post Professional Philosophy Draft for Peer Review in Small Group Discussion Boards
Post your professional philosophy draft here for peer reviews in your small groups. Provide feedback and a grade recommendation based on the assignment’s instructions to at least two of your peers. As you know, professional social workers are often called upon to provide feedback for their colleagues, and this peer review provides another opportunity to practice doing so.
PEER REVIEWS ARE DUE IN THE NEXT MODULE: MODULE 14.
Professional Philosophy Paper Instructions
Each Student’s philosophy statements will represent your personal philosophy, values, acquired skills, professional goals, assessment of your leadership qualities, and a professional development plan. The philosophy statement demonstrates the important ideas, theories, beliefs, and assumptions that underlie your professional behaviors, identifies the skill and competencies you have acquired thus far, and identifies the additional skills you would like to attain in order to achieve your desired career goals. To prepare, read the assigned Philosophy of Self and Leadership articles (in your class schedule) and use the Social Work Helper’s Four Steps for Developing your Personal Philosophy as a tool for brainstorming and reflection. You will write a 6-8 page paper that covers each of the following areas. This paper is to be written professionally, though it will be acceptable to use first-person as you are reflecting on your own beliefs, values, skills, etc. Craft your statement so that it uniquely represents you and the goals and aspirations you have for your career.
Please address the following questions in developing your statement:
What is your understanding of the social work profession? What grounds this profession and what is it about social work that led you here? What philosophy and/or theoretical perspective (personal lens) grounds you in your professional identity as a social worker? What motivates you professionally? Explain.
Assess your personal and professional growth. In what ways have you grown during your time as a social work student? Have your professional interests changed? Why/How? What have you learned about yourself – about yourself as a social worker?
Assess your readiness for practice. What specific knowledge and skills do you now have that will equip you for your chosen career? In what ways did your educational journey in the BASW program help you acquire this knowledge/these skills? In this process, refer to the nine CSWE Core Competencies and reflect briefly on your abilities in each of these areas:
Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice
Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice
Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research-Informed Practice
Engage in Policy Practice
Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities
Professional Development – What do you foresee as areas for growth – what knowledge, skills, experiences, etc. do you need to further develop to meet your career goals?
Professional Leadership. Social Workers are often called upon to be leaders. Review each of the seven elements of leadership (Self-Knowledge, Critical and Creative Thinking, Effective Communication, Respect and Inclusion, Moral Courage, Teamwork and Collaboration, Focus on Purpose/Results) and honestly appraise your readiness for leadership.
Articulate your career goals. What strengths do you possess to help achieve your goals? What does your short term (3-5 year) and long term (5-10 year) career plan look like? Include a discussion of how you will utilize continuing education (broadly, what will you do to be “current” in your field? What kinds of CEUs will you utilize) and whether you plan to pursue additional degree(s) in/outside of Social Work. How does your BASW prepare you for these goals? What licensing will you pursue in your career? Why?
Conclude your philosophy statement by outlining your next steps for professional development and lifelong learning. Your professional development plan should align with the areas for further growth outlined in your statement.
Throughout your statement, cite sources in APA format when required. Write in a professional voice and ensure that your writing is free of grammatical and mechanical errors and is written in a style/voice that becomes a professional social worker (this includes non-biased language, etc.).
Criteria Points
1. Student shares a complete draft in the discussion board that is based on the assignment’s required criteria:
Identifies & discusses the writer’s understanding of the social work profession, personal lens, professional motivation, theoretical grounding
Identifies & discusses the writer’s personal and professional growth
Identifies & discusses the writer’s readiness for practice including a reflection of the 9 CSWE Core Competencies
Identifies & discusses the writer’s professional development
Identifies & discusses the writer’s professional leadership
Identifies & discusses the writer’s career goals
Identifies & discusses the writer’s next steps for professional development and lifelong learning
4
2. APA formatting and requirements are used throughout the submission.
Uses professional language that becomes a professional social worker
Writing is clear and understandable
Correct APA formatting is used including correct use of in-text citations and references
References and citations are used as needed
Writing is free from grammatical and mechanical errors
Writing uses non-biased, inclusive language
4
3. Submission is a minimum of 6 pages and a maximum of 8 pages and covers all required content areas
2
Total Points
10
