module specification

You will understand, analyse and critically reflect on legal processes, legislation, statutory instruments, and guidance. You will explore social work and multi-agency practice interventions applicable to children in need and at risk of harm. You will examine how these are informed by law, theory, research and the voices of children.  Knowledge of inquiries and serious case reviews will inform your learning and concepts of human rights and safeguarding are central to the module. You will understand thresholds for intervention and the application of professional judgement which underpin best-practice models.

The teaching methods are various and participatory. They take into account different learning needs and styles to ensure wide participation. You will be given tools to develop your confidence to interpret and use law in social work practice in order to safeguard and protect People with Lived Experience. Your understanding of case law will be tested in this module.

The lectures and case studies in the seminars are guided by real life situations as reflected in practice in case law and as described in serious case reviews.
You will have the experience of observing live courts in action and take part in mock court activities (with the presentence of a judge and visiting lawyers). These activities serve to build on existing knowledge of the law and this will further expand your understanding of legislation and law in practice.

An ethical approach to applying the law runs through the whole course. You will learn about the legal system as a way of ensuring social justice, and you will learn how and why a rules-based order based on the European Convention of Human Rights informs all social work practice.

You will have the opportunity to make the connection with anti- discriminatory and anti-Oppressive practice and Equality of Opportunity. You will increase your understanding of the impact of past and present colonial approaches within the law and how a rights-based approach to law facilitates decolonisation in law and practice. The teaching group are experienced Practitioners and Academic staff representing diverse ethnicities, genders, sexualities, and cultures.

The aims of the module are that you will:
1. learn how the English Courts and legal system works, and how to find your way through legislation, statutory instruments, codes of practice and case law.
2. become familiar with key professional milestones, such as serious incident reports and professional guidance.
3. have the opportunity to examine and explore laws related to anti- discriminatory practice, human rights and social justice in relation to current legislation, policy and practice guidance.
4. have direct live experiences of courts in action, the use of real-life cases and the examination and explorations of serious case reviews.
5. critically analyse the role of multi-agency working together in protecting children, this will include housing law, and opportunities to explore safeguarding in practice for children.
6. critically reflect on the professional role with an emphasis on evaluating and managing risk, the importance of accountability, understanding thresholds and the application of professional judgement.
7. investigate how the law evolved from a colonial context and how a rights-based approach to law facilitates decolonisation in law and practice.

● First-hand experience of courtroom practice (LO3)
● Opportunities to explore the skills and behaviours involved in working in a court setting using the University’s mock court room (LO3)
● Defining safeguarding and exploring professional accountability with practitioners (LO2, LO3)
● Early recognition of abuse and harm (LO2, LO3)
● Multi-agency working (LO4)
● Involvement of people with lived experience involved in sharing their perspectives on safeguarding processes (LO2)
● Legal and policy frameworks (LO3)
● Applying legislation to practise (LO2)
● Reviewing case law (LO3)
● Tensions between guidance, policy and case-law in relation to interventions (LO3)
● Children & Family law (LO2, LO1)
● Care Act 2014 (LO1)
● Mental Health Law, and Mental Capacity Law/Liberty Protection Safeguards, Care Act 2014 (LO4)
● Domestic Abuse Act 2021 and the impact on the Housing Act 1996 (LO4)
● Equality & Human Rights, with reference to the European Convention on Human Rights and professional values and ethics including anti-oppressive practice (LO1)

Weekly sessions will be interactive and you will gradually build your knowledge of legislation through a range of TV quiz formats designed and led by you.

You will be provided with questions related to aspects of the law and they will be directed to relevant reading in order to research answers to these questions and apply them to social work practice and values. You  will use reading, discussion, reflection and presentation skills to engage with course content.

You will be encouraged to engage in other forums that will enlighten and increase your personal and professional learning such as watching documentaries, films, plays and podcasts. 

Visits to courts in the community and use of the University’s Mock-Court room will provide you with the opportunity to observe and record your experiences of live proceedings.

Personal reflection and reflective writing will be encouraged and learning reinforced using Weblearn, visual and online materials and independent study. The learning and teaching strategy consists of a collection of methods to help you rehearse and develop your understanding, knowledge, critical thinking, and presentation skills.

On completion of this module, you will be able to:
1. Apply principles of human rights and social justice effectively to advocate for and safeguard children. 
2. Examine, apply and reflect upon social work practice approaches within in a context of need and risk and develop a framework of anti-oppressive practice
3. Through the use of case law, critically analyse legislation, policy and practice guidance relating to harm and the safeguarding of children.
4. Analyse and demonstrate understanding of effective social work and multi-agency interventions in work with children in the context of both need and risk and from a rights perspective.

The assessment strategy is designed to provide an opportunity for you to evidence their ability to apply their knowledge of research, theory, legislation, policy and practice guidance within a rights-based framework with regard to effective safeguarding practice.

Formative assessment.
You will be involved in debates on serious case reviews, when they will be able to scrutinise, analyse and evaluate the outcomes of the reviews.  You will receive feedback from social workers and people with lived experiences as part of this assessment.

The three written assessments involve answering questions relating to three case studies representing children and families, vulnerable adults and mental health. The word count for each Children & Families case study is 1000 words. The word count for the Adult Case study is 850 words. You will have a week to undertake each assessment.

The case studies will provide you with greater insight into specific areas of the law and you will have the opportunity to read, analyse and apply your knowledge and understanding of the law within the case studies. Two Children & Families focussed written assessments will form 35% of your marks for each case study. One Adult focussed written assessment will form 30% of your marks.

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