NASW Standards for Social Work Case Management - National ...

psychotherapy should have a master’s degree insocial work and should either be licensed at theclinical level or, if the licensing jurisdictionallows, perform clinical tasks under supervision.Regardless of educational background orlicensure status, every social worker shouldaccept case management duties or employmentonly on the basis of existing competence. Shouldthe case manager need additional knowledge orskill to perform case management responsibilities,she or he should pursue professionaldevelopment activities (including supervisionand other activities, described elsewhere in thesestandards) to acquire the necessary competence.1Degree and licensure or certification requirements are specificto social work practice in the United States. NASW recognizesthat qualifications may differ outside the United States.Standard 3. KnowledgeThe social work case manager shall acquireand maintain knowledge of current theory,evidence-informed practice, sociohistoricalcontext, policy, evaluation methods, andresearch relevant to case management andthe population served, and shall use suchinformation to ensure the quality of casemanagement practice.InterpretationAlthough case management is an integralcomponent of generalist social work education,the practice of case management requiresspecialized knowledge and skills as outlined inthese standards. Ideally, the social work casemanager attains such knowledge and skillsduring her or his degree program, throughcoursework and field practice experience relatedto case management. Specialty practice24