Autonomy, Accountability, and Professionalism

Abstract

Social work lacks a major, if not the major, criterion or attribute of professionalism, autonomy in practice. Further, this lack of autonomy has been fostered by frequently lifelong close supervision of social work practitioners, a model which is taught in degree programs (bachelor's and master's levels), and fostered and encouraged in subsequent practice in the field. Lack of autonomy and self-control in practice has led to a de-emphasis on accountability and performance outcome evaluation and assessment which, in turn, has led to a diminution of social work's ability to generate its own knowledge base and, hence, to have knowledge, specific and unique expertise which only it can exercise, and professional power.