Understanding Social Workers' Sense of Competence Within the Context of Organizational Change

Abstract

ABSTRACT As large health care systems rapidly evolve, social work administrators struggle to help practioners maintain a sense of competence during a state of flux and uncertainty. Using a sample of social workers (N = 135) from seven Veteran Hospitals and one state hospital, the present study investigated the relationship of job and workers characteristics, change schema, and organizational change to workers' perceived competence. Workers with more practice experience, fewer distacting outside responisibilities, and higher levels of job satisfaction had a higher sense of competence. Positive change schema and positive perceptions of organizational climate were also significant predictors of competence. Organizational climate had a partial mediating effect on the relationship between social workers' change schema and their sense of competence. The findings have implications for social services administrators who are seeking to promote competence among practioners within the context of organizational change.