Integration of Self-Care Competence into Social Work Educational Programs: A Path to Professional Resilience

Abstract

Self-care competence refers to the ability to take care of one's physical, mental, and emotional health by recognizing needs and applying appropriate strategies to maintain well-being. This article discusses the importance of self-care competence in the professional preparation of social workers, especially in the context of contemporary challenges such as war and crises. It is emphasized that in social work, self-care competence is crucial for the resilience of practitioners, preventing burnout, and ensuring long-term effective performance under emotional stress. In some countries, self-care ability is represented in professional standards and educational frameworks as a specific professional competency in social work.

The article also discusses the role of self-care competence in preventing burnout, secondary traumatization, and ensuring professional resilience, as well as in the development of professional identity in future social workers. The need for integrating self-care into bachelor’s and master’s level educational programs is justified. Bachelor's programs should focus on the basic aspects of self-care as part of professional resilience, using a trauma-informed approach. Students should master practices for managing stress, time, rest, and physical health. Master’s programs should focus on self-care in the context of leadership and organizational culture, with an emphasis on developing workplace self-care programs, preventing burnout among employees, creating supportive environments, and developing staff support policies.

Practical recommendations for updating curricula, preparing instructors, and implementing practical training and assessments are also outlined.