module specification

This year-long module prepares you for direct practice to progress into your first placement.

This module provides opportunities for you to:

• Gain a deeper understanding of the role of social workers, the regulations and key 

  documents that govern social workers.

• Develop practice skills in a supportive learning environment.

• Develop professional abilities, skills and understanding of the generic role of a social

   worker to achieve readiness for practice across a range of different service user 

   groups.

• Develop basic communication skills in-line with the Readiness for Practice criteria.

• Engage with the 9 domains of the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF).

People with Lived Experience colleagues have contributed to the development, design and delivery of this module in the following ways:

- Developed the case studies used in the role play assignment

- Assess the role play assignment

- Co-facilitate a session

This module must be passed before progressing to module SW5W03 – Practice Learning 1

On your journey from student to a developing practitioner, you are encouraged to become an active learner/participant through your engagement in a range of interactive activities. These learning and teaching activities will develop your understanding of social work practice and are an important part of building your social work portfolio. The module is structured around the readiness for direct practice level of social work.

What are the distinct elements of the module?

This module will:

Encourage you to think deeply around issues that position social work as a social justice and human rights profession.

Evoke your professional curiosity and to help/support make links between anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory practice, the social work values, initial understanding of the legal framework, skills of intervention and social work practice throughout the course.

Raise awareness and confront/challenge issues that impact human rights and social work. e.g.  inequality, discrimination, disadvantages, marginalisation, privilege and its association with Human Rights issues, social justice and to embed those values into their practice and understanding of the role of a social worker.

Encourage you to develop/demonstrate your understanding of the role of reflection, reflective practice, and professional use of self.

Practice knowledge and skills of engagement, information gathering, investigation, authenticity, active listening skills, managing conflict & confrontation, find your professional voice, the use of assertiveness, report writing, presentation and recording skills.

Topics to be covered:

• Core communication skills (LO1, LO2).
• Skills and values needed to engage with users (LO1, LO2, LO4).
• How to learn from feedback and supervision (LO1, LO3).
• Reflective Practice skills and tools (LO3, LO4).
• The role of the Professional Capabilities Framework expectations (LO1)
• The role and purpose of social work (LO2).
• Values and critical reflection on equality and discrimination LO1, LO4).
• Key concepts and terminology.
• Relationship-based practice (LO1 LO2).
• The role of the social worker (LO1).
• Professional boundaries including boundaries and issues relating to the
• housing profession (LO1 & LO2).
• The Placement Application Form (L01).
• The role of resilience.

Knowledge of the Social Work England Standards and the role of Regulation (LO1).

Understanding accountability and the duty to report concerns (LO1).

Knowledge of the BASW Code of Ethics and the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) (LO1).

Knowledge of the use of supervision in practice and understanding of continual   professional development (CPD) (LO3).

Fitness to practice (LO1).

Personal and Professional Values and Ethics in social work and related fields like housing (LO4).

The learning and teaching methods on this module will include the following approaches:

• Interactive skills-based workshops: collaborative experiential learning

• Small group and peer learning and reflection on feedback

• Experiential role plays

• Case-study analysis and problem-based learning

• Personal reflection and reflective writing

• Preparation for supervision and direct practice

• Weblearn, video materials & other online educational content

• The module will include service user, carer, and practitioner contributions

The use of these approaches will be complemented by your active engagement with the learning process as you identify your own learning needs. You will be encouraged to engage meaningfully with these strategies through personal reflection and reflective writing, use of Weblearn, visual materials and other educational content. You will be expected to access educational resources independently.

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

LO1: demonstrate an understanding of social work values & ethics, professional boundaries, that includes application of anti-discriminatory, anti-oppressive principles and anti-racist social work practice.

LO2: demonstrate core communication skills and the ability to engage with people to build compassionate, effective, and respectful relationships.

LO3 reflect on your learning and development.

LO4 reflect on your own personal and professional values and how these can impact on practice

This is a Pre-requisite Module which all students must pass to progress to placement.

Ongoing assessment through a portfolio of learning that is assessed as pass/fail and includes the following elements:

1. Practical Task: The student is required to take part in a practical task to demonstrate communication skills, compassionate practice including anti-oppressive, anti-discriminatory, anti-racist practice and professional boundaries in response to a given case scenario and service user interaction (LO1, LO2).
2. Reflective evaluation: The student is required to complete reflective evaluations where they discuss their learning from the practical task and the module contents more widely demonstrating how they will take this learning into future practice – the first placement (LO3, LO4).
3. Poster presentation: The student prepares two posters or short video files – (max 7-10 mins total): one on their culture and one on social work within their culture (LO1, LO4).
4. Placement Application Form (PAF) (LO3).
5. Professional, Personal Development Plan (PPDP) (LO3).

These tasks are integrated in the module and students have the opportunity to receive formative feedback prior to the role play assignment and final submission of the portfolio both in class and in writing. Initial submission of individual portfolio elements for formative feedback:

PPDP (extract) - Week 5

Placement Application Form - Week 20

Reflective Essay (extract) - Week 24

This module provides a continuous learning space that helps you to develop academic and practice skills. You will be able to practice (academic) skills, receive formative feedback, develop your understanding of social work, and improve throughout the module. The assessment of a PASS/FAIL portfolio supports this learning environment in line with the growth mindset approach and the Education for Social Justice Framework. This allows us to foster an active and engaged way of working with the student free from grade pressures. You will receive grades in your other first year modules. These two approaches together give you a strong foundation for academic success in the 2nd and 3rd year.

All components must be passed.

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