Here is the full competency profile of the bachelor programme of social work, at the School of Social Work (ISO) of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences / Hogeschool Rotterdam, Netherlands.

1. 1
Competency Profile
SOCIAL WORK School of
Social Work

2. Competency Profile Social Work at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands
The social worker
informs himself
The social worker clarifies issues and needs of people from a broad perspective. By adopting an inquiring attitude, he maps
out in a holistic way the (social, mental and physical) factors that affect the social issue. Based on this information, he looks
for opportunities to support people with their (individual) issues and needs in a sustainable way. He is an outreach worker
and identifies problems in an early stage. Furthermore, he ensures that (vulnerable) people and their network are actively
engaged in the joint search for long-term solutions.
The social worker
intervenes
A significant part of the job of the social worker is to implement interventions as a means of improving the quality of life of
(vulnerable) people in a sustainable way. These interventions are aimed at improving social, mental and physical conditions
for the long term; he applies strategies and practices in an evidence-informed way and is able to adjust interventions based
on his own experience. He drafts a plan, intervenes, reports and evaluates, and adjusts where necessary; the social worker
always considers the interests, strengths and talents of individuals and their network. The social worker supports, guides,
advocates, assists, facilitates and provides treatment, whether this is voluntary or involuntary; he organizes his work
effectively and efficiently, and works within budgetary constraints.
The social worker
collaborates and
acts sustainably
The social worker acts in a responsible, accountable and sustainable way when working with people. He identifies
opportunities to strengthen networks of (vulnerable) people and supports partnerships in order to realize a holistic and
effective approach. He utilizes the expertise available within multidisciplinary teams in order to arrive at better ideas
together.
The social worker is
innovative and
entrepreneurial
The social worker shows an inquiring and entrepreneurial attitude in creating new opportunities together with (vulnerable)
people, networks, organizations and professionals; his goal is to improve current practice. He shows effects and learns from
experiences.
The social worker develops
his own professional
identity
By means of personal reflection, the social worker continues to work on his professional development and expertise in a(n)
(inter)national context. This means that the social worker works on enhancing his individual development as well as his
professional performance. He is visible, takes the initiative and exerts his discretionary power (i.e., he takes decisions at his
own discretion in accordance with the values and principles of the profession); he demonstrates self-awareness and knows
how to maintain boundaries. Furthermore, he promotes the social work profession and articulates its added value.

3. The social worker informs himself
Level 1
Characteristics: maximum guidance, low
responsibility, basic skills, basic knowledge, basic
attitude, view on practice, single problem
situations.
Level 2
Characteristics: maximum guidance, low
responsibility, basic skills, basic knowledge, basic
attitude, view on practice, single problem
situations.
Level 3
Characteristics: minimum guidance, full (and final)
responsibility, specialist knowledge, specialist skills,
specialist attitude, added value to practice,
multidimensional or complex problems.
• Identifies the issues and needs of people in single
problem situations (in practice) or multiproblem
situations (in theoretical context). He recognizes
opportunities and issues on a micro-level of
analysis.
• Examines the various factors that contribute to
single problem situations (in practice) or
multiproblem situations (in theoretical context) of
(vulnerable) people, proactively and with a holistic
approach . He examines opportunities to promote
sustainable changes to improve the situation, using
his basic knowledge, skills and attitude.
• Engages (vulnerable) people in their problems
through professional conversation. He applies
conversation techniques and is aware of the socio-
cultural values of those involved.
• Is active and entrepreneurial and is familiar with
the principles of outreach work. He understands
how it contributes to his work in practice.
• Identifies and clarifies the issues and needs of
people with complex problems proactively. He is
present at an early stage to prevent (social)
problems from going from bad to worse. He
recognizes opportunities and issues on the
different levels of analysis (micro-, meso- and
macro-level), and on social, mental and physical
levels.
• Examines the various factors that contribute to
multiproblem situations (in practice) or complex
problems (in theoretical context) of (vulnerable)
people, proactively and with a holistic approach.
He examines opportunities to promote sustainable
changes to improve the situation, using his
enhanced knowledge base, skills and attitude.
• Engages (vulnerable) people and their social
network in their problems; together, they look for
opportunities that enable them to tackle their
problem. He is aware of the socio-cultural values of
those involved, including his own.
• Is active and entrepreneurial and applies the
principles of outreach work. He is aware of current
developments inside the social network of the
(vulnerable) people he works with.
• Identifies and clarifies the issues and needs of
people in multiproblem situations (in practice) or
complex problems (in theoretical context). He is
present at an early stage to prevent (social)
problems from going from bad to worse. He
recognizes opportunities and issues on the micro-
and meso-levels of analysis, and on social, mental
and physical levels.
• Examines the various factors that contribute to
complex problems of people, proactively and with
a holistic approach; he examines opportunities to
promote sustainable changes to improve the
situation, using his broad knowledge base and
skills as well as his specialist attitude and views.
• Mobilizes people and their social network by
actively engaging them in identifying the issue and
addressing their own problem. He is aware of his
own socio-cultural values, the socio-cultural values
of those involved as well as those of the
organization.
• Is active and entrepreneurial and applies the
principles of outreach work. He is always well-
informed about developments both inside and
outside the social network of the people he works
with.

