A competence based approach to management education in social work: A discussion of the approach and its relevance

Over the past few years there has been developing interest in competence based approaches to training in many contexts. This interest is also evident in management development circles in the consideration of competence based models of management education and development. This development has been met with enthusiasm in some quarters and constructive criticism with reservations in others.

This paper seeks to consider some of the points about competence based training in general and apply them to social services management development/education/training in the light of papers from CCETSW on post-qualification courses and the management element that they may include. The article is selective rather than comprehensive in its use of reference material. It considers what competence based models are; what the implications of their use might be in management development and looks in some detail at the relevant proposals made by CCETSW which follow a competence based approach.