Social Work

Social Work Context 1 is a practical module that introduces you to social work Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) as you prepare for the 2-day shadowing (undertaken in Social Work Contexts 2), and the 70-day Placement. You will be introduced to issues such as substance use/misuse, working with adults and children including identifying forms and types of harm. Individuals and families do not live in isolation, and the communities that they live in present both strengths, vulnerabilities and risk to them. Thus, you will learn the importance of holistic assessment and the practical skills of community profiling. As you work through the module you will continue learning and applying assessment skills and processes through the use of the Observed Structured Practice Assessment (OSPA). This is an opportunity to consolidate your learning using simulation to give you realistic practice experience prior to starting the 70-day placement in stage 2. You must pass this module before going on to placement.

Effective communication skills are one of the most crucial components of a social worker’s job. Every single hour of every single day, social workers must communicate with people to gain critical information, convey challenging issues, and encourage vulnerable people to co-produce important decisions in often the most difficult, crisis-ridden circumstances. You will rehearse how to engage people quickly and effectively, working through people’s frequent communication obstacles of fear, mistrust, and uncertainty. Strong communication skills require you to learn how to ‘achieve a shared purpose’ and reach for ‘baseline communication’ with empathy. Just being able to ‘listen well’ won’t cut it. You have to develop reflective skills of emotional intelligence to work out ‘what is really going on interpersonally’ in each situation – this means ‘reflectively listening’ to not just theirs’ but your own verbal and non-verbal cues. How will you learn? Rehearse in triads. Reflect. These are structured activities but fun and supported. You are supported by the core textbook having been written by one of your lecturers too.

Social Work Context 2 builds on teaching from Social Work Context 1. It is a very practical module that extends your introduction to social work Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs) as you continue on your social work course. You will experience a two-day shadowing learning activity within a real-life social work setting. You will be introduced to some of the key safeguarding issues in relation to coercive controlling behaviour that is within domestic abuse. Another focus is on the role of the social worker in relation to promoting wellbeing and safeguarding for people who are struggling with their mental health. You will learn about different models of supervision and how it supports emotional intelligence and reflective practice. You will expand your learning and practice of assessment skills through the use of the Observed Structured Practice Assessment (OSPA). This is an opportunity to consolidate your learning using realistic simulation to give you practice experience prior to starting the 70-day placement in stage 2. You must pass this module before going on to placement.

The global definition of social work (IFSW, 2014) states that principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversities are central to the profession. The Professional Standards set by the regulator Social Work England also stress the need for social workers to promote rights and social justice, and work within legal and ethical frameworks to underpin professional authority and judgement.

This module will address a range of issues that primarily lie within the two professional capabilities for social work of: values and ethics, and rights, justice and economic well-being. Specifically, the module content and teaching delivery will ensure that students are introduced to the importance of using case law and applying legal rights in practice and that they recognise the fundamental principles of human rights and equality, and the relationship the law has with rights, ethics and justice.

Social work is not theory-less. Social workers draw on different theories for understanding people's contextual situations and personal strengths and difficulties. Theoretical models and methods are introduced for working with individuals, families, and communities in a range of practice settings. This module considers the different ‘theories for understanding’ and ‘methods/models for social work intervention’ that arise from research, sociology, social policy, psychology, health and human growth and development. Social work theories have evolved from and exist in different historical and cultural contexts, and this will be illustrated within your learning sessions. The module engages you to reflect on how to apply theory in a way that considers voiced knowledge of people with lived experience, power dynamics and anti-oppressive practice.

What makes us who we are? Are our behaviours caused by our biological make-up, or are they the result of early childhood experiences? How does trauma and adverse experiences affect individuals and families? How can social work support people at different stages of their life?

The module Lifespan Development introduces fundamental theoretical approaches that help us understand lifespan development and human behaviour. It focuses on key concepts, such as trauma, loss, transitions and resilience and explores their relevance across different life stages. Biological, psychological, environmental, economic, cultural and social factors are explored, and the diversity of human experience and growth is illustrated. As part of the module, we use interactive and experiential ways of learning alongside lectures and workshops, you learn about child development through the observation of a young child. You will have access to relevant books, as well as podcasts, videos and documentaries capturing the lived experiences of people who have faced adversity in their lives.

