Résumés
Abstract
This paper presents the findings from community focus groups, comprised of social service users, and explores the characteristics of effective social workers. Focus groups were conducted as part of a case study to inform a Master of Social Work (MSW) curriculum review at Wilfrid Laurier University’s Faculty of Social Work. Wilfrid Laurier University has two MSW programs—the MSW Aboriginal Field of Study (AFS) and a non-Aboriginal program. The case for this study was the non-Aboriginal MSW program. Ongoing program evaluation that includes feedback from service users honours the knowledge of marginalized communities, and is an accreditation requirement of the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE). Four focus groups were conducted with a total of 24 individuals who access programs from human service organizations that provide supportive housing, immigrant, or refugee services in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. Service users identified numerous characteristics of effective social workers, including kindness, cultural awareness, and strong communication skills, as well as the need to articulate and address issues of professional suitability. We conclude by querying whether the typical assessment of MSW students’ suitability for the profession is adequate, and provide the AFS wholistic and comprehensive evaluation as an example of an alternative approach to MSW student assessment.
Keywords:
- Professional suitability,
- social work education,
- MSW programs
Résumé
Le présent article traite des résultats de groupes de consultation communautaire auprès d’usagers de services sociaux et il explore les caractéristiques d’un travailleur social efficace. Les groupes de consultation ont été menés lors d’une étude pour orienter une évaluation de la maîtrise en service social à la Faculté de service social de l’Université Wilfrid-Laurier. Cet établissement a en fait deux programmes de maîtrise en service social : un dans le domaine d’études autochtones et l’autre dans le domaine non autochtone. Le présent article porte sur le programme non autochtone. L’évaluation continue du programme, y compris l’obtention des impressions des utilisateurs du service, rend hommage au savoir des communautés marginalisées et fait partie des exigences de l’agrément conféré par l’Association canadienne pour la formation en travail social (ACFTS). Quatre groupes de consultation ont eu lieu auprès d’un total de 24 personnes ayant profité de programmes d’organismes de services sociaux, y compris de services de logement supervisé, de services aux immigrants et de services aux réfugiés dans la région de Kitchener-Waterloo. Les usagers des services ont relevé de nombreux attributs d’un travailleur social efficace, y compris la gentillesse, la sensibilité culturelle et de solides habiletés en communication. Ils ont aussi fait ressortir la nécessité d’exposer les questions d’aptitudes à la profession et d’en traiter. Nous terminons l’article en nous demandant si l’évaluation habituelle des aptitudes à exercer la profession, à laquelle sont soumis les étudiants à la maîtrise en service social, est appropriée et nous présentons l’évaluation holistique et exhaustive du programme en milieu autochtone comme exemple d’évaluation de rechange.
Mots-clés :
- aptitudes à exercer la profession,
- formation en travail social,
- programmes de maîtrise en service social
Parties annexes
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