School of Applied Social Studies

The core competencies for Programmes in the School of Applied Social Studies subject to Fitness to Practise are listed below. To describe an individual as ‘Fit to Practise’ in the context of certain professions is to say he or she possesses the attributes considered necessary in an individual to allow that individual to practise as an independent practitioner in their relevant profession.
In addition to the Core Competencies, students must also fulfil the requirements of the professional endorsing body NSETS and / or approving body CORU (as relevant to their specific degree programme) in order to be eligible to register as Health and Social Care Professionals when they graduate. Profession-specific codes of conduct and professional ethics are available at the links below: 

• Youth Work (NSETS)
• Social Work (CORU)
• Social Care Work: (CORU) 

Core Competencies

Students must be capable of achieving the following competencies, and of demonstrating the expected student conduct and professional behaviours:    

1. Collect and interpret relevant information safely and effectively through appropriate assessment procedures within the confines of the student’s area of knowledge, role and competence.
2. Plan, deliver, review and modify appropriate interventions within the confines of the student’s area of knowledge, role and competence.
3. Communicate appropriately, effectively and sensitively with and about service users, colleagues and relatives/personal networks (with permission) of service users.
4. Maintain accurate and comprehensive service user records and store records in accordance with legal and statutory requirements and best practice.
5. Act with honesty and integrity in one’s personal, educational, and professional conduct.
6. Be aware of and responsive to the impact of one’s standard of conduct, performance and actions on self; service users and their families/carers; colleagues; the University, and the Profession.
7. Consult and follow advice of a suitably qualified professional from any risk posed to self, service users and their families/carers, colleagues, the University, and the Profession by own physical and/or mental health.
8. Apply the ethics and values of the relevant profession in all communications and actions associated with the performance of their professional roles and responsibilities.
9. Follow the University’s Standards of Conduct for students