Discussion 7.1

Discussion 7.1

Professional Social Work Attire and Engagement

Professional social workers are knowledgeable about the code of ethics, social work values and principles, and understand the importance of their own behaviors, language, appearance, and non-verbal communication. We realize that all of these areas affect relationships with clients and colleagues.

Many agencies and organizations often have policies related to professionalism. To find out more about these types of policies within your social work educational program you should refer to the program’s student handbook.

Professionalism includes:

• Smiling when we greet clients or colleagues
• Allowing our facial expressions to mimic that of our clients (e.g. if they are crying, we do not want to smile)
• Refusing to participate in gossip or other degrading conversations
• Listening, then speaking
• Understanding what knowledge you still need and identifying sources where you can gather that knowledge. Remember, social workers are life-long learners
• Willingness to engage in self-reflection
• Practicing cultural humility
• Wearing clothing that is appropriate for your work environment (i.e. if you work/play with children on a regular basis you want to wear clothing that is comfortable and allows you to move throughout the day). If you are unsure if your clothing is appropriate for this job, please ask your supervisor
• Utilizing non-biased language both verbally and in writing (e.g. saying that a client is lazy and won’t find a job instead of saying that the client is currently unemployed)
• Utilizing ‘person first’ language both verbally and in writing (e.g. writing “autistic client” instead of using person with autism)
• Practicing ethical social work practice by following the Code of Ethics and asking questions when unsure about how to handle an ethical dilemma

Professionalism does not include:

• Gossiping about clients or colleagues
• Sharing confidential information
• Speaking without listening
• Being a “know-it-all” (no one knows everything about every topic!)
• Wearing clothing that is not appropriate for the practice setting.
• Working without demonstrating self-care or boundary maintenance; practicing from a ‘savior’ mentality
• Practicing without engaging self-reflection
• Engaging with clients as if you are a cultural expert on their lived experiences
• Treating clients from diverse communities as if they are all the same; failing to recognize the power of the single story
• Ignoring professional development opportunities that may help you grow and expand your knowledge