How Practice Contributes to Social Workers' Professional Identity in Services for Adults With Intellectual Disabilities in Hong Kong

ABSTRACT In Hong Kong, services for adults with intellectual disabilities operate within a hierarchical staffing structure, where professional social workers serve as mid‐level staff working alongside frontline support workers and other allied health professionals to deliver services to clients. A strong professional identity among social workers contributes to lower job turnover and is essential for providing sustainable and effective support for frontline workers and maintaining high‐quality services. However, limited studies have explored their professional identity in services for adults with intellectual disabilities. To fill this gap, this study adopted a qualitative approach and conducted in‐depth interviews with 13 social workers in this service field to explore how social workers understand their professional practice and role. Findings suggest that social workers strongly recognised case management as a core practice in services for adults with intellectual disabilities as well as a core practice in social work. However, their identity was challenged by difficulties in coordination work and concerns about the potential loss of specificity in clinical practice. It is recommended that the government consider setting up bachelor‐degree social work positions and support relevant research to further develop knowledge for case management practice within this service context. This knowledge should be translated into training materials to better support social workers and strengthen their professional identity in services for adults with intellectual disabilities.