SWK-40089 - Module Specification
School of Medicine
Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

This module will arm you with fundamental knowledge, skills and values that will enable you to use the law as a powerful tool to support service users throughout your social work career. You will be able to understand and appreciate why the law is so important to social workers and particularly within the context of safeguarding children and adults. This includes understanding how law is created and developed and the court structure within which the law is applied. You will learn to understand about the complex relationship between the law and social work values and ethics and how these influence decisions you will make as a professional social worker. You will also learn about how service users hold you to account for those decisions. You will have an opportunity to identify and visit a Court and to reflect on your observations.
Feedback from students is that this is an exciting exercise and one that provides some real insight into issues that impact upon society and your own personal values. The module also seeks to support you to draw upon learning from other modules. Throughout the module you will be introduced to key legislation, such as the Human Rights Act 1998, the Children Act 1989, the Care Act 2014 and how to apply knowledge and values to practice. The assessment provides you with the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge of basic law and processes in adult and child safeguarding and to evidence your confidence in applying it to social work professional decision-making.
This module serves as an introduction to second year modules focussing upon social work with children and families and adult social work.

The module aims to enhance the students¿ knowledge, understanding and analytical skills in the importance of social workers understanding and applying law in the context of contemporary social work and safeguarding children and adults. Students will also understand the court structure and plan a court visit.

Intended Learning Outcomes

demonstrate through response to case scenario an understanding of a range of sources and types of law and policy: 1
demonstrate a critical understanding and application of the law in the context of safeguarding in social work: 1
evaluate and apply legal provisions and processes in a range of social work contexts: 1
demonstrate legal literacy through ability to find, critically evaluate and explain sources of law, legal systems and processes: 1

Study hours

Active learning hours
In situ:
Lectures/Workshops - 30 hours
Court visit - 6 hours
Assessment preparation (with staff) - 3 hours
Remote, asynchronous: Engagement with specified resources: 11hours
Self directed study (remote, asynchronous): 100 hours (including 40 hours preparing for the assessment, 40 hours preparing for workshops and 20 hours of wider reading and research)

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment