Essay Instructions: Part 1 Summary EXERCISE: Profesionalism Of all the issues that pertain to professionalism, none is more important than the issue of the ? goodness of fit? between one?s personal beliefs, characteristics, motivations, and ambitions and the nature of social work practice. At some point, you must honestly address the following questions: ? Am I personally suited for this profession? Are my beliefs, motives, attributes, and characteristics compatible with those needed by social workers? Am I capable of putting aside my own personal beliefs when they conflict with the values and ethics of the profession, and my service obligations as a social worker? Am I ready for the challenges and sacrifices that social work entails?? These questions are fundamental to the consideration of personal and professional integrity. As a way to address them, please complete the following summary exercise. It will help you explore your motives for selecting this profession and evaluate your overall readiness to pursue social work as a profession. 1. Reflect upon and integrate the results of the exercises you undertook as you completed Part 1 ( Chapters 1? 5) of the skills book by preparing a summary analysis and assessment of your overall readiness for professional social work. Prepare your assessment in the form of a four- to five- page, double- spaced, word- processed report ( 1,000? 1,250 words) titled ? Summary Assessment of My Motivation, Readiness, and Suitability for the ?Profession of Social Work.? When you have finished, include the report in your ?Social Work Skills Learning Portfolio. In your report, be sure to address the following dimensions.
a. Career Plans: Look ahead to the professional social work career to which you as-pire after graduation. Describe the setting, the nature of the issues, and the kinds of people with whom you would prefer to work. Identify and describe the personal qualities and attributes that you think will be required of you to practice social work ethically and effectively in such a context.
b. Client and Setting Preference: Identify those settings, issues, and people with whom you would prefer not to work. Discuss the reasons for these preferences. What are the implications of those reasons for your personal and professional development? Would you be able to manage and put aside your personal preferences, if and when needed, in order to provide professional services in such a situation?
c. Critical Events: Identify one or two major factors or incidents in your personal, familial, or situational experience that contributed to your choice of social work as a career. Discuss how they affect your current readiness and motivation for professional social work practice.
d. Satisfying and Challenging Aspects: What do you anticipate will be the single most rewarding or satisfying part of being a professional social worker? What will be the single most difficult, challenging, or unsatisfying part?
e. Outstanding Questions: Based upon your reflection and responses, identify two or three questions that you would want to ask an outstanding, highly experienced ?social worker.
f. Readiness for Social Work: Consider your family genogram, eco- map, timeline, and the results of the self- efficacy, personality assessment, self- control, and social support instruments. Reflect upon your responses to the critical thinking, scientific inquiry, and career- long learning exercises as well as those related to valuing diversity and difference, advancing human rights and social justice, and promoting social well- being.
Finally, review your responses to the exercises that involve understand-ing legal obligations and social work values and ethics, identifying legal and ethical obligations that might apply to professional situations, and addressing ethical dilemmas. Then, ask yourself, . . ? Do I possess or can I develop the personal capacities necessary to function ?effectively as a professional social worker?? . . ? Am I ready to accept the challenges and sacrifices that social work entails?? . . ? All things considered, am I really suited for this profession?? If your answers include a negative response, check out your conclusions by meeting with an adviser, a social work professor, or a vocational counselor. If your conclusions are confirmed through discussions with others, proceed to identify other careers for which you may be better suited. If your answers are all affirmative, make note of personal areas that require further exploration and identify those ?capacities you need to strengthen. Outline a plan to do so.
