ECU School of Social Work
MSW Student Self-Assessment
Student Name _____________________________________________________________
Semester(s): Fall _______ Spring _______ Year(s) _____________________________
Please check all applicable: MSW I ______
Full-time______
Campus:
MSW II______
or
Advanced Standing______
Part time______
Greenville ________ New Bern________ Rocky Mount________
The MSW Self-Assessment is designed to help you clarify the social work knowledge and skills that you already
have, and to identify your areas for growth in practice skills and knowledge. Consider any paid, volunteer or
internship experiences you have had in social work or related settings, and your academic coursework. You will
assess your skills and knowledge twice, once at the start of your internship and once at the end. The first
assessment will help you identify areas to focus on during your internship experience. By assessing yourself
again at the end of the internship, you’ll be able to see your growth as a social work professional, and identify
areas for continued education.
Assess yourself on each of the items in the chart below, using the rating scale below. Try to be as honest as
possible so that this self-assessment to be useful to you in your development as a professional social worker.
Students are not expected to have training or experience in all of these areas, and will not be graded on their
scores.
1= Do not have essential knowledge and/ or competency in practice skills
2= Limited understanding of essential knowledge and/or limited competency in practice skills
3 = Beginning professional knowledge and professional practice skills
4 = Capable of using a variety of theories and practice skills for effective practice
5 = Proficient - able to adapt skills to the setting and effectively use skills in new, diverse and difficult contexts
Note: Items numbered APB 1 through APB 13 are Advanced Practice Behaviors, learning goals for the
advanced year of the MSW program.
Competency 2.1.1 - Identify as a professional social worker & conduct
oneself accordingly.
Social workers serve as representatives of the profession, its mission, and its
core values. They know the profession’s history. Social workers commit
themselves to the profession’s enhancement and to their own professional
conduct and growth.
Start of
Internship
End of
Internship
1
Advocate for client access to the service of social work
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
2
Practice personal reflection and self-correction to assure continual
development.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1
8.8.14
3
Attend to professional roles and boundaries.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
4
Demonstrate professional demeanor in behavior, appearance and
communication
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
5
Self initiate learning to enhance my skills and knowledge
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
6
Use supervision and consultation
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
Demonstrate the ability to maintain appropriate client centered
relationships
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
Start of
Internship
End of
Internship
APB
1
Competency 2.1.2 - Apply social work ethical principles to guide professional
practice.
Social workers have an obligation to conduct themselves ethically and to
engage in ethical decision-making. Social workers are knowledgeable about the
value base of the profession, its ethical standards, and relevant law.
7
Recognize & manage personal values in a way that allows professional
values to guide practice.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
8
Make ethical decisions by applying standards of the National Association
of Social Workers Code of Ethics and, as applicable, of the International
Federation of Social Workers/International Association of Schools of
Social Work Ethics in Social Work, Statement of Principles.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
9
Tolerate ambiguity in resolving ethical conflict.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
10
Apply strategies of ethical reasoning to arrive at principled decisions.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
Identify and use knowledge of relationship dynamics, including power
differentials in clinical community social work practice form a relational
perspective applying social work ethics.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
Start of
Internship
End of
Internship
APB
2
Competency 2.1.3 Apply critical thinking to inform & communicate
professional judgments.
Social workers are knowledgeable about the principles of logic, scientific
inquiry, and reasoned discernment. They use critical thinking augmented by
creativity and curiosity. Critical thinking also requires the synthesis and
communication of relevant information.
11
Distinguish, appraise & integrate multiple sources of knowledge,
including research-based knowledge, and practice wisdom.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
12
Analyze models of assessment, prevention, intervention, and evaluation.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
13
Demonstrate effective oral and written communication in working with
individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities, and
colleagues.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
2
8.8.14
APB
3
Apply critical thinking to inform professional judgment in creating,
maintaining and repairing the working alliance with clients and/or client
systems.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
Start of
Internship
End of
Internship
Competency 2.1.4 - Engage diversity & difference in practice.
Social workers understand how diversity characterizes and shapes the human
experience and is critical to the formation of identity. The dimensions of
diversity are understood as the intersectionality of multiple factors including
age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and
expression, immigration status, political ideology, race, religion, sex, and sexual
orientation. Social workers appreciate that, as a consequence of difference, a
person’s life experiences may include oppression, poverty, marginalization, and
alienation as well as privilege, power, and acclaim.
14
Recognize the extent to which a culture’s structures & values oppress,
marginalize, alienate, or create or enhance privilege & power.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
15
Gain sufficient self-awareness to eliminate the influence of personal
biases and values in working with diverse groups.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
16
Recognize and communicate their understanding of the importance of
difference in shaping life experiences.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
17
View themselves as learners & engage those with whom they work as
informants.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
Demonstrate an understanding of how diverse community contexts
shape individuals, and how individuals shape their communities.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
Start of
Internship
End of
Internship
APB
4
Competency 2.1.5 Advance human rights & social & economic justice.
Each person, regardless of position in society, has basic human rights,
such as freedom, safety, privacy, an adequate standard of living, health care,
and education. Social workers recognize the global interconnections of
oppression and are knowledgeable about theories of justice and strategies to
promote human and civil rights. Social work incorporates social justice practices
in organizations, institutions, and society to ensure that these basic human
rights are distributed equitably and without prejudice.