The module will equip you as social work students with the knowledge required to understand human growth and development across life. Such knowledge can help you work together with individuals, families and communities to nurture their strength and develop their resilience in order to not only cope, but also thrive against life challenges and social disadvantage.

You will attend placement for a period in line with the requirements of the professional regulator and carry out direct work with people with lived experience in a social work or social care environment. You will develop skills, knowledge and values through experiential learning. You will be supervised by either an on-site supervisor and an or off-site practice educator. By the end of the last placement / the completion of qualifying programmes, as newly qualified social workers, you should have demonstrated the knowledge, skills and values to work within a range of user groups, and the ability to undertake a range of tasks at a foundation level the capacity to work with more complex situations you should be able to work more autonomously, while recognising that the final decision will still rest with the supervisor you they will seek appropriate support and supervision.

The overall aim of this module is to equip you with knowledge and understanding of social work with adults and families. Specific knowledge and information about the needs and lives of adults with lived experience and the issues that bring them to the attention of social workers will be addressed alongside exploration of key concepts such as ‘safeguarding’ and ‘personalisation’. The policy and legal context of social work with adults will be explored and awareness of the changing responsibilities of social workers in adult services highlighted. The module will also facilitate appreciation of the impact of health problems, injustice, social inequalities, marginalisation, and discrimination on the lives of people with lived experience. The Professional Capabilities Framework and the Knowledge and Skills Statement for Social Workers with Adults will be woven into the module.

Observed Structured Practice Assessment (OSPA) is used within the module to support the development of skills in completing initial assessments and evaluating own practice. You will be required to respond to an evolving situation presented through filmed video and telephone interviews; formulate an initial assessment based on the information provided; and critically evaluate their initial assessment. This format provides a structured learning activity that measures aspects of professional capability to simulate contemporary and authentic social work practice experience

Every one of us is in a state of mental health, it is about how mentally healthy you are.  We must stop the stigma.  You will be appraising the different models of mental health/mental distress such as the medical/biological model, social model, anti-psychiatry model, bio-psycho-social-cultural-spiritual model. The voice of people with lived experience is a central focus and you will evaluate the effects of stigma, injustice, social inequalities and oppressive social relations upon their lives.  You will critically analyse key concepts like “care” and “risk” in mental health services, acknowledging the ethical and professional challenges involved. The module provides knowledge of the legal framework shaping statutory services, with a focus on the role of the Approved Mental Health Practitioner in mental health service provision. 

Social work interventions with individuals, families and communities are a cornerstone of holistic social work practice. You will be equipped with practical tools and knowledge to create positive change in people's lives. Some examples of current social work interventions include cognitive behavioural therapy, narrative methods, trauma informed approaches, motivational interviewing and others.

You will be prepared for theoretically informed intervention practice and develop clear analysis, reflection, and reasoned justifications for social work interventions. Ethical issues and anti-oppressive practice will be considered throughout the module. The module is designed to respond to relevant academic and professional requirements in preparation for your final-year placement and social work careers.

The module will also comprise consideration of complex and interconnected social and personal issues for individuals and families and how these might be addressed in interventions. The module will ensure that students learn to reflect on and critically evaluate a range of approaches with different service users. Critical evaluation of a variety of methods based on best practice and research evidence will underpin this module.

Transcend textbooks and dive headfirst into the heart of social work with child and families. Engage in assessments of children in need and their families, apply legal and policy frameworks that guide social work in children’s services, and consider the vital principles of working together with children, parents, carers, and multi-disciplinary colleagues. Learn to identify signs of child abuse and assess significant harm, navigating through risk assessment, thresholds, and child protection investigations. We'll also journey into the heart of working with children in care, uncovering issues related to fostering, adoption, and aftercare. Discover key insights from research, theories, inquiry reports, and government studies, highlighting the importance of multi-disciplinary and multi-agency collaboration. We'll discuss evolving practices, policy trends, and the different facets of neglect and abuse children might face. Develop your critical analysis and professional judgment as we explore procedural interventions in child protection and safeguarding work. Get ready to make a difference in the lives of children and families with newfound knowledge and skills!

