Cultural competence

Cultural competence is a set of attributes, skills behaviour and policies, enabling

an individuals and organization to establish effective interrelationship that
supersede cultural difference. Cultural competence could be considered as a
framework for promoting culturally sensitive practices and for training cross
culture workers. It aims to enhance professional ideas, skills and knowledge of
the dynamic culture and challenges, which relates to the marginalized
communities on both individual an institutions level (Rashford,2018). Access to
the quality of the care to the marginalised community is a major focus of
cultural competence. However, it fails to cover the inequalities among the
health care delivery system

Cultural humility offers social work an alternative approach for service

delivery. It was developed as a tool to train physician for delivering culturally
appropriate medical care. Self-respect and self-critique could be emphasised
between health care providers and client through cultural humility, it is also
essential to improve health outcomes and quality of the care (Foronda.et
al,2011).

Clients from marginalized communities have less access to the needed services
due to the lack of culturally appropriate services provision. Quality of services
received by the marginalised communities are comparatively poor than others.
Health professionals understanding of the patient’s values, beliefs and norms
would enhance the culturally specific and congruent care. Ethnic competence is
also significant for health professional. Health professional would be
determined and aware about their professional limitations and cultural
differences. Client centred approach could be an effective tool, for maximum
utilization of the cultural resources for quality care delivery (Fisher-Borne,
Cain, & Martin, 2015).

Race and ethnicity could be considered as a major element for cultural

competence and quality of service delivery. Understanding of individual race
and ethnic could yields significant progress or outcomes in health care service
delivery. However, it fails to include the disparities exists in regard to other
aspect such as gender, socio-economic condition and disability, which could be
significant areas of study, in relation to the cultural competence. Cultural
competence could not be learnt overnight as it is not a simple technique, skills
or communication techniques. It requires a fundamental change in the way
people think, understand and interact with the world around them (Fisher-
Borne, Cain, & Martin, 2015).
Social worker should be able to address and challenge behaviours, inequalities
and injustice that exist in society. Various cultural competence model is focused
on enhancing the practitioner favourable environment, which fail to include all
the clients form various backgrounds and identity. Language barriers could be
another challenge for the practitioner as well as for the clients. It is a
responsibility of a social workers and health professional to enhance the
culturally sensitive practice by acknowledging the importance of culture in
service delivery. Understanding the race, cultural affiliation, values, beliefs and
language difference will enhance the adequate and appropriate care
(AASW,2010).

References:

Australian Association of Social Workers 2010, Code of ethics.

www.aasw.asn.au

Danson, R. (2018). Cultural competence and cultural humility: A critical

reflection on key cultural diversity concepts. Journal of Social Work, 18(4),
410-430. doi:10.1177/1468017316654341

Foronda, C., Baptiste, D., Reinholdt, M. M., & Ousman, K. (2016). Cultural
Humility. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 27(3), 210-217.
doi:10.1177/1043659615592677

Fisher-Borne, Marcie & Montana Cain, Jessie & L. Martin, Suzanne. (2015).
From Mastery to Accountability: Cultural Humility as an Alternative to Cultural
Competence. Social Work Education. 34. 10.1080/02615479.2014.977244.