Course Development Handbook

Appendix 7

Comments/notes

Title

/ Critical Consolidation of Social Work with Adults
Code / SSM06
Level / Level M
Credit rating / 20
Pre-requisites / · This module is only available to qualified social workers who are currently registered, or are in the process of registering , with the General Social Care Council (GSCC)
· Students must normally be engaged in social work with adults for minimum of 15 h ours per week
· Students should normally have experience of previous successful study at least Level 3
Type of module / Intensive
Aims / · To enable students to evidence consolidation of initial social work competence achieved at qualifying level, in the context of specialist social work with adults (as outlined below), evidencing also appropriate knowledge and academic skills at M Level
· To enable students to evaluate the effectiveness of their professional practice within appropriate theoretical, research and ethical frameworks
· In collaboration with employers and users of services and their carers to promote effective integration of employment requirements (e.g. induction) with professional development
Learning outcomes/objectives / At the end of this module, successful students will be able to:
1. Critically reflect on and evaluate their developing practice and learning as a social worker in their specialist employment setting with adults/ across organizations, synthesising and applying systematically detailed knowledge of relevant theory and research
2. Identify and critically analyse examples of evidence which have underpinned their practice since qualification
3. Critically reflect on how the GSCC Code of Practice, The National Occupational Standards for Social Work and other relevant standards and requirements for social work with adults have underpinned, informed and are integrated into their practice
4. Demonstrate critically that their practice is consistent with the specialist consolidation requirements for social work practice with adults
5. Critically analyse, evaluate and reflect on their professional development needs
6. Demonstrate critically the development of key skills and critical appraisal consistent with graduate level study, and the integration of learning with practice
Content / Social Work with Adults encompasses a wide range of service provision for a number of different groups (e.g. older people; people with learning difficulties; issues of health and illness; end of life issues; substance misuse; physical disability; sensory impairment). Content on the module in the University will explore generic issues relating to knowledge and skills which underpin services for adults generally, but will also facilitate exploration of issues relating to particular groups and thus to the student’s particular practice setting.
Content will include:
· Critical reflection and professional development in social work with adults
· Frameworks for social work practice with adults including the role, function and purpose of national standards: e.g. National Service Frameworks: Older People, Long Term Conditions; Valuing People Principles (2001): Safeguarding Adults: A National Framework of Standards for Good Practice and Outcomes in Adult Protection (ADSS. 2005); Outcomes Our Health, Our Care, Our Say: a New Direction for Community Care Services (2006); other Codes of Practice and embedded values as outlined in Specialist Standards: Social Work with Adults (GSCC. 2006
· Knowledge (including appropriate, critical research perspectives) and skills for effective and competent social work practice including:
- The relevant legal and policy context, locally and
nationally: accountability in practice
- Adulthood, development and transitions
- Communication and engagement
- Assessment: balancing independence, risk,
vulnerability and protection
- Inter-professional, multi-agency working,
networking; community based services
-Knowledge and skills sets linked to specific service
user group
- Facilitating appropriate evidence and values based
interventions
- Report writing and recording principles and practice
Teaching and learning strategies / Links to Induction: As required, this module is delivered in close collaboration with local employers. Students following this module will normally have been recently employed and will be completing, or have completed the Skills for Care (2005) Common Induction Standards (or equivalent). These include the principles of care, understanding the organization and role of the worker; maintaining safety at work communicating effectively; recognizing and responding to abuse and neglect; developing as a worker. This process is supported normally by training provided in the workplace and through supervision, Students who have not been able to access such learning opportunities are advised to access the Skills for Care Common Induction Standards prior to starting the module and complete these while taking the module
Learning Agreement : At the beginning of the module a Learning Agreement will be established which will identify the names of the student, line manager and consolidation practice supervisor and University tutor, together with descriptions of their roles. This will be signed by all parties.
Lectures and presentations in the University will address key module themes and will involve University staff, practitioners, users of services, carers and other professions
Small group work will support the integration of learning with developing practice in the student’s specific practice setting and the development of the portfolio
Lectures, workshops, presentations 25
Module briefing
Small group work )
Private study (including directed tasks)
Integration of learning with practice)
(Preparation of portfolio for assessment) 175

