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Critical Approaches to Social Work for Apprentices - SPY00039C

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  • Department: Social Policy and Social Work
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: C
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25

Module summary

In this module, you will develop an understanding of critical approaches to social work practice.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Summer Semester 2024-25

Module aims

In this module, you will develop an understanding of critical approaches to social work practice. You will consider the role of power in the development of social work knowledge and its manifestation in social work practice settings. You will draw on your work experience to explore power dynamics in practice and reflect on your own use of power in your work. You will develop an understanding of social justice, community participation and advocacy as core values in social work and explore how participatory approaches have the potential to challenge power inequities. In particular, you will be introduced to critical perspectives on social inclusion and inequality, and the role of anti-oppressive approaches in challenging power inequities in social work practice. This module will enable you to consider the role of social work in social change, and reflect on the structures which support and inhibit social work practice in the UK.

The module will be taught in six interactive seminars which will feature a combination of lecture content, workshops and seminar-style small group discussion. This will be supported by independent study and reflection on work experiences. The overall aim of the module is to support you to take a critical approach to social work practice and to support your professional development in the following Professional Capabilities Framework domains:

  • Knowledge

  • Values and Ethics

  • Contexts and Organisations

  • Professionalism

  • Diversity and Equality

  • Critical Reflection and Analysis

  • Rights, Justice and Economic Wellbeing

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  • Understand the role of power in social work systems and practice using relevant theories and research.

  • Understand the role of participatory practices in counteracting unequal power dynamics and evaluate different approaches to participation.

  • Reflect on the use of power in practice settings encountered during prior and current work experience.

  • Understand the application of anti-oppressive approaches in social work.

  • Reflect on service user and carer experiences of power in social work practice.

Module content

The module will be taught in six interactive seminars which will feature a combination of lecture content, workshops and seminar-style small group discussion. This will be supported by independent study and reflection on work experiences.

Indicative content:

  1. Theories of power and their relevance to social work

  2. Critical and radical approaches to social work

  3. Feminist & anti-racist social work

  4. Anti-oppressive practice

  5. Participatory approaches to social work

  6. Services user voices and power.

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

Written feedback provided 20 working days after submission.

Indicative reading

  • Smith, R. (2008) Social Work and Power, Palgrave Macmillan

  • Thompson, N (2020) Anti-Discriminatory Practice: Equality, Diversity and Social Justice (7th ed) Red Globe Press

  • Adams, R., Dominelli, L. and Payne, M. (2002) Anti-Oppressive Practice, Palgrave MacMillan

  • Tedam, P. (2021) Anti-Oppressive Social Work Practice, Learning Matters


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.