1. Basic understanding of the following in order to be able to perform professional tasks:
1.1. European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights and the European Social Charter;
1.2. socio-economic processes in Latvia;
1.3. basic principles of national social policy-making and implementation;
1.4. public administration principles;
1.5. causes of social isolation, consequences and possible solutions in the society;
1.5.1. social statistics.
2. Advanced understanding of the following in order to be able to perform professional tasks:
2.1. social security laws and regulations in the Republic of Latvia;
2.2. functioning of social institutions;
2.3. history of social care in Latvia and the world;
2.4. application of the latest technologies in social care;
2.5. impact of different (social, economic, environmental, etc.) factors on individuals;
2.6. basic principles of social work;
2.7. basic principles of social rehabilitation;
2.8. basic principles of social assistance;
2.9. basic principles of professional rehabilitation;
2.10. general, developmental, personality and social psychology;
2.11. disability and its types;
2.12. normalization principles;
2.13. volunteer work in Latvia;
2.14. professional terms in the official language and two foreign languages;
2.15. UN Convention “On the rights of disabled people”.
3. Thorough knowledge of the following in order to be able to perform professional tasks:
3.1. interinstitutional and interprofessional teamwork principles;
3.2. social ethics, religion;
3.3. nutritional science;
3.4. general human rights;
3.5. types of social care services;
3.6. professional performance standard of a social carer;
3.7. social care process documentation and social care plans;
3.8. organization of social care work;
3.9. social care for people with different disabilities;
3.10. official language;
3.11. ability to communicate in two foreign languages;
3.12. computing;
3.13. assessment of changes in health condition;
3.14. professional self-defense mechanisms in social care practice;
3.15. occupational health and safety;
3.16. stress and conflict management;
3.17. employment relationship;
3.18. social care service quality assessment;
3.19. first aid;
3.20. environmental protection;
3.21. personal hygiene;
3.22. communication with people with different kinds of communication barriers;
3.23. ergonomics;
3.24. technical aids and their use in caretaking process and provision of client’s independence.

1. To identify the forms of assistance necessary for the client.
2. To assess the client’s basic needs and functional ability.
3. To assess the client’s self-care potential.
4. To select social care forms that are appropriate to the client’s wishes and needs.
5. To develop social care plans, schedules.
6. To organize social care for different groups of persons both at social care facilities and at the person’s place of residence.
7. To build professional relationships with clients, creating favorable conditions for care.
8. To promote client’s quality of life.
9. To identify the client’s existing resources and the resources available in the social environment; attract the resources.
10. To apply new technologies in social care.
11. To analyze and evaluate social care process.
12. To assess and analyze the social care service quality and customer satisfaction with the service provided.
13. To document his/her professional activities.
14. To possess knowledge of and apply relevant laws and regulations.
15. To be fluent in the official language.
16. To be able to communicate in at least two foreign languages.
17. To use professional terminology in the official language and at least two foreign languages.
18. To apply communication skills and interact with other professionals.
19. To provide first aid.
20. To collect, compile, analyze, process client information.
21. To be able to deal with conflict situations.
22. To apply information technologies and have knowledge of and be able to use databases.
23. To comply with employment laws and regulations.
24. To comply with occupational health and safety, fire safety and environmental protection rules.
25. To be able to communicate with clients having various types of perception and communication difficulties.

1. Ability to comply with ethical and legal aspects of social care.
2. Ability to retain confidentiality.
3. Ability to comply with laws and regulations governing the work of social carers.
4. Ability to adhere to principles of general human rights.
5. Ability to promote client’s participation in the social care process.
6. Ability to assess and build a safe working environment.
7. Ability to assess the client’s personality.
8. Ability to apply theoretical knowledge in practice.
9. Ability to collaborate and work in a team.
10. Ability to assess the customer’s self-care potential.
11. Ability to carry out research in the field of social care.
12. Ability to communicate fluently in the official language and communicate in two foreign languages.
13. Ability to attract volunteers and other support personnel.
14. Ability to advise individuals involved in the social care process.
15. Ability to identify client’s health problems.
16. Ability to support and promote client’s adaptation to the social and physical environment.
17. Ability to take responsibility for his/her professional performance.
18. Ability to coordinate and manage.
19. Ability to use information technologies as appropriate in his/her in professional activities.
20. Ability to comply with employment laws and regulations.
21. Ability to comply with occupational health and safety, fire safety and environmental laws and regulations.