PREPARATION OF STUDENTS FOR THE APPLICATION OF DIFFERENT METHODS OF SOCIAL WORK
The article considers the peculiarities of preparing students in higher education to apply different methods of social work. The competencies that need to be formed in applicants for bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work are described in accordance with the requirements of the Standard of Higher Education, field of knowledge 23 Social work. The analysis of the requirements to the professional training of the specialist, to the level of his knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for the effective solution of the existing social problems, his qualities and values is carried out. The functions of a social work specialist in the context of readiness to apply different methods of social work are defined: analytical and diagnostical, predictive, organizational and communicative, protective, psychotherapeutic, rehabilitative. We consider the improvement of professional’s training and their expertise, as an important direction for optimization of social work and implementation of mentioned functions. Among the key professional competences, we emphasize: the ability to cooperate in international environment and to identify intercultural problems in professional practice; the use of modern experimental methods of work with social objects in field and laboratory conditions; the ability to evaluate social problems, needs, peculiarities and resources of the clients, etc. Approaches to optimizing the process of training students are considered: systemic, informational, personality-oriented, contextual, reflective, competence, activity, integrative. It is concluded that the professional training of students to use different methods of social work should be optimized by motivating students to achieve high learning outcomes, the formation of active positive attitude to professional activities, to study the disciplines provided by the Standard, the use of educational technologies, methods, due to the intensification of project activities of students.