The NI PQ Framework has three Professional Awards:
NI Specific Award in Social Work:
To develop and enhance competence beyond the Social Work Degree level and help prepare for movement into more specialist work.
NI Specialist Award in Social Work:
For those involved in complex work requiring high levels of responsibility and accountability.
NI Leadership and Strategic Awards in Social Work:
For those influencing developments and influencing others.
NI PQ Framework Requirements
The NI PQ Framework provides opportunity for achievement of professional recognition within social work.
It may also create opportunity for access to academic achievement as determined by an academic Institution.
Underpinning Statements to be applied to all Awards
1. Critical reflection must be integral to all work to be considered in the NI PQ Framework.
2. A social work value base must be evident throughout all work to be considered in the NI PQ Framework.
3. Personal responsibility and initiative for independent learning to enhance continuous professional
development must be demonstrated.
4. Successful postgraduate study is characterised by a number of criteria
(i) It must demonstrate a thorough and systematic grasp of the issues in relationto a particular field of inquiry.
(ii) It must show independence of thought and originality. The candidate must move beyond familiar ideas to
develop thinking and application.
(iii) Methodological rigour must also be evident. This is shown in the way that problems are analysed and dealt
with in a systematic manner.
(iv) Critical judgement must be applied to complex and demanding scenarios. This necessitates the weighing
up of different arguments and courses of action.
NORTHERN IRELAND FRAMEWORK SPECIFICATION
NI SPECIFIC AWARD IN SOCIAL WORK
Core Requirements
A. Demonstrate a systematic understanding of their own practice and a critical awareness of current issues and challenges in the context of the NISCC Codes of Practice, professional ethics, the principles of diversity, equality and social inclusion in a wide range of situations.
B. Use evaluation to systematically develop and improve their specific practice, including implementing effective practice in inter-professional and inter-agency contexts.
C. Take responsibility for continuing professional development making use of professional and managerial supervision, consultation and other professional support as appropriate to identify and address issues; develop, implement and evaluate plans; and continue to advance knowledge and understanding in order to improve practice.
These Requirements are integral to the following Requirements of the Award
PQ Requirements
1. Develop and consistently sustain in-depth competence within their specific area of practice to agreed national, occupational or recognised agency standards, applying knowledge and experience of relevant service provision with confidence.
2. Demonstrate systematic and appropriate application of relevant legislation/policy, theories, research and methods of practice that include a range of skills.
3. Demonstrate consistent and sustained sound judgement and decision making in the context of complexity, risk, uncertainty, conflict and/or contradiction.
4. Systematically apply knowledge and understanding of service user and carers issues to actively contribute to social support strategies that promote choice, independence and empowerment and which involve service users and carers (where appropriate).
5. Effectively and efficiently manage and be accountable for own work and demonstrate a capacity to plan for and respond to change.
6. Demonstrate confidence in, and promote understanding of, own professional role within networks across organisational and professional boundaries and support others as appropriate to the candidate’s level of learning.
NI SPECIALIST AWARD IN SOCIAL WORK
PQ Requirements
1. Apply independent critical judgement to systematically develop their own practice and that of others in the context of the NISCC Codes of Practice, professional ethics, the principles of diversity, equality and social inclusion in a wide range of situations.
2. Demonstrate a substantially enhanced level of competence in a defined area of professional practice, professional management, professional education or applied professional research to agreed national, occupational or recognised agency standards.
3. Demonstrate a well-developed capacity of using analysis and evaluation to continuously develop and enhance own performance and contribute to the performance of professional and inter-professional groups, teams and networks.
4. Demonstrate a well developed capacity to analyse, evaluate and apply relevant and current research evidence including service user research.
5. Using a range of skills and methods of intervention, work effectively and creatively and with initiative in a context of risk, uncertainty, conflict and contradiction where there are complex challenges. Make informed and balanced judgements in the context of relevant policy and legislation.
6. Use a critical knowledge and understanding of service user and carers’ issues to develop and implement service user and where appropriate carer rights and participation in line with the goals of choice, independence and empowerment.
7. Take responsibility for influencing key aspects of complex change processes, including those involving other professions or other agencies.
8. Support, mentor, supervise or manage others including contributing to practice learning opportunities, enabling self and others to identify and explore issues, improve and develop and share best practice.
9. Develop and implement effective ways of working in networks across organisational and professional boundaries, having confidence in own professional role and taking responsibility for identifying , analysing and resolving complex issues, promoting partnership and collaboration, thus ensuring the delivery of integrated and person-centred services.
NORTHERN IRELAND FRAMEWORK SPECIFICATION
NI LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGIC AWARD IN SOCIAL WORK
PQ Requirements
1. Use independent critical judgement to take a leading role in systematically developing their own practice and that of others in the context of the NISCC Codes of Practice, codes of professional ethics, the principles of diversity, equality and social inclusion in a wide range of situations.
2. Demonstrate a substantially enhanced and sustained level of competence in a defined area of work, taking a leading role in developing and promoting good practice drawing on international perspectives to inform this.
3. Demonstrate conceptual understanding and a well developed capacity to take responsibility for the use of critical analysis and evaluation to continuously develop and enhance own performance and that of others.
4. Demonstrate a significant contribution to the development, delivery and evaluation of the service provided in a chosen area by demonstrating the ability to research, plan, implement, monitor and evaluate strategies for improvement or change;
5. Work creatively, innovatively and effectively, taking a leading role in the context of risk, uncertainty, conflict and contradiction or where there are complex challenges and a need to make informed, independent and balanced judgements.
6. Take a lead responsibility, using initiative and self direction, for managing key aspects of complex change processes, including those involving other professions or other agencies.
7. Support, mentor, supervise or manage others exercising leadership to enable them to identify and explore complex issues and improve practice and service delivery.
8. Take a leading role in developing and implementing effective ways of working in networks across organisational and professional boundaries, taking responsibility for identifying, analysing and resolving highly complex issues, promoting partnership and collaboration, thus ensuring the delivery of integrated and person-centred services.
9. Use critical knowledge and comprehensive understanding of service user and carers’ issues to actively promote, develop and implement service user and, where appropriate, carer rights and participation in line with the goals of choice, independence and empowerment.
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