Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2015-2016 (archived)

Module SOCI54230: Contemporary Social Work

Department: Applied Social Sciences

SOCI54230: Contemporary Social Work

Type	Tied	Level	4	Credits	30	Availability	Available in 2015/16	Module Cap

Tied to

Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None

Excluded Combination of Modules

None.

Aims

This module will:
1. Provide students with an introduction to the nature of social work in England including its organisation and ethical foundations;
2. Enable students to understand the needs and circumstances of users of social work services.

Content

The module comprises of the following topic areas:
Subject Knowledge
(1) The nature of contemporary social work and social welfare in a diverse society;
(2) The construction of social problems and processes which lead to social exclusion and their implications for social work practice;
(3) The views and experiences of users of social work services;
(4) Ethical frameworks for social work practice;
Subject Skills
(5) Mapping the provision of social welfare services in a locality;
(6) Assessing the role and function of a social welfare agency;
(7) Interviewing service users about their experiences;
Key Skills
(8) The use of IT and electronic resources to collate and communicate information.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

By the end of the module students will be able to:
Describe the nature of contemporary social work and social welfare in a diverse society (England);
Identify and critically analyse social problems and processes that lead to social exclusion and their implications for ethical social work practice;
Demonstrate understanding of the lived experiences of people who use social work and welfare services in England.

Subject-specific Skills:

By the end of the module students will be able to:
Map the provision od social welfare service in a locality;
Assess the role and function of a social welfare agency;
Have interviewed service users about their experiences.

Key Skills:

By the end of the module students will be able to:
Demonstrate the ability to use IT and electronic resources to collate and communicate information

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

Reflecting the learning outcomes, this module includes sessions that are led by service users and carers, practitioners, academic staff and students. A variety of learning and teaching methods will be used including lectures, personal and video presentations, workshops, group work, fieldwork, an observation placement, role plays and self directed learning.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total/Hours
Lectures	14	3/week	2.5	35	■
Tutorials	2	1/month	0.5	1	■
Seminars	1	1	1.0	1	■
Practicals	6	2 per week	3	36	■
Fieldwork (individual supervision)	1	4 days/week	8 days	48	■
Preparation & Reading
Total:				121

Summative Assessment

Component: Essay		Component Weighting: 100%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Essay on social exclusion	3000 words	40%%
Report of agency observation	3000 words	40%%
Group presentation of social exclusion project		20%%

Formative Assessment:

Optional - essay 1500 words on topic relevant to module.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University