Studying at York
Contemporary Social Work Practice for Apprentices - SPY00038C
- Department: Social Policy and Social Work
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: C
- Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Summer Semester 2024-25 |
Module aims
Within a framework of human rights and social justice, the contribution of professional social work to work with vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals and groups will be discussed and debated. The purpose of the module is to pose an intellectual challenge with an emphasis on the political, social and rights-based elements of social work practice. The module will look at some of the key contemporary debates within the social work profession that provide a challenge and a focus to current practice and that help to map the future direction of social welfare. It will consider key debates that are not necessarily restricted to discrete service sectors. Topics for debate will be selected in consultation with apprentices. The overall aims are to both consolidate practice experience and extend apprentices’ learning to prepare them for practice learning experiences in year 2.
Relationship to the domains of the PCF:
This module aims to contribute to the development of apprentices’ capabilities in the following domains of the PCF, e.g.:
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Professionalism. Apprentices will debate the role and expectations of social workers in different areas of practice; they will develop an appreciation of how our profession intersects with other professions.
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Values and ethics: all selected debates will include an exploration of the ethical dimension to professional practice.
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Rights, justice and economic well-being: all debates will involve a consideration of the impact of the debated issues on the lives of people with lived experience, and social justice is a theme that runs throughout the module.
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Critical reflection and analysis: the module requires the apprentices to demonstrate an ability to critically reflect on relevant issues.
Module learning outcomes
By the end of this module, you will be able to:
LO1: Demonstrate an awareness of key contemporary debates in current social work practice.
LO2: Draw on relevant research, practice wisdom, and service user and carer perspectives to inform the debates
LO3: Develop an understanding of what it means to be a professional social worker within current practice and the meaning of the professional self.
LO4: Demonstrate skills in presenting a verbal contribution to a debate.
LO5: Write a critical review of the chosen debate.
LO6: Demonstrate reflective thinking and self-awareness.
Module content
The taught element of the module will comprise of six 2-hour classes, each exploring a different debate issue. Prior to the classes the apprentices will be presented with a list of debate topics and will vote on the six they would like to discuss. The most popular six will be debated. The apprentices will be expected to prepare for each debate with guided reading and self-directed research. There will also be discrete workshop where apprentices will deliver presentations to the class on their current area of practice, highlighting specific issues and debates within their particular field.
The assessment task will be a written exploration of both sides of one of the six debates covered in class; all apprentices can choose which of the debates to write about.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
Non-compensatable
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
Feedback will be provided in accordance with University and School policy.
Indicative reading
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Banks, S. (2004) Ethics, Accountability and the Social Professions Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan.
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Fook J (2002) Social Work Critical Theory and Practice London, Sage.
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Lyons, K and Lawrence, S. (2006) Social work in Europe: Educating for Change Birmingham, Venture Press