Self Reflection on SWRB Core Competency Standards

This article discusses the effectiveness of the ANZASW programme in helping social workers increase their efficiency while working with Maori and meet the SWRB Core Competency Standards. It also explores the importance of cultural competence, working respectfully, promoting human rights, promoting social change, articulating social work theories, applying critical thinking, empowering people and communities, practicing with legal and ethical domains, and representing the social work profession with integrity.

Running head: CORE COMPETENCY STANDARDS
SELF REFLECTION ON ALL TEN SWRB CORE COMPETENCY STANDARDS
Student’s name
Name of the university
Author’s note

1CORE COMPETENCY STANDARDS
Practising social work with Maori
The Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers has been offering this programme in
order to fulfil the requirements of social workers (Swrb.govt.nz, 2019). The aim of the
organisation is to increase the efficiency of the social workers so that they can meet the
competency standards while practising social work with Maori (Arnold& Boggs, 2019).
I think the programme offered by the ANZASW is extremely effective in terms of helping social
workers to increase their efficiency while working with Maori. The workshop can also help the
social workers to represent the SWRB Core Competence 1 in a critical manner. Furthermore,
while practising social work with Maori, I think that social workers can get a comprehensive
overview of the historical and current background of the community. The programme provides
enough opportunity for social workers to engage themselves in a number of interactive sessions
with the members of the group. I think that social workers can learn TeRao vocabulary which is
extremely important in order to work with Maori.
The Treaty of Waitangi is regarded as an important document to the historical and political
constitution of New Zealand. The treaty was signed between Maori chiefs and the British crown.
Article two of the pact asserts the ownership of the Maori over certain areas and lands.
Competence in terms of practising with various cultural groups located in Aotearoa, New
Zealand
Acquiring cultural competence is considered as one of the important processes. The predominant
purpose of The Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003, is to ensure the health and
safety protection of the members (Bartley et al., 2016). Keeping that obligation in mind, the
board has created a mechanism that promotes the idea of cultural safety (Swrb.govt.nz, 2019).
The code enlisted in the guiding principle and preamble indicates the importance of showing
respect to the dignity of the people.
While practising with various ethnic and cultural groups located in Aotearoa, New Zealand,
Cultural competence can help the social workers in many ways. I think that cultural competence
is effective in terms of improving knowledge, skills and awareness. These qualities are also
necessary to make out the social, historical and political influence on health.

2CORE COMPETENCY STANDARDS
A bi-cultural nature of society in Aotearoa, New Zealand is important in which Maori and
Pakeha need to have equal rights and opportunity to contribute significantly in decision making
and policy development. In order to carry on social work in a bi-cultural setting, it is important
for the social workers to make out the Tangata whwnua status enjoyed by indigenous Maoris
who are the inhabitants of Aotearoa, New Zealand. It is important for social workers to acquire
comprehensive knowledge about the protocols and culture of Maori.
Competence in terms of working respectfully
Competence in terms of working respectfully represents the knowledge of diversity within
various cultures, including disability, ethnicity, age, gender and so on. Furthermore, it also
exhibits self-awareness which is necessary for a social worker to work inclusively along with the
difference in practice and diversity (Cournoyer, 2016).
I think that competence in term of carrying out work with dignity and respect Therefore, I want
to develop a social work practice model based on an eclectic model of practising social work.
This competence can help a social worker to a great extent to manage personal biases at the timer
of practising. I think this competence can also help a social worker to communicate and engage
with people belonging to the diverse background.
In order to work respectfully with various cultural and ethnic groups, a social worker needs to
have a comprehensive understanding of the culture of them. For example, while working with
Maoris, a social worker should have a clear understanding of the protocols of Tangata Whenua
and Te Iwi Maori.
Competence to promote human rights
Competence related to the promotion of the economic justice and human rights advocates
ensuring human, social, economic, and civil rights of the people (Greene, 2017). It also aims at
increasing self-determination among social workers. It is expected that social workers should
carry out their work in compliance with various practice standards.
In order to promote the concept of human rights and economic justice, social workers need to
acquire sufficient competency. I think competence can help social workers to understand various
challenges in terms of promoting the principles of human rights and economic justice.

3CORE COMPETENCY STANDARDS
Furthermore, I think that the competency can be effective in term of respecting the autonomy,
dignity and the rights of the people. In order to create an atmosphere of understanding and
respect a social worker needs to acquire this competency.
In order to work for various cultural groups, it is necessary for a social worker to adopt a
motivational approach. Social work practice needs to ensure human rights through the promotion
of social justice. For example, though Maturanga Maori, the tradition and body of Maori
knowledge, cannot be regarded as an acknowledgement of the culture of Maori, beliefs and
knowledge are considered as fundamental human rights.
Competence in terms of promoting social change
In terms of promoting social change, a social worker needs to acquire sufficient competence. It
can help a social worker to evaluate systems, policies and structures in a critical manner(Rubin &
Babbie, 2016). Without this competency, it is not possible for a social worker to collaborate with
others.
I think this competency has a number of benefits for a social worker. In order to bring social
change, it is necessary to evaluate various policies and structures in a critical way. I have found
that a competent social worker can promote social chance after understanding the impact of
various policies and systems on people. I have also noticed that having enough competence in
this area can help social workers to coordinate with others in an effective way. According to my
view, a competent social worker can contribute significantly to the process of policymaking.
It is the responsibility of a social worker, to promote the concept of interdependence among
various communities for promoting social change. For example, challenges associated with
various methods of discrimination in New Zealand are assumed to stem from the lifestyle and
values of the dominant people.
Competence in terms of articulating various social work theories
In terms of understanding and articulating various kinds of social theories and models related to
social practice and indigenous practice, competence is required at every stage of execution. It
helps a social worker to get a critical understanding of various theories associated with social
work (Sue, Rasheed & Rasheed, 2015).

