1. SOCW 6000 week 7 A.Posted discussions by students week 7 Respond by Day 6 to at least two colleagues who wrote about two criteria that are different from yours. In your response, suggest an additional example to support each of your colleagues’ criteria. Julie Braley RE: Discussion - Week 7 Collapse Top of Form Competence includes knowing and abiding by the NASW Code of Ethics. The competent social worker knows the six values (service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence) and their ethical principles (National Association of Social Workers, 2008). They know them, but also understand and practice them. They also know, understand and practice the Social Workers’ Ethical Responsibilities to clients, colleagues, in practice settings, as professionals, to the social work profession and to the broader society (National Association of Social Workers, 2008). They are comfortable enough with the Code of Ethics to know when they need to reach out to a mentor, to ask for clarification in a sticky situation. They have the strength to uphold the Code of Ethics and to confront a colleague when their actions are in question. Competence means working within the boundaries of what you know and are licensed to practice. This also includes acknowledging when you do not know enough and need to pass a client or duty on to another that is better qualified. As a licensed social worker, you are able to perform certain tasks. There are other tasks that you cannot ethically perform until you are a licensed clinical social worker. The competent social worker knows what they are capable of doing and what they are not. National Association of Social Workers. (2008). Code of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. Retrieved from http://socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.asp Bottom of Form 2. Danielle David RE: Discussion - Week 7 Collapse Top of Form Competence in social work means to abide by your regions Code of Ethics as well as upholding the law to the highest professional degree. Competent practice protects the integrity of the social work profession and the rights of our clients to appropriate and beneficial service. It also means that as social workers, we have the responsibility to use critical thinking and decision making skills to properly assess and utilize all resources available for the betterment of our unique clients. To do this, a social worker must be conscientious and aware of his or her own barriers to competence in order to overcome them. An example of such a barrier can include lack of experience with a particular group, or the acknowledgment of personal bias to be set aside for the sake of their practice. I think that it is important to realize that social workers are diverse, and will inevitably come across potential challenges to practicing competently. These are the situations which determine a social workers ability to commit to their profession ...