Developing social work students’ professional identity: the role of England’s Professional Capabilities Framework

Wiles, Fran (2017). Developing social work students’ professional identity: the role of England’s Professional Capabilities Framework. European Journal of Social Work, 20(3) pp. 349–360.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13691457.2017.1314935

Abstract

Developing professional identity is a key aim of social work education. This paper argues that the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) – a holistic, capability approach to student assessment used in England’s social work education programmes – is ideally placed to promote the development of students’ professional identities. The paper discusses two research studies, each of which was stimulated by significant policy changes in England’s social work profession. The author draws out the implications of both studies for supporting social work students to develop their professional identities. It is concluded that the PCF is valued by practice educators as an assessment and teaching tool, while acknowledging that its future is uncertain due to the lack of continuity impacting on England’s social work profession. This paper is equally of relevance for social work educators outside the UK who may be developing and evaluating their assessment approaches; and also for those experiencing the impact of rapid policy changes in their own countries.

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