4. The social worker intervenes
Level 1
Characteristics: maximum guidance, low
responsibility, basic skills, basic knowledge, basic
attitude, view on practice, single problem
situations.
Level 2
Characteristics: maximum guidance, low
responsibility, basic skills, basic knowledge, basic
attitude, view on practice, single problem
situations.
Level 3
Characteristics: minimum guidance, full (and final)
responsibility, specialist knowledge, specialist skills,
specialist attitude, added value to practice,
multidimensional or complex problems.
The social worker drafts a plan.
• Develops (support) goals in a structured way and
in partnership with (vulnerable) people in single
problem situations, and/or facilitates, supports and
guides people when setting these goals.
• Justifies why (support) goals were set to students,
lecturers and colleagues, based on developments
in the social domain, (inter)national literature and a
holistic approach. He clarifies the advantages and
disadvantages of the goals that were set.
The social worker utilizes interventions and social
work strategies.
• Attends to people in single problem situations,
with an open mind. Discussions are held under
supervision in a respectful, inquiring and accessible
manner; he professionally takes into account the
socio-cultural values of those involved. He also
The social worker drafts a plan.
• Develops a plan in a structured way and in
partnership with (vulnerable) people in
multiproblem situations, and/or facilitates,
supports and guides people when drafting this
plan.
• Justifies why the plan was drafted, to other
professionals and others involved, based on
developments in the social domain, (inter)national
literature and a holistic approach. He clarifies the
advantages and disadvantages of this plan, (e.g.
utilizing either an individual or a collective
approach) and, based on these (dis)advantages,
recommends what support is most appropriate for
(vulnerable) people and their network.
The social worker utilizes interventions and social
work strategies.
• Attends to people in multiproblem situations, with
an open mind. Discussions are held without
supervision in a respectful, inquiring and accessible
manner; he professionally takes into account the
socio-cultural values of those involved, including
The social worker drafts a plan.
• Develops a plan in a structured way and in
partnership with (vulnerable) people with complex
problems, and/or facilitates, supports and guides
people when drafting this plan. In developing the
plan, he actively engages other professionals and
the social network to sustainably improve the
situation.
• Justifies why the plan was drafted to other
professionals and the social network, based on
developments in the social domain, (inter)national
literature, practice wisdom and a holistic approach.
He clarifies the advantages and disadvantages of
the plan, (e.g. utilizing either an individual or a
collective approach) and, based on these
(dis)advantages, selects what support is most
appropriate for (vulnerable) people and their
network.
The social worker utilizes interventions and social
work strategies.
• Attends to people with complex problems, with an
open mind. Discussions are held without
supervision in a respectful, inquiring and accessible
manner; he professionally takes into account his
own socio-cultural values, the socio-cultural values

