Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF)

The Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) is an overarching professional standards framework, developed by the Social Work Reform Board and now owned by The College of Social Work. The PCF applies to all social workers in England (including independent social workers), in all roles and settings. Social workers in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland have their own frameworks and standards. The PCF sets out the expectations of a student or social worker practising at each of nine levels, from student entry level to the Strategic Social Worker Level. The levels relate to the complexity of work that someone with the identified capabilities would be able to manage. This app focuses on the expectations of qualified social workers at two levels on the PCF: social worker and experienced social worker. It provides the opportunity for individuals to learn about those expectations. For practitioners, the app sets out examples of the kinds of evidence which might be used to demonstrate that they meet the expectations. The app can therefore also be utilised as a tool to support employers in the supervision of practitioners.