FOUNDATION
Individualized Field Education Plan (IFEP)
Competencies and Practice Behaviors
COMPETENCY ONE—IDENTIFY AS A PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKER & APPLY
ETHICAL PRINCIPLES
LEARNING GOAL: I will demonstrate the knowledge, skills and attitudes
that reflect the development of a professional self to include appropriate
use of supervision time, working knowledge of my agency, application of
social work ethics and standards, self-awareness, professional roles,
boundaries, presentation and demeanor and an ability to reflectively
discuss my practice.
PRACTICE BEHAVIOR ONE: APPROPRIATE USE OF SUPERVISION
I will demonstrate appropriate use of supervision time and
consultation and engage in self-correction as needed to assure
professional development. (2.1.1.6)
PRACTICE BEHAVIOR TWO: WORKING KNOWLEDGE & PROFESSIONAL
ROLE
I will demonstrate a basic working knowledge of the programs,
structure and environment of my agency. I will effectively represent
the agency and advocate for policies that advance social wellbeing. I will demonstrate professional boundaries, presentation and
demeanor. (2.1.1.3; 2.1.1.4; 2.1.10(c).1)
PRACTICE BEHAVIOR THREE: APPLICATION OF SOCIAL WORK VALUES
I will demonstrate application of social work ethics and standards.
(2.1.2.2; 2.1.2.3; 2.1.2.4)
PRACTICE BEHAVIOR FOUR: INCREASED SELF-AWARENESS
I will demonstrate self-awareness in development and presentation
of professional role that leads to self-correction when needed.
(2.1.1.2; 2.1.2.1)
COMPETENCY TWO—DEMONSTRATE CRITICAL THINKING IN ASSESSMENT &
PROBLEM-FORMULATION
LEARNING GOAL: I will develop the knowledge and skills to be able to
gather and communicate the necessary information to identify presenting
and underlying problems, as well as potential for change in the client
system; to clarify problems in terms of their extent and the ability of the
agency to meet the client’s needs; to professionally conceptualize
problems; to use research to inform practice; and to understand
environmental forces impacting client systems while maintaining a focus
on the strengths of the client.
PRACTICE BEHAVIOR ONE: INFORMATION GATHERING
I will explore situations as well as gather and present information
clearly in oral and written form. (2.1.3.3)
PRACTICE BEHAVIOR TWO: UNDERSTANDING CLIENT SYSTEM
I will demonstrate an understanding of the client’s point of view as
well as present my own opinion using multiple sources of
knowledge. (2.1.3.1; 21.10(a).1)
PRACTICE BEHAVIOR THREE: CONDUCT FORMAL CLIENT ASSESSMENTS
I will demonstrate a proficiency in assessment using agency
requirements and general assessment skills with various client
systems. (2.1.10(b).1; 2.1.10(b).2)
COMPETENCY THREE – ENGAGE WITH & ASSESS CLIENT SYSTEMS IN PLANNING
AND GOAL SETTING
LEARNING GOAL: I will develop the skills necessary to establish shortterm and long-term goals and objectives for myself and my clients. I will
also be able to use appropriate indicators of change, identify resources,
analyze past problem-solving efforts, use research and develop alternative
solutions for my clients. I will engage in a practice that is culturally
responsive and sensitive and which reflects awareness of issues of
diversity and difference.
PRACTICE BEHAVIOR ONE: ENGAGING DIVERSITY AND DIFFERENCE
I will demonstrate an ability engage diversity and difference in my
practice to promote the social well-being of clients, advance human
rights and promote economic justice. (2.1.4.1; 2.1.4.2; 2.1.4.3)
PRACTICE BEHAVIOR TWO: SHORT AND LONG TERM GOAL-SETTING
I will distinguish between immediate and long-term goals related to
my assessment of the client system. (2.1.10(a).3; 2.1.10(b).3;
2.1.10(c).3)
PRACTICE BEHAVIOR THREE: PLAN SPECIFIC INTERVENTIONS
I will demonstrate the ability to develop an intervention plan with the
client system that includes research based theory and specific
interventions. (2.1.6.1; 2.1.6.2; 2.1.10(b).4)
COMPENTENCY FOUR—DEVELOP COMMUNICATION SKILLS & INTERVENTION
STRATEGIES
LEARNING GOAL: I will be aware of and able to apply social work
interventions by establishing genuine, empathetic and non-judgmental
professional helping relationships; use appropriate social work skills
(interviewing techniques, group leadership skills, administrative skills, and
brokering / mediating / networking / advocating skills); be aware of issues
of power, privilege, oppression, alienations and marginalization; and be
aware of non-verbal communication.