5. takes into account cultural differences and
(inter)national codes of ethics.
• Motivates, supports, guides, facilitates,
provides care, informs and helps (vulnerable)
people in single problem situations. He thinks in
terms of relational autonomy, i.e. people’s
(in)ability to be independent and self-reliant in
relations with others or networks, ‘collective
reliance’.
• Develops an intervention to sustainably decrease
social problems in (community) networks. He
examines opportunities to strengthen
interrelationships between networks and to resolve
problems in a sustainable way.
• Is aware of the role of the social worker, is familiar
with the possibilities and impossibilities, and knows
when to refer or when to increase social support.
• Demonstrates awareness of practising in a more
or sometimes less efficient, effective and cost-
aware manner.
The social worker reports and evaluates.
• Knows the obligations when reporting activities
and results. He reports and evaluates to what
extent his goals have been achieved.
his own. He also takes into account cultural
differences and he adheres to (inter)national codes
of ethics.
• Motivates, supports, guides, facilitates,
provides care, informs, advises, advocates and
helps (vulnerable) people in multiproblem
situations. He thinks in terms of relational
autonomy, i.e. people’s (in)ability to be
independent and self-reliant in relations with
others or networks, ‘collective reliance’.
• Intervenes holistically and sustainably, under
supervision, to decrease social problems in
(community) networks. He stimulates responsibility
and commitment of (vulnerable) people in order to
engage them in joined-up thinking of a sustainable
improvement of the situation.
• Is aware of (his own) capabilities and limitations,
and informs the supervisor about them; together
they decide whether to refer or to increase social
support.
• Knows the possibilities to work more efficiently
and effectively, and to increase cost-awareness.
The social worker reports and evaluates.
• Reports the goals, activities and results to the
practice supervisor and the university supervisor,
and justifies how the goals have been achieved.
of those involved as well as those of the
organization. He also takes into account cultural
differences and he adheres to (inter)national codes
of ethics.
• Motivates, supports, guides, facilitates,
provides care, informs, advises, advocates and
helps (vulnerable) people with complex problems.
He thinks in terms of relational autonomy, i.e.
people’s (in)ability to be independent and self-
reliant in relations with others or networks,
‘collective reliance’; he also applies a holistic
approach.
• Intervenes holistically and sustainably to decrease
social problems in (community) networks. He
stimulates responsibility and commitment of
(vulnerable) people, and creates and facilitates
interrelationships between networks to sustainably
improve the situation.
• Is aware of (his own) capabilities and limitations,
and, in case of own limitations, contacts partner
organizations on his own initiative in order to refer
or to intensify the intervention.
• Organizes his own tasks efficiently and effectively,
and works within budgetary constraints, well aware
of costs.
The social worker reports and evaluates.
• Reports the goals, activities and results to those
involved and those concerned in an accessible
manner, and evaluates and justifies the goals that
have been achieved, the efficiency and the (long-
term) effectiveness, including his views and the
values that guided him.

6. The social worker collaborates and acts sustainably
Level 1
Characteristics: maximum guidance, low
responsibility, basic skills, basic knowledge, basic
attitude, view on practice, single problem
situations.
Level 2
Characteristics: maximum guidance, low
responsibility, basic skills, basic knowledge, basic
attitude, view on practice, single problem
situations.
Level 3
Characteristics: minimum guidance, full (and final)
responsibility, specialist knowledge, specialist skills,
specialist attitude, added value to practice,
multidimensional or complex problems.
• Identifies opportunities and challenges
for (vulnerable) people and their network.
He is aware of how social workers are
able to strengthen partnerships. When
communicating with the network, he is
open-minded towards a diversity of
cultures and social environments, so that
people feel acknowledged and heard.
• Invests in the collaboration with fellow
students. The social worker utilizes the
strengths of others and actively tries to
find common ground to develop
(innovative and better) ideas together. He
puts his own behaviour as well as that of
others up for discussion and gives
feedback if necessary.
• Utilizes the networks of (vulnerable)
people; together and under supervision,
they look for effective and sustainable
solutions. He is open-minded towards a
diversity of cultures and social
environments, so that groups of
(vulnerable) people experience the
support as appropriate and transparent.
• Invests in (interdisciplinary) collaboration
with other professionals. The social
worker utilizes the strengths of other
professionals through dialogue; through a
diversity of perspectives, he develops and
arrives at (innovative and better) ideas
(individually or in partnership). He puts
his own behaviour as well as that of
others up for discussion and gives
feedback if necessary.
• Strengthens networks of (vulnerable)
people. He develops and sustains
partnerships between (vulnerable) people
and their network in order to deal with
issues in an effective and sustainable way.
He is accessible and open-minded
towards a diversity of cultures and social
environments, so that people experience
the support as appropriate and
transparent. This way, people will feel free
to tell their stories, asks questions, and
accept and utilize the required support.
• Strengthens (interdisciplinary)
collaborations with other professionals.
The social worker utilizes their strengths
in the best possible way, and actively tries
to find common ground to develop and
arrive at (innovative and better) ideas in
partnership with others. He puts
collaboration issues and his own
behaviour as well as the behaviour of
others up for discussion and gives
feedback if necessary.

