A Bachelor in Social Work prepares you to enter into the professional work force as a social worker. One role of your program is to develop your personal sense of professional identity. Conducting yourself in a professional manner means more than dressing appropriately. Professional conduct also refers to the way you speak with people, how you approach conflict and ethical dilemmas, conduct yourself with coworkers and show respect for a person's living situation. Your coursework and field placement help you gain experience as a professional in the field.
Social work was founded on ideals of equity and multiculturalism. A social worker should expect to interact with, help, and learn from a variety of people, whether they are clients or colleagues. You should expect your social work program to challenge your privileged identities and foster conversation about oppression and civil rights. Social identities play a large role in service delivery. Your bachelor's degree is a place to begin learning about power relationships in society.
Evidence-based practice means using techniques and programs that have been proven effective. Finding an evidence-based technique specifically for your setting and population can be a challenge. Acquired knowledge about the community you work in lets you adapt current evidence-based practices for your setting. For example, you may work with Latina women in southwest Detroit developing a new mothers support group, but you can only find evidence-based programs for African-American women in Detroit. Use your knowledge of the female Latina community to adapt that program for your needs.
You should expect to learn about the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics during your program. This Code outlines the acceptable behaviors for social workers. There are six founding values: service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity and competence. The Code also details your ethical responsibilities to your clients, colleagues, in your practice settings, as a professional, to the social work profession and broader society. This Code lays the framework for your cirriculum and is often referenced in class.
Social workers are also expected to assess people, families, communities and policies with the intent of connecting those parties to resources or bring the resources to the party. Your social work program teaches how to do proper assessments. It is your duty to become educated on the relevant resources for the population and setting you with. For example, if you are working on a housing policy that prevents discrimination based on ability, you might have to facilitate a training for the city's housing office on the official obligations laid out in the Americans with Disabilities Act.