18
Understand the forms & mechanisms of oppression & discrimination.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
19
Advocate for human rights and social and economic justice.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
20
Engage in practices that advance social and economic justice and human
rights for clients/consumers and communities.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
APB
5
Apply a Clinical-Community Relational Perspective formulation of human
rights and social justice to a community development model.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
3
8.8.14
Competency 2.1.6 - Engage in research-informed practice & practice-informed
research.
Social workers use practice experience to inform research, employ evidencebased interventions, evaluate their own practice, and use research findings to
improve practice, policy, and social service delivery. Social workers comprehend
quantitative and qualitative research and understand scientific and ethical
approaches to building knowledge.
Start of
Internship
End of
Internship
21
Use practice experience to inform scientific inquiry.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
22
Use research evidence to inform practice.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
Use multiple forms of research to inform Clinical Community practice
decisions.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
Start of
Internship
End of
Internship
APB
6
Competency 2.1.7 - Apply knowledge of human behavior & the social
environment.
Social workers are knowledgeable about human behavior across the life course;
the range of social systems in which people live; and the ways social systems
promote or deter people in maintaining or achieving health and well-being.
Social workers apply theories and knowledge from the liberal arts to
understand biological, social, cultural, psychological, and spiritual development.
23
Utilize conceptual frameworks to guide the process of assessment,
intervention & evaluation.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
24
Critique & apply knowledge to understand person & environment.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
Integrate and critically apply theories of human behavior and the social
environment to guide clinical community practice.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
Start of
Internship
End of
Internship
APB
7
Competency 2.1 8 - Engage in policy practice to advance social & economic
well-being & to deliver effective social work services.
Social work practitioners understand that policy affects service delivery, and
they actively engage in policy practice. Social workers know the history and
current structures of social policies and services; the role of policy in service
delivery; and the role of practice in policy development.
25
Analyze, formulate & advocate for policies that advance social wellbeing.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
26
Collaborate with colleagues and clients for effective policy action.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
Identify a policy and formulate a policy alternative that would improve
service delivery and advance social and economic well-being.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
APB
8
4
8.8.14
Competency 2.1 9 Respond to contexts that shape practice.
Social workers are informed, resourceful, and proactive in responding to
evolving organizational, community, and societal contexts at all levels of
practice. Social workers recognize that the context of practice is dynamic, and
use knowledge and skill to respond proactively.
Start of
Internship
End of
Internship
27
Continuously discover, appraise & attend to changing locales,
populations, scientific & technological developments & emerging
societal trends to provide relevant services.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
28
Provide leadership in promoting sustainable changes in service delivery
& practice to improve the quality of social services.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
APB
9
Anticipate, evaluate and respond to dynamic social contexts to propose
sustainable system change.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
Competency 2.1.10 (A-D) Engage, assess, intervene & evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations &
communities.
Professional practice involves the dynamic and interactive processes of engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation
at multiple levels. Social workers have the knowledge and skills to practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and
communities. Practice knowledge includes identifying, analyzing, and implementing evidence-based interventions designed to
achieve client goals; using research and technological advances; evaluating program outcomes and practice effectiveness;
developing, analyzing, advocating, and providing leadership for policies and services; and promoting social and economic
justice.
A. Engagement
Start of
Internship
End of
Internship
29
Substantively & affectively prepare for action with individuals, families,
groups, organizations and communities.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
30
Use empathy & other interpersonal skills.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
31
Develop a mutually agreed-on focus of work & desired outcomes.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
Attend to the interpersonal dynamics and contextual factors that both
strengthen and potentially threaten the helping relationship.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
Start of
Internship
End of
Internship
APB
10
B. Assessment
32
Collect, organize, and interpret client data.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
33
Assess client strengths and limitations.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
34
Develop mutually agreed-on intervention goals & objectives.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
35
Select appropriate intervention strategies.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
Critically examine the use of the professional relationship to assess the
fit of intervention strategies to client needs.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
APB
11
5
8.8.14
C. Intervention
Start of
Internship
End of
Internship
36
Initiate actions to achieve organizational goals.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
37
Implement prevention interventions that enhance client capacities.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
38
Help clients resolve problems.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
39
Negotiate, mediate, and advocate for clients.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
40
Facilitate transitions and endings.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
Start of
Internship
End of
Internship
Critically analyze, monitor & evaluate interventions.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
Use objective and intersubjective information to evaluate intervention
effectiveness.
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
APB
12
Demonstrate the ability to develop and apply integrative
interventions from various theoretical perspectives.
D. Evaluation
41
APB
13
Self Evaluation Summaries
Once you have completed the rating above, briefly summarize your current strengths and
competencies and your areas for additional development. You can use this information to construct your
internship Learning Agreement, and guide your ongoing professional development.
Starting Evaluation
Strengths and Skills
Areas for further development (skills and/or knowledge)
6
8.8.14
Ending Evaluation
Strengths and Skills
Areas for further development (skills and/or knowledge)
New Learning Goals
7
8.8.14