Students will participate in up to 30 days undertaking a 'Developing Skills for Practice' programme consisting of university based experiential learning, self-directed study, shadowing experienced social workers and other observational visits. The majority of these days will take place during term 1 (Autumn term) of the first year to prepare students for their first placement through practising key generic skills and increasing their understanding of the social work role, without the immediate pressure of assessment.
Students will attend placement for a period in line with regulator standards and carry out direct work with service-users in a social work or social care organisation. They will develop skills, knowledge and values through experiential learning supervised by a qualified practice educator. Involvement in practice activities will enable students to demonstrate effective use of knowledge, skills and commitment to core values in social work in a given setting in predominantly less complex situations, with supervision and support. They will be expected to show capacity to work with people in situations where there may not be simple clear-cut solutions
Total contact hours: 18
Private study hours: 282
Total study hours: 300
Note:- Extra private study hours are required in the placement
Social Work MA - compulsory module
Main assessment methods
Coursework - Portfolio (4000 words) – 100%
Note that this assessment comprises four reflective summaries PLUS additional material dependant on format and contents- but that these are marked as one item.
Reassessment methods
Like-for-like
Banks S (2012) Ethics and Values in Social Work 4th ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
Coulshed V and Orme J (2012) Social Work Practice 5th ed. London: Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
Higham, P (2006) Social work: Introducing professional practice. London: Sage Publications
Lishman, J (2015) (ed) Handbook for practice learning in social work and social care: Knowledge and theory 3rd ed., London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Lomax R, Jones K, Leigh S and Gay C (2010) Surviving your Social Work Placement. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
Parker, J (2017) Social work practice: Assessment, planning, intervention and review. 2nd edition. Exeter: Learning Matters Ltd.
Thompson N (2006) Anti Discriminatory Practice 4th ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
Trevithick, P (2012) Social work skills and knowledge: A practice handbook. 3rd ed. Maidenhead: Open University Press
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:
The principal intended learning outcomes for students are that on completion of the module, they will show practice competence at End of First Placement level of the Professional Capabilities Framework for social workers [Social Work England (SWE)]).
By successfully completing this module students will:
8.1 Identify and behave as a professional social worker, committed to professional development
8.2 Apply social work ethical principles and values to guide professional practice
8.3 Recognise diversity and apply anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive principles in practice
8.4 Advance human rights and promote social justice and economic well-being
8.5 Apply knowledge of social sciences, law and social work practice theory
8.6 Apply critical reflection and analysis to inform and provide a rationale for professional decision-making
8.7 Use judgement and authority to intervene with individuals, families and communities to promote independence, provide support and prevent harm, neglect and abuse
8.8 Engage with, inform, and adapt to changing contexts that shape practice. Operate effectively within own organisational frameworks and contribute to the development of services and organisations. Operate effectively within multi-agency and inter-professional partnerships and settings
8.9 Take responsibility for the professional learning and development of others through supervision, mentoring, assessing, research, teaching, leadership and management,
The outcomes are underpinned by the Professional Capabilities Framework for social work.
The intended generic learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
9.1 Demonstrate a developed range of communication skills appropriate to a variety of audiences and/or a variety of settings, which are commensurate with postgraduate study.
9.2 Demonstrate understanding of the complexity of communication and identify skills in working cooperatively, but also identifying and working with difficulties, on a range of group tasks. Reflect critically on effectiveness of skills used.
9.3 Critically explore personal strengths and weaknesses, informed by critical judgements based on theoretical material as well as feedback from others.
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