Professionalism Reflection Paper

Purpose: This assignment is intended to help you critically reflect upon the importance and value of professionalism as student, intern, and future professional social worker. You will also reflect on how you can grow in the area of professionalism demonstrating this growth through your interactions with clients, colleagues, supervisors, faculty, and administrators.

Instructions: This reflection paper will cover professionalism in the classroom, in your internship placement, and in your future social work practice. This paper should be completed in APA style with a 12-point Times New Roman font and be double spaced with one-inch margins and include in-text citations. There should also be a title page and reference page formatted according to APA style, 7th edition. Drawing upon scholarly literature, professional resources, and your own reflections, write an 3-4-page paper which critically addresses professionalism as a masters level social worker.

Please use the following outline for level headers (see APA Manual for level header instruction) to best organize this paper.

Overview of Professionalism in the Social Work Field

Briefly state who you are as a social worker. What is your personal mission as a social worker in training? How does this differ from the behavior and practices of other helping professions that you have observed? In other words, what makes this a social work identity? How do you attempt to express your professional demeanor through your appearance, behavior, and communication skills in the classroom, at your internship, and with clients and colleagues? Are there ways that you might improve or adapt your professionalism in these areas during your MSW studies?

Social Work Ethics and Professionalism

Reflect on the manner in which ethics should be incorporated into professionalism as a social worker. Distinguish the difference between personal and professional values. Reflect on the use of reflection and self-regulation to manage personal values and maintain professionalism in practice situations. Discuss how social work ethics impact practice and decision making as a social worker.

Professionalism, Preparation, and Practice

Discuss how preparing yourself for professional will enhance your future practice as a social worker. How might you effectively enhance your professionalism through the use of supervision and consultation as your career progresses? Discuss how you envision yourself continuing to grow and learn as a social worker over the next 5 years of your career?