SW4008 - Social Context for Social Work (2017/18)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2017/18 | ||||||||||
| Module title | Social Context for Social Work | ||||||||||
| Module level | Certificate (04) | ||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 30 | ||||||||||
| School | School of Social Professions | ||||||||||
| Total study hours | 300 | ||||||||||
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| Assessment components |
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| Running in 2017/18(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
This module provides an introduction to social theories, social constructs and social policy to enable students to contextualise social work practice within a broad social science framework. The investigation of the ‘social’ will provide students with an introduction to social science research as a basis for evidence informed practice.
Module aims
The module aims are to:
- introduce students to theories, contexts and policies within the social sciences.
- introduce key methods of investigation and research within the social sciences
- examine the rationale for using social science knowledge as evidence to inform social work practice
- introduce students to the different value bases in social sciences
- equip students with key academic and inter-personal skills
Syllabus
• Investigating social issues: an introduction to social science research and evidence informed practice
• Exploring the concept of social discourse
• Sociological theories of race, ethnicity, gender, age, class, disability & sexual orientation
• Sociological understandings of inclusion ,power dynamics and oppression in professional contexts
• Structural approaches to understanding social problems
• Integrative approaches to the social science imagination
• Social constructs and contexts
• Social policy: its evolution, implementation and impact on people, professions and interagency working
• Globalisation and social policy
• Comparative social policy perspectives including European and International contexts
• Sociological and social policy perspectives on equality, diversity, inclusion and anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice
Learning and teaching
Students’ learning will be developed through their engagement with a range of teaching and learning methods including lectures, seminars, small group learning, case-study analysis, personal reflection and reflective writing, inter-active workshops: collaborative problem-based learning, Weblearn, video materials & other online educational content
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
- Explain how social theories inform social work practice
- Discuss social welfare policy, its evolution, implementation and impact on people, professions and interagency working
- Explain how social research informs and develops social theory and policy
- Explain how values inform social theory and social policy and social work practice
- Locate, retrieve and evaluate literature and on-line educational resources relevant to social work contexts
- Present research-based information using information technology
- Practise oral and written communication skills and inter-personal skills including giving, receiving and acting on constructive feedback
Assessment strategy
The assessment strategy will include formative assessment in week two. Two summative assessments one in week 7 and the second in week 28.
Bibliography
Books:
Banyard, K. (2010) The Equality Illusion: The Truth about Women and Men Today: London: Faber and Faber
Cunningham, J. and Cunningham, S. (2012) Social Policy and Social Work: An Introduction. Exeter: Learning Matters / Sage.
Fook J & Gardner F [Eds] (2012) Using Critical Reflection in Health and Social Care: A Case Study-Based Introduction, Routledge
Giddens, A & Sutton, P.W. (2013) Sociology (7th edition), Oxford: Polity
Glasby J (2012) Understanding Health &Social Care, Bristol: Policy Press
Lister, R (2010) Understanding Theories and Concepts in Social Policy. Bristol: Policy Press
McLaughlin, K. (2008) Social Work, Politics & Society. Bristol: Policy Press
Moule, P and Hek , G (2011) Making sense of research : an introduction for health and social care practitioners. London: Sage.
Price, V. & Simpson, G. (2007) Transforming Society? Social Work and Sociology. Bristol: Policy Press.
Scriven, A. & Garman, S. (2007) Public Health Social Context & Action Maidenhead: OUP McGraw Hill
Siegrist J & Marmot M [Eds] (2006) Social Inequalities in Health, Oxford University Press, Oxford
Somerville, P. (2011) Understanding Community. Bristol: Policy Press
Teater, B & Baldwin, M (2012) Social Work in the Community: Making a Difference. Bristol: Policy Press
Thompson, N (2011) Promoting equality: working with diversity and difference. Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan
Walt, G. (2004) Health policy: An introduction to process and power. London, Zed Books.
Walter, N (2010) Living Dolls: The Return of Sexism: Virago Press
Whittaker, A. (2012) Research Skills for Social Work. Exeter: Learning Matters/ Sage.
Wilkinson, R and Pickett, K (2010) The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone Harmondsworth: Penguin Books
EBooks
Bochel, H. Bochel, C. Page, R & Sykes, R. (2009) Social Policy: Themes, Issues & Debates. Harlow: Pearson Education.
Cree, V. (2010) Sociology for Social Workers & Probation Officers. New York: Routledge
Denscombe, M (2010) Ground rules for social research: guidelines for good practice. Maidenhead: Open University Press
Dickens, J. (2010) Social Work & Social Policy: an introduction. London: Routledge
Sheppard, M (2004) Appraising and using social research in the human services: an introduction for social work and health professionals. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
On-line resources
www.cpa.org.uk
www.jrf.org.uk
www.kingsfund.org.uk
www.nya.org.uk
www.scie.org.uk
e-journals
British Journal of Sociology
Critical Social Policy
International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy
Social research
Social Work Now