This module will enable students to develop and demonstrate their readiness for direct practice with service users, through undertaking a range of guided practical activities both within and outside the university. This module incorporates a number of skills development days, and the 'readiness for direct practice' assessment, which are both requirements of the Social Work Reform Board. Students are required to pass this module before progressing to their first practice placement.
Class-based activities will encourage the development of skills used in communication, observation and reflection, and relating theory and practice, enabling students to practise and further develop the skills and knowledge they are learning in other modules, in particular SOCI8960 Communication and Interpersonal Skills and SOCI9230 Social Work Theories, Interventions and Skills.
Learning activities will also address the importance of professional behaviour and boundaries, awareness of values and diversity in social work, an initial awareness of risk and safeguarding, the role of professional supervision, and the importance of emotional resilience in social work.
Students will also develop their awareness of the perspectives of service users and carers, and will gain understanding of the context of social work and how social work is organised and practised in a range of settings. Students will have contact with practitioners and service users and carers within class sessions and through visiting social care settings. Each student will also undertake a two-day shadowing placement with a final year student and practice educator in a social work setting. During this they will observe and discuss examples of social work practice and meet service users and/or carers.
Students will develop their self-awareness and skills of reflection on their learning and experiences through individual activities and class discussions. They will be guided to identify their individual learning needs and monitor and reflect on their own progress.
Total contact hours: 66
Private study hours: 84
Total study hours: 150
In line with current professional regulatory body guidance, these skill development days will take place as a series of 30 days across the programme, with attendance being mandatory. Twenty of these days will take place prior to the first placement, and the remaining 10 days during the two practice placements. Students will need to complete a minimum of 12 days or 60 hours of guided skills development activities prior to the Readiness for Direct Practice assessment.
Social Work MA (compulsory module)
Main assessment methods
Critically Reflective Analysis of a real-life TV documentary (1,500 words) - 100%
Reassessment methods
Like-for-like
Koprowska, J (2010) Communication and Interpersonal Skills in Social Work. 3rd Edn, Exeter: Learning Matters
Lomax, R., Jones, K., Leigh, S. & Gay, C. (2010) Surviving Your Social Work Placement. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
Miller, L (2012) Counselling Skills for Social Work. 2nd Edn. London: Sage
Parker, J. (2010) Effective Practice Learning in Social Work. 2nd Edn. Exeter: Learning Matters
Rolfe, G, Jasper, M. & Freshwater, D, (2010) Critical reflection in practice: generating knowledge for care. 2nd Edn. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
Trevithick, P. (2012) Social Work Skills and Knowledge: a Practice Handbook. Maidenhead: Open University Press
Wilson, K., Ruch, G., Lymbery, M. & Cooper, A. (2011) Social Work: An introduction to contemporary practice. 2nd Edn. Harlow: Pearson.
See the library reading list for this module (Medway)
The intended subject specific learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
8.1 Demonstrate awareness of the role and legislative context of social work in contemporary Britain;
8.2 Demonstrate understanding of and commitment to professional behaviour and personal and professional boundaries;
8.3 Demonstrate awareness of social work values and the application of anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory principles in social work practice;
8.4 Recognise and reflect on their own personal values and how these can impact on practice;
8.5 Demonstrate core communication skills and the capacity to develop and apply them in practice with service users, carers and colleagues;
8.6 Demonstrate awareness of, and the ability to learn from, the perspectives of service users and carers;
8.7 Demonstrate an awareness of the theoretical knowledge base for social work practice;
8.8 Demonstrate skills in reflective practice.
The intended generic learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
9.1 Demonstrate skills in working together with others, including giving and receiving feedback and contributing to the learning of others.
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