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Welcome to

School of Public Policy and Professional Practice

 

Social Work

The BA (Hons) Social Work

The BA (Hons) Social Work

This is a single honours, three-year degree programme that has been designed to comply with University requirements; Quality Assurance Agency social work benchmark; GSCC and Department of Health requirements; and the National Occupational Standards for social work (NOS).

Level One introduces students to the general principles of social work and aims to enable students to acquire basic knowledge/ values/ skills in relation to: the context of social work; social work values and ethics; anti-oppressive practice; social work roles and responsibilities; issues of power and discrimination; interpersonal communication; human growth and development; the legal system; social work with adults; and social work with children and families. The experience of service users will be integral to all modules and will be further developed at Levels 2 and 3. Examples of NOS to be developed at Level 1 include: Prepare for social work contact and involvement; Develop relationships, work with users and apply and justify methods; Self-management and accountability. College-based modules will be taught throughout Semesters 1 and 2, with assessment periods at the end of each semester. A 30 day assessed PLO in a social care setting is incorporated into one of the Semester 2 modules (Personal and Professional Development 1).

Level Two aims to further develop social work knowledge/ values/ skills/ practice in relation to: social work theory and methods; the application of social knowledge; anti-oppressive practice; social work with adults; and social work with children and families. The focus on interprofessional learning begun in the area of practice modules at Level 1 is continued at Level 2.  Examples of NOS to be developed in Year 2 include: Prepare and participate in decision making forums; Assess and monitor risk to others; Advocacy; Identify, develop and evaluate support networks; Multi-disciplinary and inter-agency work; Service development and best practice. During Semester 1, students complete a 70 day assessed PLO in a social work setting, returning to the University for the second semester

Level 3 aims to develop analytical, research and evaluation skills in relation to: social work theory and methods; research methods and evaluation; project work; social work practice; anti-oppressive practice. Examples of NOS to be developed at Level 3 include: Updating knowledge, evaluating research; Professional judgement, development and compliance; Service development and best practice; Address and assess risky behaviour. At the end of Semester 1, and throughout Semester 2, students undertake a further, 100 day assessed PLO in a social work setting. By the end of Level 3, students are expected to have achieved and demonstrated competence to practice as a social worker.

Lester Parrott

Director of Undergraduate Studies