Social Work: Evidence-Based Practice

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is not a catchphrase. It is not a cookie cutter approach to social work practice. It is a process which involves critical thinking and evaluation of information to determine the most effective and efficient treatment for your client or community. It is a three pronged approach, taking into consideration:

• The practitioner's individual expertise
• The client's values and expectations
• The best evidence

"Placing the client’s benefits first, evidence-based practitioners adopt a process of lifelong learning that involves continually posing specific questions of direct practical importance to clients, searching objectively and efficiently for the current best evidence relative to each question, and taking appropriate action guided by evidence." (Gibbs, 2003)

"EBP is a process in which the practitioner combines well-researched interventions with clinical experience, ethics, client preferences, and culture to guide and inform the delivery of treatments and services." (National Association of Social Workers)

• EBP discourages the use of pseudoscientific or harmful interventions.
• It encourages professional social workers to base their interventions on evidence-supported treatment.
• It is part of the Social Work Code of Ethics.
• From the Campbell Collaboration: Podcast -- Four useful principles for evidence-based policy and practice