PCF.
Professional Capabilities
Framework.
Professional Capabilities Framework
• These are the areas we will be covering:
• What is the PCF and what is its purpose?
• The role of the PCF in qualifying education:
the 4 levels.
• Holistic assessment: what is it and why is it
needed?
• Guidance from the TCSW and the HEA.
• Links to the ASYE.
• Some challenges.
What is the PCF and what is its purpose?
The PCF ‘sets out the profession’s
expectations of what a social worker should
be able to do at each stage of their career and
professional development’.
Taken from: Purpose, development and use of the PCF for Social Workers’.
http://www.basw.co.uk/resource/?id=1156
What is the PCF and what is its purpose? (cont)
• 9 domains and 9 levels.
• Domains are interdependent.
• Relevant to social workers in all settings and with
all user groups.
• First attempt to provide a professional framework
linked to career progression.
• Developed by social workers for social workers,
held by TCSW on behalf of profession.
• Will change and develop to reflect
changes/developments to the profession.
The 9 domains.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Professionalism.
Values and Ethics.
Diversity.
Rights, Justice and Economic Well-being.
Knowledge.
Critical Reflection and Analysis.
Intervention and Skills.
Contexts and Organisations.
Professional Leadership.
http://www.tcsw.org.uk/uploadedFiles/PCFDomainsNOV.pdf
The 9 levels.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Entry level.
Assessed Readiness for Practice.
End first placement.
End last placement/qualification.
ASYE.
Social worker.
Experienced social worker.
Advanced – 3 pathways, practitioner, educator and manager.
Strategic – 3 pathways, educator, manager and principal
social worker.
http://www.tcsw.org.uk/uploadedFiles/PCFNOVUnderstanding-differentPCF-levels.pdf
Progression between levels.
Progression between levels is characterised by :
• ‘development of people’s ability to manage complexity,
risk, ambiguity and increasingly autonomous decision
making across a range of situations.’
• http://www.tcsw.org.uk/uploadedFiles/PCFNOVprogressi
on-between-levels.pdf
The role of the PCF in qualifying education:
4 levels.
1. Entry. The capability statements at this level are
intended to be used as a framework for selection of
applicants to Programmes.
2. ARDP. (Assessed Readiness for Direct Practice). The
statements at this level should be used as a framework
to assess students’ readiness to go out on placement.
3. End of first placement. Statements at this level to be
used as a framework to assess whether students have
successfully completed their first placement.
4. End final placement/qualification. Statements at this
level are used to assess whether student has
successfully completed their qualification.
Entry level.
By the point of entry to SW qualifying programmes,
prospective students/candidates should demonstrate:
•
•
•
•
awareness of social context for social work practice
awareness of self
ability to develop rapport
potential to develop relevant knowledge, skills and
values through professional training.
http://www.tcsw.org.uk/uploadedFiles/PCFNOVUnderstanding-different-PCF-levels.pdf
http://www.tcsw.org.uk/uploadedFiles/TheCollege/_CollegeLibrary/Reform_resources/Recomme
ndationsSelectionStudents(edref2).pdf
Assessed Readiness for Direct Practice.
By the point of assessment of readiness for direct practice (prior to first
placement), students should demonstrate:
• basic communication skills
• ability to engage with users
• capacity to work as a member of an organisation
• willingness to learn from feedback and supervision
• demonstrate basic social work values, knowledge and skills in order
to be able to make effective use of first practice placement.
• http://www.tcsw.org.uk/uploadedFiles/TheCollege/_CollegeLibrary/R
eform_resources/DevelopingSkillsReadiness(edref10).pdf
First placement.
By the end of the first placement students should
demonstrate:
• effective use of knowledge, skills and commitment to
core values in social work in a given setting in
predominantly less complex situations, with supervision
and support.
• They will have demonstrated capacity to work with
people and situations where there my not be simple
clear-cut solutions
Final placement.
By the end of qualifying programmes newly qualified social
workers should have:
• demonstrated the knowledge, skills and values to work with a
range of user groups,
• the ability to undertake a range of tasks at a foundation level
• the capacity to work with more complex situations,
• be able to work more autonomously, whilst recognising that
the final decision will still rest with their supervision, they will
seek appropriate support and supervision.
• These capabilities will have been demonstrated through the
last placement together with the final assessment of other
work in the qualifying programme.
First placement, final placement and qualifying.
• As well as the PCF for these two levels:
•
•
•
http://www.tcsw.org.uk/uploadedFiles/PCFNOVEndofFirstPlacementCa
pabilities.pdf
http://www.tcsw.org.uk/uploadedFiles/PCF%20NOV%20Last%20Place
ment-QualifyingLevelCapabilities.pdf
http://www.tcsw.org.uk/uploadedFiles/TheCollege/_CollegeLibrary/Refor
m_resources/PCF5FullTableStudentLevels.pdf
• There is also additional TCSW Guidance:
•
•
•
http://www.tcsw.org.uk/uploadedFiles/TheCollege/_CollegeLibrary/Refor
m_resources/Practice-Learning-Guidance(edref8).pdf
http://www.tcsw.org.uk/uploadedFiles/TheCollege/Resources/06.%20Fi
nalStudentToolkit.pdf
http://www.tcsw.org.uk/uploadedFiles/TheCollege/Resources/Assessing
%20practice%20using%20the%20PCF%20guidance%20Oct12(3).pdf