Unit information: Unit 1, Professional Skills in Practice (Professional Practice with Children & Young People) in 2013/14

Unit name	Unit 1, Professional Skills in Practice (Professional Practice with Children & Young People)
Unit code	SPOL33334
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Dr. Turney
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School for Policy Studies
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

This unit is intended to enable qualified practitioners working with children and families to consolidate, in a specialist child care context, their basic professional competence, and to prepare them for more complex learning. Using a combination of lectures, seminars and distance / e- learning supported by mentors, the unit will introduce students to studying at post-qualifying level, by providing opportunities to develop study skills and skills in critical thinking. It will establish a common baseline of knowledge from which to explore practice, including values, effective communication, child and young person development, transitions, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, multi-agency working and sharing information. Students will demonstrate their understanding of the Common Core of Skills and Knowledge for the Children's Workforce (DfES, 2005), through practice-relevant assessments.

This unit will enable students to:

1) Return to studying at Post-qualifying level;

2) Integrate and consolidate basic professional level knowledge and practice in a specialist context;

3) Integrate into their practice the knowledge and skills required of the children's workforce (DfES, 2005);

4) Examine the integration of social work values in a practice context.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On completion of the Unit, students will be able to:

1) Access appropriate support in developing their own study skills, and manage the process of completing assessed work at Honours level;

2) Integrate, into their practice, the skills and knowledge requirements of the Common Core (DfES, 2005), in the areas of child and young person development, effective communication with children and adults, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child, supporting transitions, multi-agency working, and sharing of information;

3) Demonstrate critical understanding and application of core social work values, including anti-oppressive practice, child-centred practice and service user perspectives (see the professional Codes of Practice, GSCC, 2002);

4) Demonstrate critical understanding of theoretical perspectives and the knowledge base relevant to the Common Core.

Teaching Information

Delivery methods will be based on distance learning / web-based learning, supplemented by lectures, seminars, tutorials and the independent application of learning in practice. It is anticipated that mentoring support will be provided by employers.

Assessment Information

• A reflective assignment (3000 - 4000 words).

• Work-based assessment of practice (direct observation of practice by practice assessor) (Pass/fail).

Reading and References

• Adams R., Dominelli L. and Payne M. (eds) (2002), Social Work: Themes, Issues and Critical Debates. Buckingham: Open University (2nd ed.).

• Department for Education and Skills (2005), Common Core of Skills and Knowledge for the Childrens Workforce. London: DfES Publications.

• General Social Care Council, 2002, Codes of Practice for Social Care Workers and Employers. London: GSCC.

• McNeish D., Newman T. and Roberts H. (eds) (2002) , What Works for Children? Buckingham: Open University.

• Thompson N. (2000), Theory and Practice in Human Services. Buckingham: Open University (2nd ed).