Evaluation of Social Work Practice Standards in NGO-Run Community Welfare Centres in Gombe State

Non-governmental organisations increasingly deliver a significant share of community welfare services in Nigerian states, yet practice standards within NGO welfare programmes are rarely systematically evaluated against professional social work benchmarks. This study evaluates social work practice standards in NGO-run community welfare centres in Gombe State, North East Nigeria, focusing on organisations operating in Gombe Municipal and Billiri local government areas. A mixed-method design is employed, with 65 NGO social workers, programme managers, and beneficiaries as respondents. Structured questionnaires, document review, and semi-structured interviews are used, with descriptive statistics and thematic analysis applied. The study finds considerable variation in practice standards across the sampled NGOs, with more established international NGOs exhibiting clearer professional frameworks compared to smaller domestic organisations. Key gaps include inadequate case documentation, limited use of supervision, and variable competency in psychosocial assessment. Beneficiaries express high satisfaction with service access but are often unaware of their right to confidentiality and the professional ethics governing their care. Recommendations include developing a minimum practice standards framework applicable to all NGO welfare service providers, strengthening Social Work Council oversight of NGO welfare operations, and investing in professional social work mentorship programmes for NGO welfare workers without formal social work credentials. Keywords: practice standards, NGO welfare centres, social work evaluation, Gombe State, professional accountability