Keele Badge

SWK-10040 - Module Specification
School of Medicine
Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

SWK-10040 - Introduction to Professional Learning and Development
Coordinator: Cath Holmstrom Room: N/A
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 4
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 733928

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

NONE

Barred Combinations

NONE

Description for 2025/26

This module develops your knowledge of the key processes that are required to undertake social work practice when working with those who use social work services. This includes assessment, care planning, communication skills, review and anti-oppressive practice, all in the context of multidisciplinary working in social work, it also incorporates the initial sequence of professional skills development workshops.

Aims
This module serves two key purposes. Firstly the module serves to support students to develop an initial understanding of the key elements of social work processes, and to develop their readiness for practice through the development of core skills. Secondly, the module support students in their academic journeys through a series of higher education and professional education learning skills development opportunities.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/swk-10040/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

discuss the nature of the social work processes in a range of social work contexts, and identify their value for social work practice: 1,3
demonstrate evidence of satisfactory standard of academic skills such as referencing, academic writing and use of a range of sources, appropriate to the first year of an undergraduate degree: 1,3
demonstrate knowledge of a range of communication skills and show awareness of their centrality to, and impact upon, social work practice: 2
discuss the importance of social location for service users and carers, with particular regard to cultural diversity and contexts, and consequently its relevance to social work practice: 1
explore the importance of multi-agency working in assessment processes and intervention: 1
apply a range of social work skills in a classroom context, alongside people with lived experience of social work, social workers and tutors: 3
reflect upon, and respond to, feedback from a range of sources in order to plan for future development needs: 2,3
demonstrate, through satisfactory attendance and reflections upon attendance, conduct and engagement, commitment to professional standards of behaviour. (Satisfactory attendance is defined as being 80% minimum for each module, or 60-80% for each module with appropriate reflections upon mitigation included in reflections and evidence of completion of learning missed. Lower than 60% attendance will result in referral to Health and Conduct Committee and/or for Support to Study as appropriate).: 3

Study hours


In situ, synchronous:
Lectures: 48 hours
Skills workshops with service users and practitioners: 36 hours (12 days on campus)
Workshops/seminars: 30 hours
Group Tutorials 1.5 hours per month during term time = 8 hours total
Shadowing of social workers in practice setting (online equivalent to be provided if placements are unavailable for any unexpected reason): 21 hours (3 days)
Remote, asynchronous:
Independent study: preparation for workshops and wider reading (77 hours)
Independent study: preparing assignments (80 hours)

School Rules

Required number of skills days to be attended in line with PSRB requirements. The number included within this module is proposed as 15 from the total of 30 required. Any sessions missed will need to be made up in relation to skills-related learning and demonstration of skills by arrangement with the module lead. Up to 3 days may be made up at the end of the taught sequence if missed for authorised reasons.

Description of Module Assessment

1: Assignment weighted 25%
1,500-word case study analysis
1,500 word case study where the student applies social work processes (assessment, care planning etc) to a service-user context (case study) involving multidisciplinary working.

2: Presentation weighted 25%
10 min Individual presentation demonstrating understanding and application of communication skills
A 10 minute presentation from the student reflecting on their learning from across both semester 1 and semester 2 followed by 5 minutes of questions. Reflections will focus upon those areas core to readiness for direct practice/pre-placement level such as a range of communication skills. Assessment will take the form of a panel made up by a Person with Lived Experience of Social Work, and/or a social work practitioner, chaired by a member of the academic teaching team

3: Portfolio weighted 50%
Portfolio of Evidence (Readiness for Direct Practice)
Students will complete a portfolio of work evidencing the 'readiness for direct practice' requirement of the regulator, measured against the Professional Capabilty Framework (BASW) at the appropriate level (pre-placement one/readiness stage). Portfolio contents will include: - Evidence of 15 skills development days attended and associated reflections (1500 words) signed off by module lead - Shadowing workbook completed whilst shadowing social worker for 3 days (1000 words) - Completed self-assessment and a professional development action plan (1000 words) (does not contribute to grading but must be included - pass/fail only) - Reflective statement regarding attendance, engagement and conduct (1000 words)

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025