The assessment of Professional Competence

The assessment of professional competence

From the opening of the Social Workers Register on the 31 May 2011, there will be a two-year transitional or grandparenting period.  During this period, the assessment of professional competence is a means by which social work practitioners who have previously been in practice, but do not hold an approved qualification, can still become registered if they can demonstrate to us that they have met certain criteria.

In order to qualify for an assessment of professional competence you must have 1000 hours of practice, 350 of which must be in one full time block.  This must have been undertaken in the past five years i.e. since 31 May 2006. 

If you hold any of the qualifications listed below you do not have to undertake an assessment of professional competence.

Qualifications for entry to the profession   

Social Workers Registration Board approved qualifications:

1)     Master of Social Work, University College Cork                                      

2)     Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work Studies, University College Cork               

3)     Masters of Social Science (Social Work), University College Dublin        

4)     Graduate Diploma in Social Work, University College Dublin                   

5)     Masters in Social Work, University of Dublin, Trinity College                   

6)     Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work, University of Dublin, Trinity College         

7)     Masters in Social Work, National University of Ireland Galway                 

8)     Bachelor of Social Work, University College Cork                                               

9)     Bachelor in Social Studies, University of Dublin, Trinity College.

Or

Schedule 3 qualification:

1)     National Qualification in Social Work (NQSW) awarded by the National Social Work Qualifications Board

2)     Certificate of Qualification in Social Work (CQSW) awarded by the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work, UK.

Or

Qualification gained outside of the Republic of Ireland with:

1)     Letter of Recognition from the Social Workers Registration Board 

2)     Letter of Accreditation from the National Social Work Qualifications Board

Or

Hold a relevant/corresponding qualification:

The assessment of professional competence is based on the standards of proficiency for the profession of social work.  These are the standards required of graduates from an approved qualification for the practice of social work.  These standards are outlined in the Criteria and Standards of Proficiency for Social Work Education and Training Programmes.  This level of competence encompasses the standards of performance expected of all practitioners as outlined in the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Social Workers.  

The purpose of the assessment is to prove that you have been engaged in the practice of social work and that you can meet the standards of proficiency for the profession of social work.

The assessment is in two parts, a written assessment and a structured interview.

The written assessment

The written assessment is a detailed examination of your professional practice as a social worker and your competence in the standards of proficiency. 

The structured interview

The second part of the assessment is a competency based interview.  This interview will be based on the information supplied in the written assessment and may include questions outside of this information. 

The assessment is based on a composite score of both the written assessment and the structured interview.   

The assessment has been designed to allow you the best opportunity to demonstrate that you are competent for the practice of social work.  Once you have been deemed to demonstrate this, your application will then be considered for registration under the usual conditions.

For further information on the assessment of professional competence and the standards of proficiency for social work please contact the Education Department at info@coru.ie.