7. The social worker is innovative and entrepreneurial
Level 1
Characteristics: maximum guidance, low
responsibility, basic skills, basic knowledge, basic
attitude, view on practice, single problem
situations.
Level 2
Characteristics: maximum guidance, low
responsibility, basic skills, basic knowledge, basic
attitude, view on practice, single problem
situations.
Level 3
Characteristics: minimum guidance, full (and final)
responsibility, specialist knowledge, specialist skills,
specialist attitude, added value to practice,
multidimensional or complex problems.
• Conducts small-scale research into
simple issues. He critically considers
(inter)national theoretical insights. He is
entrepreneurial and proactively looks for
opportunities to test his theoretical ideas
in practice. He translates the results of his
small-scale research into discussion,
conclusions and recommendations for
practice.
• Familiarizes himself with relevant and
topical methods, products and services.
• Conducts research into multiproblem
issues. He applies a holistic approach and
critically considers (inter)national
theoretical insights. Based on this, he
arrives at an insight or develops a product
to be tested in practice. He is
entrepreneurial and proactively looks for
opportunities to test the product in
practice. He translates the results of his
research into discussion, conclusions and
recommendations for practice.
• Applies new methods, products and
services in his own work and informs
fellow students and lecturers about them.
• Is inquisitive and entrepreneurial, and
observes and examines bottlenecks and
opportunities in the implementation of
social support and/or in the working
environment. He researches these
bottlenecks and complex problems. He
applies a holistic approach and critically
considers (inter)national theoretical
insights. Based on this, he arrives at an
innovative insight or develops an
innovative product to be tested in
practice. He translates the results of his
research into discussion, conclusions and
recommendations for practice.
• Integrates new methods, products and
services in his own work and in partner
organizations.

8. The social worker develops his own professional identity
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
• Knows (inter)national theories, thus working
on his own actions and expertise.
• Knows the code of ethics of the social worker,
and critically reflects on his own professional
actions, attitude and drive, guided by the
values and principles of the profession. He is
able to clarify his decisions and dilemmas.
• Reflects on his own actions so as to improve
the standards of his professional work.
• Develops an inquiring attitude and does
small-scale research.
• Studies (inter)national theories and takes his
own decisions in practice and professional
development.
• Applies the social work code of ethics as well
as that of the organization and actively
contributes to it by dealing with challenges
and dilemmas in a responsible and
accountable manner. He critically reflects on
his own actions, attitude and drive, guided by
the values and principles of the profession.
• Reflects on his own actions as well as those
of other professionals so as to improve the
standards of both his own work and that of
the organization.
• Contributes to the professionalization and
identity of the profession through knowledge
development based on research and
experience; he is able to apply this in his own
actions as well as in professional practice.
• Studies (inter)national theories and takes his
own decisions in practice and professional
development (‘lifelong learning’) as well as
that of partner organizations, thus
contributing to the professionalization and
identity of the profession.
• Develops his own expertise in accordance
with the code of ethics of both the profession
and the organization, and actively contributes
to his expertise by professionally dealing with
challenges and dilemmas in a responsible and
accountable manner. He utilizes his
professional expertise to critically reflect on
his own professional actions, attitude and
drive, guided by the values and principles of
the profession as well as by theoretical
frameworks and vision.
• Reflects on his own actions as well as those
of other professionals so as to improve the
standards of his own work, and actively
contributes to these standards by
professionally dealing with challenges and
dilemmas in a responsible and accountable
manner.
• Contributes to the professionalization and
identity of the profession through knowledge
development, transfer of professional
experience and knowledge sharing.