A bottom-up approach to cultural competence

Abstract

Cultural competence has, for the most part, been theoretically and scientifically constructed using a top-down approach with a paucity of actual, practice-informed empirical data. Thus, it includes embedded philosophical assumptions that are not always articulated, and the effectiveness of training and practice is unknown. The research inquires particularly into the operationalisation of cultural competence. Specifically, a compositional model of cultural competence: (knowledge, awareness-attitude and skills), was developed by closely examining how social workers build their cultural competence through educational learning and practicum, and also through their professional practice where they incorporate this learning into their own practice; and the research explores how they reconstruct their own understandings of cultural competence over time. This research uses a deductive bottom-up approach through which cultural competence is explored in the lived learning and practice experiences of participants. The data were collected from both student and practitioner participants. Ten current social work students from the Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work (qualifying degree) who have completed at least one practicum as a part of their training were interviewed. Also, 18 social worker practitioners, who had at least two years of work experiences in various social work settings, participated in interviews about their educational experiences and including practicum. Additionally, the practitioner participants interviewed included a discussion about their transitional experiences from education to work and cross-cultural practice experiences in their career. From the findings, cultural competence was particularly demonstrated when building a client–social worker professional relationship which is fundamental to cross-cultural social work practice. The participants have developed the ability to use their professional self and personal self in different stages of the practice relationship as needed. A significant key to the development of cultural competence was critical self-reflection; this extends the ability to critically analyse the self in relation to the other (client) in a practice relationship. Cultural competence assists social workers to rediscover new insights of self and practice. They form and re-form their own practice learning through, and from, cross-cultural experience throughout their careers. This research will inform new aspects of cultural competence from social work students and practitioners that could extend the existing knowledge and also help to improve further educational learning and training in the future.