4CORE COMPETENCY STANDARDS
I think this competence can facilitate a social worker to get sufficient knowledge by
understanding various social work theories, and a number of various other theories. I have found
that this competence helps a social worker to represent a critical understanding of the behaviours
of human beings. As I have found, in the Oder to articulate various theories associated with
social work, it is extremely important for a social worker to use a number of practice methods
related to social work. This competency can be beneficial to exploit different social practice
methods effectively.
In order to articulate various theories associated with social work, a social worker needs to
develop and apply various theories that are necessary for social work practice. There are various
kinds of theories that have an active influence on social work practice with Maori. Kaupapa
Maori theory is considered as a highly popular theoretical approach for social workerws engaged
with Moris. A mana enhancing approach is also regarded as an important theory associated with
Maori social work practice.
Competence of applying critical thinking in order to communicate professional judgement
Social workers are well-acquainted with the scientific inquiry, principles logic, and reasoned
discernment (Tidd & Bessant, 2018). It is important for them to use their critical thinking in an
effective way. Critical thinking is also required to in order to inform professional; judgement.
I think that this competence can facilitate a social worker to integrate various sources of
knowledge including communication technology, information technology and knowledge based
on research and so on. I have also found that a social worker with the competence of applying
critical thinking can involve in both practices informed research and research-informed practice.
I have also noticed that competency in this sector can assist a social worker to demonstrate the
efficiency of carrying out work autonomously. It is also helpful in terms of making an individual
judgement. I have also found that having competence in this area can assist the social workers to
represent effective oral, electronic and written communication.
For example, the Te ARA Tika model was propounded in the year of 2010. The objective of the
framework was to apply critical thinking in order to uphold the concept of professional
judgement. In order to promote the concept of professional judgement, social workers need to

5CORE COMPETENCY STANDARDS
use PRM tools. WHAKAPAKA which indicates the quality of the relationship can also support
the social workers to promote the concept of professional judgement.
Competence for empowering people and communities to bring positive changes
Competence in terms of empowering people is necessary for various reasons. Competence in this
area helps social workers considerably in term of assessing their requirements in order to carry
out their work flawlessly (Reamer, 2015). Moreover, competence in this area further indicates
the ability of social workers to manage interpersonal conflicts effectively.
I have noticed that competence in this area can provide a social worker with various advantages.
At the time of practising social work, a number of challenges can emerge in front of a social
worker that needs to be addressed in an effective way. Competence in this area can assist the
social workers to address those challenges in an effective manner by engaging and collaborating
with others. I have also noticed the fact that competency in this area can help people to make out
their potential and take part in the communities.
The human rights act 1993 seeks to protect the inhabitants of New Zealand from getting
mistreatment from the others. It is the duty of social workers to make people aware of their rights
in order to empower them.
Competence in terms of practising with legal and ethical domains
At the time of carrying out their work social workers have to face a number of ethical and legal
issues. Sometimes they have to take critical decisions in terms of maintaining professional
boundaries, developing awareness and so on (Wepa, 2015). Having enough competence in this
area assists a social worker to address various ethical and social issues.
I think competence in this area is very crucial for the social workers in terms of carrying out their
activities in compliance with SWRB Code of Conduct. I have also noticed that competence in
this area is very important to manage various ethical dilemmas and issues that may emerge in
front of the social workers at the time of working for the communities. I have also noticed that
competence in this sector is extremely helpful to make out various policies, systems, legislation
and so on.

6CORE COMPETENCY STANDARDS
For example, Te Ara Tika, is regarded as an important framework in terms of addressing the
ethical and legal issues of Maori. It is based on tikanga Maori and helpful for the social workers
to get a comprehensive understanding of the Maori ethical issues.
Representation social work profession with integrity
Maintaining unity and integrity is one of the pre-requisite of carrying out social work. Without
unity and integrity, it becomes extremely difficult for social workers to work for the community
(Werkmeister Rozas& Garran, 2015). Competency in this area helps social workers to act with
integrity. It also indicates how a social worker should behave in a professional manner.
I have found that competence in this area can be beneficial for social workers. It helps a social
worker to act with integrity which is extremely important in the social work profession. I have
also observed that it helps social workers to maintain both the professional and personal
boundaries in an effective manner. Furthermore, it also helps social workers in their professional
development.
For example, Social workers registration Board (SWRB) holds the right to set up various social
work codes and integrity. A social worker also needs to possess a comprehensive understanding
of ANZASW code of ethics in terms of practising social work with integrity.

7CORE COMPETENCY STANDARDS
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