Social Work MA/PGDip

The module introduces you to social work as a form of practice that has been constructed over time within legal, policy and organisational frameworks. You will gain an understanding of the dilemmas, conflicts and tensions within and between legislation, policy, organisational structures and practice within diverse service user groups. The contingent nature of social work is considered by examining key historical ‘moments’ in the development of social work, exploring the political, economic and social context of each moment and the forces that shaped the form social work took. The module examines current social work roles and responsibilities and the settings in which social work is practised.

Compulsory

This module aims to introduce you to the way in which the law is relevant to social work practitioners and understand and apply key pieces of legislation. Objectives are to explore the English Legal System, introduce key items of legislation including the Children Act 1989, Care Act 2014 and Mental Capacity Act 2005, and to enable the practice realities of the implementation of the law to be debated and discussed by you with practitioner input.

Compulsory

The course adopts a person-centred perspective on social work practice that encompasses the interaction between people and their social situations, including the impact of social divisions on their lives. This module introduces you to the key components of this overall perspective and gives you a secure grounding in theories and methods that you can use as a foundation on which to build skilled and confident practice while on placement.

These theories and methods help you to gain greater understanding of what it entails to practise as a social worker by revealing and explaining aspects of problems and responses to you that might not be immediately obvious. In doing so, the theories and methods provide a means for you to be able to order the complex situations you will confront in practice, assisting you in deciding what to focus on when you intervene and offering guidance on how to respond. 

Compulsory

The overall aim of the module is to ensure that you meet the Professional Capabilities Framework (BASW) at the point of assessment of readiness to practice i.e. the required capabilities prior to first placement. Thus you should demonstrate a range of knowledge, core skills and values in order to engage effectively with service users and carers, work collectively as a member of an organisation and are open to learning and supervision in order to make effective use of your first practice placement. You will also demonstrate an awareness of the Knowledge and Skills Statements (KSS) for Adults and Child and Family practitioners, alongside an appreciation of Social Work England's (SWE) professional standards and their relevance to social work practice. 

Compulsory

The aim of the module is to enable you to develop a critical understanding of human growth and development across the lifespan of childhood to adulthood within context of internal and external dimensions of development. It examines theories of human growth and development throughout the life cycle, and how, at different points people’s identities are shaped by their social, political, economic and cultural locations. There will be a particular focus on how inequality, adversity and oppression can have significant implications on human development and affect people’s experiences. The module aims to develop your theoretical understanding of human development and its practical intervention in practice. 

Compulsory

This module is designed to enable you to develop understanding and knowledge of social work with children, young people and families in a range of settings including agencies and organisations operating in both the statutory and third sector. Learning will incorporate both the context and breadth of issues that children and families social workers encounter to prepare you for practice. It will include the application of legislation and policies related to children’s safeguarding and an analysis of recent developments and their implications to practice, including an exploration of contemporary themes in children’s safeguarding. The module will principally aim to enable you to develop your understanding, knowledge and skills working from a rights-based approach to promote relationship based social work and strengths-based models of assessment. The module will also provide you with an understanding of the impact of poverty, inequality and diversity in the lives of children, young people and families and how you may address this through your practice.

Compulsory

The module aims are:

• To understand that the principle of individual wellbeing is central to all professional practice with adults under the Care Act (2014)
• To acquire and be able to apply a range of knowledge, values and skills in order to understand people’s situations, build relationships and work directly with them and work directly with them, their families and their carers in order to enable them to achieve the best possible outcomes
• To develop knowledge and skills in undertaking assessments, planning care and support and making the best use of available resources to enable people to have better lives
• To enable people to experience personalised integrated care and support them in maintaining their independence and wellbeing, coping with change, attaining the outcomes they need, understanding and managing risk and participating in the life of their communities
• To understand and counter the impact of poverty, inequality and diversity on social and economic opportunities and relate these experiences to people’s health and wellbeing as well as the functioning of their families, particularly in connection with adult safeguarding and in empowering individuals who may lack mental capacity.

Compulsory

You will be required to demonstrate an understanding of the role of the professional social worker in a range of practice contexts. You will demonstrate, through effective communication, evidence of forming appropriate relationships with professionals and service users. You will be expected to use critical reflection to inform your learning, to ensure your practice is underpinned by professional codes of conduct, ethical principles and social justice. You will also apply your understanding of legislation, theoretical perspectives and evidence-based research to your practice.

The module will enable students to demonstrate the capability requirements for qualifying practice at the end of first placement. You will be expected to critically reflect on the relevance of the Knowledge and Skills Statements (Department of Education & Department of Health) to social work practice².

Compulsory

You will be required to demonstrate an understanding of the role of the professional social worker in a range of practice contexts. You will demonstrate, through effective communication, evidence of forming appropriate relationships with professionals and service users.

You will be expected to use critical reflection to inform your learning, to ensure your practice is underpinned by professional codes of conduct, ethical principles and social justice. You will also apply your understanding of legislation, theoretical perspectives and evidence-based research to their practice.

The module will enable you to demonstrate the capability requirements for qualifying practice at the end of first placement. You will be expected to critically reflect on the relevance of the Knowledge and Skills Statements (KSS) to social work practice. 

Compulsory