STUDY

This module prepares students and assesses their suitability to commence direct practice in line with the BASW Professional Capabilities Framework (2018) level of ‘Readiness for Practice and the Social Work England Professional Standards' Social Work England Professional Standards (2019) 

The individual moves through various stages of the lifespan and this module, offers students the opportunity to examine the implications of a development process and life stages on the individual’s behaviour.  The module introduces students to the conceptual frameworks of human development from pre-birth to old age, encompassing both ‘normal’ and atypical development.   

This module introduces students to a range of key theories and major themes drawn from sociology and rooted in social justice. Students will develop their “sociological imagination” and engage with concepts and debates to challenge their assumptions and long-held beliefs. The module will promote students’ curiosity and encourage them to question themselves and the world that they live in, providing a space to broaden understandings of their personal and professional value base and their developing professional identity. 

Social Work England professional standards (2019) require that all practitioners reflect on their personal and professional values (Standard 4.8) to ensure that practice is safe, ethical and operates within anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory frameworks. The module enables students to critically reflect on their own personal values, explore the value base that underpins social work practice, appreciate that social work is full of ethical dilemmas, that practitioners need to sensitively navigate, and understand the damaging consequences of discrimination on individuals and groups.  

The ability to communicate effectively is an important life skill. It can be argued that the accomplishment of effective communication is the foundation upon which social work practice is formed. This module will support the development of students to become accomplished communicators with people that access services, managers and other professionals both within and outside of social care. 

The key aim of this module is to enable students to discuss, analyse and evaluate the effectiveness and efficacy of national legislation and how policy is applied at regional and local levels. Contextualising social work practice with adults within a legal, political, social and economic framework, students will be encouraged to analyse and evaluate the constraints and opportunities which arise within this continually changing context.  

 Social workers must act to protect children and support them and their families. Children’s wishes and feelings must be sought and listened to and at the same time decisions must be taken in their best interests. Having knowledge of the law (including human / children’s rights legislation), procedures, ethics, and research including learning from Child Safeguarding Practice reviews, as well has being skillful in working directly with children and families and effectively communicating with them and with other professionals, is the foundation of excellent practice. 

Research underpins the social work knowledge-base, shaping and informing the profession. The module will promote students’ curiosity, through developing a questioning approach and encourage a critical appreciation of a variety of different research approaches supported through the development of design, evaluation and analysis skills. Students will engage with the principles, practice and integrity of research and progress their knowledge on the effective use of research findings. 

It is essential that social workers have a good knowledge and understanding of mental health and personal distress from a range of theories, law, lived experience perspectives and practice knowledge. These issues will be particularly explored in relation to social justice, including the tensions and dilemmas this raises for contemporary social work practice.  

Social Work students are required to spend 170 days gaining required experience and learning in practice settings. Each student must have experience in at least two contrasting practice settings. At level 5 students will undertake assessed practice learning of at least 70 days for the academic year.  

Utilising social justice and human rights perspectives, this module encourages learners to become critical, curious and inquiring when debating contemporary social work issues and concerns, not least the continuing impact of austerity, cost of living crisis and financial issues facing many local authorities and
indeed charities providing social work services. The module thus responds to real time changes or emerging trends in social work policy and practice.

Social Work students are required to spend 170 days gaining required experience and learning in practice settings. Each student must have experience in at least two contrasting practice settings. At level 6 students will undertake assessed practice learning of at least 100 days for the academic year.  

This module provides social work students with an opportunity to exercise their independent judgement and skills in the development and execution of a dissertation relevant to the field of social work. Students will investigate a topic of their own choice and develop the skills of project planning, design, analysis and critical evaluation.