A Needs Analysis to Develop Job Competency of Social Service Agents

Abstract

This study aims to identify the essential educational priorities for enhancing the job competency of social service agents in the social welfare sector, thus contributing to the advancement and refinement of the educational system. Data were collected from 378 social service agents and 1,861 persons in charge at social welfare facilities where those social service agents were deployed. Gap Analysis and Locus for Focus analysis were employed to compare perceived levels of educational needs, and priorities were derived from the combined results. The analysis revealed statistically significant gaps between the desired and current levels of most competencies presented in the survey of representatives from social welfare facilities and social service agents. For each respondent group, competencies with above-average levels of both need and discrepancies were identified as high educational needs. The results were then integrated based on the most commonly identified competencies. The job competencies with the highest educational needs were ‘client orientation’, ‘understanding of the client’, ‘client engagement’, ‘communication’, and ‘complaint response’. Secondary job competencies included ‘respect for human rights’, ‘identification of client needs’, ‘empathy’, and ‘care skills’. The significance of this study lies in its comprehensive investigation and analysis of the educational needs and perceptions of both social service agents and persons in charge at social welfare facilities. By identifying educational priorities to enhance the job competency of social service agents, this study provides a foundation for designing a competency-based education curriculum.