| Unit name | Social Work Studies |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SPOLM5102 |
| Credit points | 40 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
| Unit director | Dr. Mim Cartwright |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | School for Policy Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
This unit is intended to provide a comprehensive introduction to social work in the UK. It familiarises students with practice in the contexts of social work, including with children and families; young people; older adults; disabled people; and people experiencing mental health problems, people experiencing domestic violence and those who misuse legal and illegal substances. It introduces students to contemporary services, familiarises them with relevant policy frameworks, and provides a critical analysis of relevant theoretical perspectives. Small group work in Integrative Groups enables them to apply their learning from all units in the context of practice studied in this unit.
The unit aims are: i) To promote critical understanding of the reasons why children and young people, and adults, may come to the attention of social care agencies, and how the particular problems of domestic violence, mental illness and substance misuse may also be relevant to both groups.
ii) To develop a critical understanding of contemporary policy frameworks and service structures for social care and social work services affecting these groups, and how they have evolved.
iii) To examine critically the key theoretical and conceptual models relevant to social work practice in these areas.
iv) To explore and evaluate key theories of change and helping used in social work practice.
v) To develop a critical awareness of and ability to apply core social work values.
vi) To promote skills in integrating theory, research and practice.
On successful completion of the unit, students will be able to demonstrate:
Methods of teaching will involve a combination of blended learning that is both synchronous and asynchronous. It will include lectures, group work, and seminars involving case discussion. This unit provides a significant opportunity in year one for experiential group work which will take place both on campus (as the situation allows) and in self-directed study group, much of which is intended to enable students to integrate knowledge across the various units of the programme, rather than being restricted to this particular unit.
Students will be required to undertake a summative assessment of 4,000 words from a choice of questions based on practice interests. This assessment will require students to integrate theory, legislation and policy, social work values and ethics related to the chosen area of practice/ current issues within social work.
Students participate in weekly meetings of Integrative Groups, which requires them present examples of their learning.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SPOLM5102).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
