module specification

This module provides opportunities for students to prepare for effective social work practice. By the end of this module:

• You will understand key concepts and to develop a foundational knowledge of need, risk, support and care for children and adults, and the role of the social worker.

• You will be able to recognise how legislation, policy and practice guidance relates to assessment and support/care planning.

• You will be able to understand and reflect on models and theories of assessment and support/care planning for children and adults and to develop practitioner skills in a context of social work ethics and values.

• You will recognise the importance of promoting the involvement of children and adults in social work processes and the development of skills in the empowerment of service users.

People with Lived Experience colleagues have contributed to the development of the case studies used in the teaching and assessment of this module

• The social context and development of social care provision for adults and children (LO 1 & 3)

· National and local policies, legislation and procedures on assessment relating to both children and adults in a context of anti-oppressive practice and service user involvement and empowerment (LO 2 & 4)

· Strengths- based approaches to assessment and support planning (LO1,2,4)

· Exploring concepts and models of need and risk for children and adults in a context of the principles of human rights and social justice (LO 2 & 4)

· Analysis and evidence-based practice in the assessment of need and risk (LO 1 & 3)

· Key ethical perspectives with a focus on professional accountability and compliance with professional standards and ethical frameworks (LO 1, 3 & 4)

· Principles of self-directed support, needs led and person-centred interventions, and co-production (LO 1, 3 & 4)

· Networks of care – options available including befriending and supported housing and implications and issues for informal carers, debate roles, rights and responsibilities of carers (LO 1, 3 & 4)

· Assessment and support planning for Adult Carers (LO 1, 3, & 4)

· Risk and safety, recognition of opportunities for and patterns of abuse.  (LO 1, 3, & 4)

The teaching and learning strategy is comprised of a mix of theoretical and practical activities:  a combination of lectures, seminars and small group working, with input from Social Work Practitioners and from People with Lived Experience of Social Services.

Group work activities will be based on case studies drawn from social work practice scenarios. You will be supported and guided to identify relevant reading to support independent study.

Resources available to you on Weblearn to support your independent study will include a wide range of audio-visual as well as text-based resources to support the diversity of student learning styles.

On successful completion of the module you will be able to:

1. Critically examine key concepts of need and risk, including constructing hypotheses, and apply these to the models, legislation, policy and practice guidance that underpin assessment, and support planning for both children and adults.

2. Analyse key theories, policy and research to recognise risk, strengths, and identify when protective action is required. 

3. Critically reflect on approaches, such as the personalisation agenda and independent advocacy that enable practitioners to engage with service users to support them participating in their own assessments and support plans.

4. Analyse key ethical perspectives, including professional accountability and the requirement for compliance with the social work role, professional standards and ethical frameworks.

Summative Written Assignment: Students will complete a written assignment based on a choice of case studies.  The assignment will require students to draw on reading and learning from the module. This assignment will assess all Learning Outcomes. (Word count 3,000 words, awarded 100% of the total marks)

Assessment, Planning and Professional Ethics Reading List Link

https://rl.talis.com/3/londonmet/lists/8CF8E064-A104-1B35-80BE-50A8E8F73347.html?lang=en-GB