What does it mean to you be a 'change agent'? How can you do this within the social structural conditions of our diverse society? You will critically evaluate social location and the significance of power, language, knowledge paradigms and valuing diverse ‘voices’, especially those of people with lived experience , their families and communities. What does it mean to be ‘professional’? Is it a myth in the current challenging times of ‘outcome-based’ cultures of social work. You will engage with critical thinking about risk and develop professional judgement, We will consider wider societal and social work issues such as green social work and decolonisation. You will be equipped with skills for working critically with and advocate for change in social work organisations and develop professional assertiveness skills. Your ‘self’ is a critical tool for radical social action, you will develop ways to be ‘present’ when facing ethical dilemmas and becoming a self-aware, mindful and emotionally resilient practitioner operating from a value-base and as a champion for social justice. How comfortable are you with these critical conversations? You are encouraged to come to this module with curiosity, questions and ready to discuss, debate and critically examine examples from their placements.

Become a 'critical consumer' of research. How do social workers know which intervention works best, or how policies impact vulnerable communities? You will be provided with the knowledge and understanding necessary to evaluate research appropriately and apply findings in practice.

You will be introduced to a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods including different types of interview (narrative, biographical, in-depth, semi-structured, structured) ethnography, focus groups, surveys and questionnaires, experimental and quasi-experimental research, randomised controlled trials, documentary and textual analysis, systematic reviews and meta-analysis, and approaches that involves mixing methods.

The module also includes brief introductions to the techniques involved in analysing both qualitative and quantitative data. It also includes consideration of ethical issues relating to research.

Each week you will be provided with research articles that are compulsory reading for discussion in seminars. Each reading provides an example of each method and its potential for addressing research questions relevant for social work practice.

Is there such a thing as partnership working? You're never alone in this journey. Social work thrives on community and multi-agency networks. When we do multi-agency well, we safeguard people best. When we do it badly, we put vulnerable people at risk. By bringing together diverse skills and perspectives, multi-agency working enhances the ability of social workers to provide effective, inclusive, and person-centered services, ultimately improving outcomes for all stakeholders.

You will engage with the legal, social and political context for multi-agency working with an emphasis on current national initiatives and the rationale for them. You will critically analyse the professional and practical barriers to partnership working and how these might be minimised.

Exploration of systems theory and psychodynamic models as explanatory frameworks will also be a feature. Examples of multi-disciplinary teams in practice – i.e. Adult Protection and Safeguarding, Child Protection, Youth Offending, Mental Health etc. will enable you to apply these theoretical frameworks effectively.

The module will include a focus on skills in multi–disciplinary working, including negotiating across professional boundaries, teamworkingand addressing issues of power and inequality. The module will explain the links between national initiatives to improved services and outcomes for users.

The Year in Industry Placement provides students with a structured opportunity to combine work experience or entrepreneurial activity with academic study

The Year in Industry allows students to develop and reflect on managerial and/or professional practice in real and often complex situations, and to integrate this with the study of the relevant subject(s) of your main degree programme.  

Where relevant, students develop, reinforce and apply professional and/or technical expertise in an employment or entrepreneurial context.

The Industry Placement requires students to document their experiences in relation to both their university studies as well as to a wide range of employability skills.

To be able to undertake this module it is necessary for the student to secure a placement during Stage 2.

The placement should be appropriate to the student’s degree and experience. The length of the placement should normally be at least 44 weeks. It must be completed between the end of Summer Term of Stage 2 and the start of Autumn Term in Stage 3.

The particular combination of the student’s degree course and choice of modules together with the great variety of increasingly diverse Year in Industry situations make the “curriculum” of the Year in Industry essentially unique.