Cultural competence in social work practice: Exploring the challenges of newly employed social work professionals

ABSTRACT The Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) mandate that social workers engage diversity and difference to practice cultural competence. Because the social work profession serves a diverse population that includes humanity’s extensive list of intersecting backgrounds and identities, the very essence of cultural competence comprises fundamental complications in its overall conceptualization, construct, and application of theory to practice. The purpose of this study explored the challenges newly employed social workers faced in practicing cultural competence relative to their experiences as novice professionals. The sample included 20 participants who recently graduated from accredited CSWE MSW programs and were newly employed in the field of social welfare. Through qualitative research methods, data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews and one focus group. The findings emphasized the multifaceted nature of cultural competence and highlighted (a) areas for growth in feelings of inadequacy, (b) frustration with fundamental organizational barriers, and (c) prejudice from clients.