Definition of the Competence of the Social Workers for Acting in a Rural Community

Abstract

The increasing need for communities and sociality is evidenced by more and more attention paid to them: on both political levels of the European Union and also on each of its member states the development of communities and the necessity to bring social services closer to local communities are emphasized. For this purpose it is necessary to reconsider the roles of social services providers, their functions and the competences required for this activity. Scientists state that the potential of social workers is not fully used for the purpose of activation, concentration and development of local communities. The purpose of the article is, based on the analysis of scientific literature, to highlight the elements of the competence of social workers for acting in a rural community. Based on the performed analysis of scientific literature, the article deals with the preconditions for formation of communities in rural areas, the specifics of social work in rural communities is analysed, the definition of the competence of the social workers for acting in a rural community is presented. The competence of a social worker for acting in a community consists of knowledge, skills and value attitudes. It is important for a social worker acting in a rural community to know potential models for solutions of community problems, the cultural context of the country community, the identity, and the strengths of the community and the specifics of facilitation process. For successful activity in a rural community the social worker shall have social skills, i.e., skills for establishment and maintenance of relationships, keeping the cultural dialog, analytical and technical skills, research performance, facilitation, activating people as well as community organization and mobilisation skills.

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