STUDENT AWARDS

Developing the Profession

Congratulations to our 2020 student bursary recipients

These four students are members of NSCSW who are completing accredited social work programs at Canadian universities. They have each received $500 to help them achieve their professional goals.

As part of their bursary application, we asked them what professionalism in social work practice means to them, and what they hope to gain from their social work education. We’re happy to share some excerpts from their responses, and we wish them well in their studies.

Kaylie MacKeen, Dalhousie University

Kaylie MacKeen

An area of social work that I am interested in, is working with individuals who are experiencing homelessness or precarious housing. … Throughout my experiences, I’ve noticed that structurally vulnerable individuals feel shame regarding their current situation and will often apologize or mention how embarrassed they are when entering the shelter. This is likely due to stereotypes that lead to this population having their dignity impaired and being stigmatized and discriminated against. Therefore, as a service provider, when building relationships with individuals, it is important to meet them where they are at mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically; providing ongoing support, so no one falls through the gaps (e.g., harm-reduction, housing first practices, and anti-oppressive frameworks). Often this is a population that feels undervalued, thus the relationship you build with them is vital. Keeping in mind professional boundaries, sometimes you may be the only support person that that individual currently has in their life, thus prioritizing their dignity and letting that individual know that you are going to support them with what they need. This means that we as social workers have a responsibility to them to do things to the best of our ability, and to ensure that our help and support does not damage or disenfranchise them. In doing this, vulnerable individuals feel like their needs are being addressed, and they are being listened to, allowing them to gain trust and respect, further helping with effective practice, crisis support, case management and social accountability.

I think professionalism is combining all your skills, social work values, and knowledge in the field to be the best social worker that you can be. This allows you to work with diverse groups of people in various settings.

Dani Sherwood, Dalhousie University

Dani Sherwood

Professionalism in social work practice supports emotional resiliency, a strong sense of responsibility, and legal, ethical practice in the service providers, which protects the service provider and user alike. Simultaneously, with professionalism in the field, boundaries are prioritized resulting in better protection and respect for the rights and well-being of both service users and providers. Overall, professionalism in the field allows me to be best supported and most effective in my work with individuals, families, and communities at large, at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.

The most important values, skills and knowledge I aspire to acquire through my education are those which relate to anti-oppressive practice and a critical cultural consciousness approach. … My hope is that this acquired knowledge will then empower and enable me to advocate for and help implement more progressive policies in the field of social work at the macro-level throughout the duration of my career life as a professional social worker.

Mercy Kasheke, Wilfred Laurier University

Mercy Kasheke

These past few years have taught me the importance of developing my counselling skills as well as deep trauma work skills. I felt inspired to go back to school to get a better understanding of how systemic issues cause significant internal trauma in children’s lives.

We need to maintain a certain standard of professional behaviour to support those we work with, as well as the fact that we work with vulnerable populations. Professionalism further helps the public feel safe and confident that it is a regulated profession and therefore there is a piece of accountability that is held towards social workers as they engage with their clients. Finally, professionalism in social work informs other professionals that social workers are educated, adequate to assess, support, and treat service users.

Julia Barnes, University of Western Ontario

Julia Barnes

In continuing with my social work education, I look to carry the core value of social justice into my future career as a social worker. I am hoping to acquire more knowledge on theory and evidenced-based practice, as well as the skills necessary to work with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences.

What I will learn during my social work education only covers a part of what it necessary to practice competently. I am looking forward to continuing to build upon this knowledge base with life-long learning throughout my career.

Professionalism in social work is important to me because it holds us accountable to providing the best service to those we work with. It goes hand-in-hand with the many values of the social work profession, and more specifically integrity and practicing within the scope of our practice. These are important to me as the commitment to doing not only reflects back on ourselves as individual professionals, but the profession as a whole.