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The role of theory and competences based approach in social care system reform and MA social work education in Croatia

The role of social work theories and competencies will be discussed from two perspectives: (1) from the perspective of social work practice and the long awaited social care system reform and (2) from academic perspective related to experience of teaching and organizing field placement for the first generation of MA social work students. Regarding the social care system reform the Department of Social Work advocates that the changes of the legal framework of social work activities are not sufficient to change quality of services. It is necessary to change the social services paradigm, as basic prerequisite for integrating and discussing new theory approaches and key social work competences for efficient and services users oriented practice. According to authors’ experience of teaching social work, critical and active usage of theories in everyday social work practice has three important roles: (1) support for professional acting and decision making in direct practice with service users ; (2) incentive for further development of competences through professional progress ; (3) use of empowerment language as an important construct of contemporary social work. From the faculty perspective, authors will discuss what the necessary and acceptable competences for the contemporary social work in Croatia are, and how do they relate to changes in the social work/welfare field.

theory; competences; social care system reform; social work education; Croatia

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