Studying at York
Social Work Practice Skills for Apprentices - SPY00035C
- Department: Social Policy and Social Work
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: C
- Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
Module summary
This module provides apprentices with a foundational understanding of social work practice, effective communication, and preparation for the first placement.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 1 2024-25 |
Module aims
This module will support you to develop an understanding of the range of social and ethical complexities often present in social work practice. It will offer simulated opportunities to adapt core skills to achieve sensitive, ethical and effective practice in social work situations. You will be introduced to the conceptual and research base of social work practice. You will be supported to undertake role plays in small groups and reflect on your communication skills within the role play setting. Social Work Practice Skills is a bespoke module for the apprenticeship cohort.
This module provides apprentices with a foundational understanding of social work practice, effective communication, and preparation for the first placement. The module will therefore prepare apprentices for practice in relation to the following PCF domains (at the ‘readiness to practice’ level):
Professionalism – as a trainee social worker
Values and ethics – make connections between professional ethical principles and personal values, on placement.
Diversity and Equality – working with People with Lived Experience and carers.
Rights, justice and economic well-being – understand what is meant by rights and justice in social work.
Knowledge – develop an initial understanding of some practice frameworks, used by our Local Authority partners.
Critical reflection and analysis – begin to understand the importance of reflective practice and consider how to write a regular reflective journal on placement.
Skills and interventions – practice skills around various interventions, including anti-oppressive practice, person-centred practice, motivational interviewing, systemic practice, and Signs of Safety
Contexts and organisations – be aware of how teams work, and the student role in an organisation.
Professional leadership – offer feedback to students on the role plays.
Module learning outcomes
By the end of the module, you will be able to demonstrate the following outcomes:
LO1: demonstrate an understanding of the significance of communication in social work practice, with People with Lived Experience and between professionals.
LO2: demonstrate a sound understanding of some key theories and models for social work practice, with People with Lived Experience and between professionals.
LO3: demonstrate a sound understanding of the professional context for social work practice, including professional boundaries, workload, health, safety and wellbeing.
LO4: demonstrate a critical understanding of People with Lived Experience’s knowledge and experience of social work practice, including the emotional dynamics of relationships with service users and professionals.
LO5: demonstrate an understanding of the employment context for social work practice, including roles and responsibilities in supervision, and the significance of professional leadership.
LO6: demonstrate how to apply communication theory in practice, at the ‘readiness to practice’ level.
Module content
The module will comprise one weekly 3-hour interactive workshop. Over the course of the 11-week semester, we will alternate between:
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Classes which focus on a range of practice models and concepts, as well as placement-related knowledge and skills, including (but not limited to) the PCF, learning styles and goals, health and safety, social work supervision, data management and professional boundaries. In addition, we will explore skills and techniques designed to develop apprentices’ communication skills (including managing effective 1:1 meetings, motivational interviewing, developing emotional intelligence and strengths-based approaches).
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Role play sessions in small groups, practising the skills and techniques (listed above) designed to develop apprentices’ communication skills.The teaching will include the active participation of people with lived experience (who will also been involved in the viva assessment – see below).
The teaching will include the active participation of people with lived experience (who will also been involved in the viva assessment – see below).
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Online Exam -less than 24hrs (Centrally scheduled) | 50 |
| Oral presentation/seminar/exam | 50 |
Special assessment rules
Pass/fail & Non-compensatable
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Practical | 50 |
Module feedback
Verbal feedback is provided immediately following the viva; and a Pass / Fail decision will be made within one week. Reassessment opportunity will be provided within 1 week.
Indicative reading
Koprowska J. (2014) Communication and Interpersonal Skills in Social Work. 4th Edition. Exeter: Learning Matters.
Milner, J., Myers, S. and O’Brien, P. (2020) Assessment in Social Work. 5th Edition. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Rogers, M., Whitaker, D., Edmondson, D. & Peach, D. (2020) Developing skills for social work practice. 2nd Edition. London: Sage.
Ruch, G. Ward, A. and Turney, D. (2018) Relationship-Based Social Work: Getting to the Heart of Practice. 2nd Edition. London: Jessica Kingsley.
Tedam, P. (2020) Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice. Learning Matters.
Trevithick, P. (2012) Social Work Skills and Knowledge: A Practice Handbook (3rd ed.). Open University Press.