Practice Learning 1

Code

SOCW2005

School

Social Work

Level

2

Credits

40

Semesters

Spring UK

Summary

This module comprises 80 days of assessed practice learning. It will focus on students' ability to satisfy the requirements of the Knowledge and Skills Statements, Social Work England Professional Standards and the Professional Capabilities Framework at the interim stage of judgement. The placement will be assessed on a pass/fail basis and must be passed in order to progress on the programme. An e-portfolio must be completed to provide evidence that the professional requirements related to this placement have been met. To pass this module both the 80 day placement and the associated practice analysis assignment must be passed. If the 80 day placement is failed, the entire 80 day placement must be repeated (subject to Fitness to Practise Panel approval) and an assignment related to the repeat placement must be submitted as a first sit. If the assignment is failed this can be resubmitted without the placement being repeated.

Target Students

Only available for year 2 BA Hons Social Work students. Students must have passed Assessment of Readiness for Direct Practice.

Classes

Practice learning - 80 days. Placement - Students must work the same hours as staff based in those settings. In addition to their placement, students must attend Skills Days.

Assessment

• Practical: Placement assessed as pass/fail.
• 50% Coursework 1: 3,000 words.
• 50% Coursework 2: 3,000 words.

Assessed by end of summer vacation

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this module students will have demonstrated their overall capability to acquire and develop skills and knowledge in professional social work in line with the requirements outlined in the Professional Capabilities Framework and the Social Work England Professional Standards. By the end of this module students will: 

1. Demonstrate the ability to build effective relationships and work productively with service users, their families and carers, recognising their strengths and abilities and as experts in their own lives to identify and harness effective solutions.

2. With support demonstrate the ability to promote the human rights of individuals by working in partnership and supporting them to represent their needs, views, wishes and feelings.

3. Recognise the social and political factors impacting on social work and the diverse communities it works with, including the impact of disadvantage and discrimination, to promote social justice and inclusion.

4. With support demonstrate recognition of the power and authority they have when working with people, ensuring that interventions are always necessary, the least intrusive, proportionate, and in people’s best interests.

5. With support demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively with a range of individuals, families, carers, groups, communities and other professionals in order to build and maintain professional relationships and enable full participation and involvement in decision making.

6. Demonstrate the ability to act professionally in a social work setting, demonstrating awareness of and adhering to social work values and ethics as outlined in the BASW Code of Ethics and Social Work England Professional Standards.

7.  With support demonstrate knowledge, understanding and application of the legal and policy context of social work practice, taking account of these in decision making to promote human rights, social justice, inclusion, and equality.

8. With guidance develop a critical understanding of the key theoretical frameworks and structural factors used to explain contemporary social work to evaluate a range of problems faced by service users and carers to inform effective interventions.

9. With guidance demonstrate the ability to analyse information from a range of sources, including other professionals, and to use their own judgement in professional decision-making, including the assessment and management of risk.

10. With guidance evaluate, plan, and implement a range of strategies to meet the needs of people using social work services including risk assessments and case analysis to deliver appropriate outcomes for services and the people who use them.

11. With guidance understand the inter-agency, multi-disciplinary and inter-professional dimensions to social work practice, being aware of the roles and responsibilities of themselves and others and demonstrate effective partnership working.

12.With guidance demonstrate the ability to manage and be accountable for their own caseload of work, to manage their time and meet deadlines whilst being aware of their limitations and how to seek advice.

13. With support demonstrate an ability to use critical reflection on own practice, drawing on feedback from a range of sources, including people with lived experience, to recognise where there may be bias in decision making and address issues that arise from ethical dilemmas and to identify learning needs.

14. With guidance identify and reflect upon key developments in contemporary social work and develop models of evidence informed practice, including research, which meet the rapidly changing needs of service users and carers, the workforce, and employers.

15. With guidance demonstrate effective team working skills including the contribution to the learning of others, to work collaboratively to meet the needs of individuals, families, carers, groups, communities, and other professionals.

16. Maintain clear, accurate, legible, and up to date records, documenting how decisions were made.

17. With guidance promote and protect the privacy and confidentiality of individuals within and outside their families and networks, recognising the requirements of professional accountability and information sharing.

18. Begin to demonstrate professional leadership as a social worker, promoting our professional purpose, practice, and impact.

Conveners

• Ms Nina Akhter