PRACTICE BEHAVIOR ONE: PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION &
RELATIONSHIP SKILLS
I will demonstrate professional communication and relationship
skills in the context of multiple dimensions of diversity. (2.1.4.4;
2.1.10(a).2)
PRACTICE BEHAVIOR TWO: INTERVENTION STRATEGIES
I will demonstrate conscious use of self in interventions and in my
ability to identify the uniqueness of the client system in relation to
practice interventions. (2.1.5.1; 2.1.5.3)
COMPETENCY FIVE – EVALUATE OWN PRACTICE & PLAN FOR TERMINATION WITH
CLIENT SYSTEMS & AGENCY
LEARNING GOAL: I will demonstrate the ability to evaluate my own
practice, to evaluate the effectiveness of my work, and integrate that
awareness into my assessment and plan for termination with the client
system and my agency.
PRACTICE BEHAVIOR ONE: EVALUATION SKILLS
I will demonstrate the ability to evaluate my own practice and
assess client systems. (2.1.3.2; 2.1.20(c).2; 2.1.10(d))
PRACTICE BEHAVIOR TWO: TERMINATION Skills
I will demonstrate the ability to plan for termination with the client
system and the agency. (2.1.10(c).5)
COMPETENCY SIX—DEMONSTRATE APPLICATION OF POLICY PRACTICE, HUMAN
BEHAVIOR & SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT CONCEPTS
LEARNING GOAL: I will demonstrate application of policy practice when
possible, human behavior and social environment concepts by applying
social systems thinking and a developmental and social justice
perspective in my work with individuals and/or families. I will develop
awareness of a broad definition of diversity and how issues of power,
privilege and oppression influence and affect client systems. I will also
demonstrate awareness of small group processes and an understanding
of the impact of policy, community and organizational resources.
PRACTICE BEHAVIOR ONE: INDIVIDUAL/FAMILY
I will demonstrate the use of social systems thinking and
developmental and social justice perspective in my work with
individuals and families. (2.1.5.2; 2.1.7.1; 2.1.7.2)
PRACTICE BEHAVIOR TWO: SMALL GROUP WORK
I will demonstrate the understanding of small group processes.
PRACTICE BEHAVIOR THREE: POLICY/COMMUNITY/ORGANIZATION
I will demonstrate an understanding of and effective use of
community and organizational resources and the need to engage in
constructive policy change in advocating for client access to
services. (2.1.1.1; 2.1.8.1; 2.1.8.2; 2.1.10(c).4)
COMPETENCY SEVEN – INTEGRATE FIELD AND CLASSROOM LEARNING INTO
CHANGING CONTEXTS OF PRACTICE
LEARNING GOAL: I will demonstrate application of foundation year
learning in the field internship learning assignments. This will be done
through discussing assignments with my field instructor or use of field for
class assignments. I will recognize the changing context of social services
delivery and the need for career-long learning.
PRACTICE BEHAVIOR ONE: INTEGRATION OF CLASSROOM LEARNING
AND INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE
I will demonstrate an application and integration of field and
classroom learning into a broad view of the changing contexts of
practice. (2.1.1.5; 2.1.9.1; 2.1.9.2)
PRACTICE BEHAVIOR TWO: PROFESSIONAL GROWTH
I will demonstrate an ability to set personal and professional goals
related to learning and professional growth.