Role and Function: Educator - ANSWER-Social Workers are often involved in
teaching people about resources and how to develop particular skills such as
budgeting, the caring discipline of children, effective communication, the meaning of
a medical diagnosis, and the prevention of violence.
Role and Function: Facilitator - ANSWER-In this role, social workers are involved in
gathering groups of people together for a variety of purposes including community
development, self advocacy, political organization, and policy change. Social
workers are involved as group therapists and task group leaders
Role and Function: Organizer - ANSWER-Social Workers are involved in many
levels of community organization and action including economic development, union
organization, and research and policy specialists.
Role and Function: Manager - ANSWER-Social Workers, because of their expertise
in a wide variety of applications, are well suited to work as managers and
supervisors in almost any setting. As managers, they are better able to influence
policy change and/or development, and to advocate, on a larger scale, for all
underprivileged people.
Micro work - ANSWER-Individuals and families
Mezzo work - ANSWER-Neighbourhoods, school, local organizations
Macro work - ANSWER-Large scale systems
GIM: Assessment - ANSWER-Acquire an understanding of a problem or issue, what
causes it, and what can be changed to minimize or resolve it:
1. Articulate a clear statement of the need, problem, or situation
2. Recognize the strengths, assets, skills, and abilities of clients
