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Skills Across the Lifecourse for Apprentices - SPY00078H

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

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2024-25

Module aims

This module consists of a number of skills days, designed to give students an insight into real life practice and to allow them to practice the skills gained in earlier modules, and to begin to give them a clearer understanding of the challenges and dilemmas encountered by social workers. A variety of experts will be exploring areas of work with the students. 

Throughout the skills days, the module will draw on case studies to allow apprentices the opportunity to apply theory to practice and understand the knowledge and skills required to undertake complex and dynamic cases in a variety of social work contexts. 

Through the above activities, the module will prepare apprentices for practice as a qualified social worker in relation to the following PCF domains:

  • Professionalism. Apprentices will learn about 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 and of the centrality of the experience of people with lived experience. 

  • Values and ethics: the skills days will consider ethics and values as embedded content.

  • Diversity: the module includes several skills days tailored to supporting people who have protected characteristics, and throughout the programme apprentices will explore the impact of practice on diverse groups. The main case study includes people who have diverse characteristics. 

  • Rights, justice and economic well-being: there is an emphasis on person centred planning and participation within this module, and social justice is a theme that runs throughout the module. 

  • Knowledge: this module specifically explores key knowledge and theories and considers how these might be applied to social work practice.

  • Critical reflection and analysis: the module enhances the apprentice's skills of critical reflection and analysis,. This is central to effective social work practice. 

  • Intervention and skills: a practical understanding of the role and responsibilities of social workers is a key element of this module; each skills day explores a new area of social work. 

  • Contexts and organisations: this module analyses different practice settings and allows apprentices the opportunity to consider the multi-agency and multi-disciplinary nature of social work. There may be opportunities to work with apprentices from other disciplines.

  • Professional leadership: apprentices will begin to develop an appreciation for leadership in social work practice, and how leadership can foster good practice.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, apprentices will be able to:

LO1:  Demonstrate an insight into the practical skills used by social workers when working with people with lived experience in a variety of settings and situations. 

LO2:  Demonstrate an understanding of how theories, approaches and models can be applied in social work practice. 

LO3: Be able to explore practice dilemmas effectively, with an understanding of the practical challenges of real life situations

LO4: Build on interprofessional skills.

Module content

Note: 

  • Skills Day = 6 hours interactive teaching 

  • Sessions below are indicative only, and may vary in title, content and order

Semester 1 (week numbers on the left hand side): 

  1. Ethics & Values                                                                     2 x Skills Days

  2. Social Work Assessments                                                     1 x Skills Day

  3. Child Safeguarding / risk                                                       1 x Skills Day

  4. Child Exploitation                                                                  1 x Skills Day

  5. Trauma-informed practice                                                    1 x Skills Day

  6. Domestic Abuse                                                                   2 x Skills Day

  7. Substance misuse                                                                1 x Skills Day

  8. Connecting People                                                               1 x Skills Day

  9. Mental Health                                                                       1 x Skills Day

  10. Adults Safeguarding & risk                                                   1 x Skills Day

  11. Dementia                                                                              1 x Skills Day

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100.0

Special assessment rules

Non-compensatable

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100.0

Module feedback

In accordance with School policy

Indicative reading

  • Bottomley, J., Cartney, P. and Pryjmachuck, S. (2019) Communication Skills for your Social Work Degree. St Albans: Critical Publishing

  • Davies, K. and Jones, R. (2015) Skills for Social Work Practice. London: Palgrave. 

  • Williams, C. (2016) Social Work in a Diverse Society. Bristol: Policy Press.


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.