Understanding professionalism through the lens of newly qualified social workers

Research shows that the first five years of social work practice are critical for developing professionalism. Understanding professionalism is key to grasping how and why social work is carried out. This paper presents findings from a study exploring Swedish newly qualified social workers’ (NQSWs) perspectives on professionalism, guided by these questions: How do NQSWs define and describe professionalism in social work? How do they perceive opportunities for professional development? What obstacles do they encounter in practicing professional social work? Twenty-two participants were interviewed using a semi-structured guide, and the data were analysed using content analysis. The findings reveal that professionalism is often grounded in core values, such as taking a holistic approach to social problems and upholding clients’ rights. Perceived barriers to professional practice also reflect value-based concerns, for instance, speaking negatively about clients. Views on professional development are shaped by employment context and work tasks, but a consistent theme is the importance of support from experienced colleagues. The results are discussed using the concepts of discretion, autonomy, and occupational versus organisational professionalism, offering a nuanced understanding of how NQSWs perceive and experience professionalism. The findings highlight the need to support NQSWs in balancing organisational demands with core professional values.