FUTURE SOCIAL WORKERS’ TRAINING FOR DIAGNOSIS ACTIVITIES

Introduction. The article reveals the social importance and urgent need for training qualified social workers in higher education. The whole educational process in higher educational institutions should be focused on the formation and development of professional competence among future professionals. The training should bring together the knowledge, abilities, skills, experience, qualities and traits of an individual, his/her values, willingness and ability to perform the duties, and this defines his/her responsibility in carrying out certain tasks and thus is a prerequisite for successful professional activity in the social sphere. Purpose of the author indicates the role and content of diagnostic competence as a part of future social workers' professional competence: the ability to diagnose and evaluate clients' (individuals', families', groups', communities') conditions and risks in their lives using methods and technologies of social research and to provide appropriate assistance. Results. The interrelation of professionals' diagnostic competence and successful implementation of employees' diagnostic functions in social activities is determined. The dependence of the diagnostic professional competence on a certain subject area, educational program specialization and graduate's qualification is emphasized. Originality. Certain content aspects of social workers'/ social pedagogues' training to implement diagnostic work are characterized. It is determined that social diagnosis is the mechanism of diagnostic function implementation. The essence, purpose, objectives, methods and technology for social diagnosis are revealed. The author introduces the possibilities for professional training of future social workers in higher educational establishments at Fundamentals of Social Studies, Technologies of Social Work, Methodology and Management of Social Research. It is proved that successful implementation of diagnostic work requires special training. Conclusion. In today's extremely difficult socio-economic settings when new social issues appear and old ones aggravate, the situation requires skilled professional solution at all social levels. Therefore, training of qualified specialists in social sphere is a top priority for a contemporary higher educational establishment.