SWK-30038 - Social Work Practice Placement (2): Practice, Ethics and Critical Approaches
Coordinator: Helen Franklin Tel: +44 1782 7 34866
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 45
Study Hours: 1200
School Office: 01782 733928

Programme/Approved Electives for 2022/23

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

Students must have successfully completed SWK-20026

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2022/23

Keele University has strong social work practice links in the local area, with a history of successful placement provision within both local authorities, the NHS and both Private and Voluntary sector agencies. Where possible placements are facilitated to take into account and complement individual student interests and anticipated future career pathways. The final placement will usually take place in social work teams, where experience of undertaking statutory tasks can be experienced.

Aims
The aim of this module is to provide students with practice experience in accordance with the Regulatory Body expectations and Professional/Sector Standards for social work at a qualifying level. Students will be expected to build on and consolidate their skills and knowledge developed across the programme as a whole. By the end of this final placement, students will have developed experience of undertaking statutory tasks relevant to their placement setting, including situations which are higher risk and complex.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/swk-30038/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

demonstrate capability against all nine domains of the PCF at Qualifying Level/final placement level and demonstrate work towards meeting the professional standards of the regulatory body: 1
demonstrate ability in applying social work skills, theories and methods in practice with a range of service user groups and contexts: 1
demonstrate the ability to undertake, with support, statutory tasks and social work interventions as appropriate to their student status, evidencing ability to work effectively with situations involving risk and increasingly complex decision-making processes and contexts: 1
demonstrate the ability to work with appropriate independence, whilst also recognising the importance of seeking guidance and/or supervisory involvement and demonstrating an understanding of the importance of professional accountability and limits of autonomy: 1,2
demonstrate professional suitability/'Fitness to Practise' in accordance with regulatory body standards and university requirements, and adhere to the British Association of Social Work, Code of Ethics: 1
critically evaluate the contribution of theoretical perspectives (including theories of ethics) to understanding a practice dilemma encountered during the placement: 2

Study hours

750 hours (100 days) on placement
75 hours (10 days) advanced skills sequence
40 hours taught content on ethics, critical approaches to social work
12 hours of group tutorial supporting integration of theory and practice, with an increasingly student-led approach to the facilitation of tutor groups
Recall days x3 (including preparation for employment workshops): 18 hours
pre-placement preparation: 15 hours
290 hours of independent study - portfolio preparation, preparation for small group and tutorial preparation, assessment preparation

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Placement weighted 0%
100 days practice placement
Confirmation of successful completion of 100 days practice placement including portfolio of evidence. Portfolio to be submitted comprising: Learning Plan, (student/ PE to complete) Outline of agency setting (500 words) Account of work examples (max. 1200 words) Reflection on Service User Feedback (500 words) Two Critical Reflections (750 words x 2) Reflection on Student Learning (500 words) Three Direct Observations written by the Practice Educator with short student response (approx. 500 words) Reports from Practice Educator and Onsite Supervisor (where applicable), to verify students¿ capability against the 9 domains of the PCF.

2: Essay weighted 100%
Essay exploring dilemma/critical incident in placement (3000 words)
In this essay, students will analyse and explore a selected practice dilemma involving ethical and complex/competing issues and perspectives in order to demonstrate in writing their ability to critically discuss, understand and evaluate theoretical approaches and identify potential responses to such dilemmas