TOTAL 200 hrs

Learning support /

Indicative reading

Adams R, Dominelli L and Payne M. 2009. Critical Practice in Social Work. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
Adams R, Dominelli L and Payne M. 2002 Social Work. Themes, Issues and Critical Debates 2nd Edition. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
Association of Directors of Social Services. 2005. Safeguarding Adults. A National Framework of Standards for good practice and outcomes in adult protection work. London: ADSS
Crawford, K. and Walker, K. 2004. Social Work with Older People. Exeter: Learning Matters.
Department of Health 1999. Caring About Carers: A National Stategy for Carers. London: The Stationary Office.
Department of Health. 2005. Independence, Well-Being & Choice. London: DH
Department of Health. 2006. Our Health, Our Care, Our Say: A New Direction for Community Services. London: DH
Department of Health 2001 Valuing People: A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century. London: The Stationary Office.
Dominelli L. 2002. Anti-Oppressive Social Work. Theory and Practice. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Dowse, L. 2001 ‘Contesting practices, challenging codes: self advocacy, disability politics and the social model.’ Disability and Society, 16,1,123-141.
Heller T et al 1996. Mental Health Matters. A Reader, Basingstoke: Macmillan.
Kitwood, T. 1997. Dementia Reconsidered. The person comes first. Buckingham: Open University Press.
McDonald A. 1999. Understanding Community Care. Basingstoke: Macmillan.
White V & Harris J. eds. 2001. Developing Good Practice in Community Care. London: Jessica Kingsley
Assessment tasks / Portfolio of work in relation to Consolidation of practice in a specialist adults setting. This forms the basis for ongoing work on the Specialist Social Work with Adults Award programme (GSCC).
The assessed elements of the portfolio at Consolidation Phase, are as follows:
1. The Reflective Case study is marked for academic credit
2. All other elements of the portfolio (Critical Development review; all aspects of practice evidence) must be assessed as pass, in order for the student to pass the module.
i.e. All elements of the portfolio must be assessed as a pass in order for the student to pass the module
The Critical Development Review facilitates formative feedback to the student in the earlier stages of the module.
A Critical Development Review (1000 words)
· For students recently qualified, this will entail critical reflection on their learning and practice experience from the final year of training and their induction, progressing into their new role. Students may make reference to the Common Induction Standards where appropriate.
· For students already established in their role, the review will involve reflection on their learning and practice experience over the previous two years
· As a part of the review students will set objectives for
their future development.
Reflective Case Study (2500 words)
Reflective case study on work presented in 2 case summaries (or pieces of work) demonstrating evidence from practice and relating specifically to the specialist consolidation standards and requirements
In the case studies students will identify and critically reflect on their:
- Consolidation of the National Occupational Standards for Social Work (Skills for Care)
- The development of their practice in relation to the specialist consolidation requirements and standards for Social Work with adults, and
- The GSCC Code of Practice for Social Care Workers (embedded values).
Evidence from Practice
The case study will contain reference to at least one observation of competent practice verified by the student’s line manager
The line manager, supervisor or senior practitioner will read the reflective case study and confirm that the student has met the specialist consolidation requirements for social work with adults.
Appendix to Reflective Case study:
- 2 Case or work summaries are required as an appendix describing the key elements of the work undertaken
- One piece of service user or carer feedback. Students are required to seek at least one piece of service user or carer feedback and reflect on this in considering their development. If this is not possible to obtain, the student should include a statement of why it has not been achieved
Brief description of module content and/or aims (maximum 80 words) / The social work degree is a generic qualification and requires students to demonstrate competence in relation to the key roles and all units of the National Occupational Standards of Social Work (TOPSS 2000) and knowledge as specified in the subject benchmark for social work. These skills and knowledge underpin their practice as newly qualified workers in the context of specialist social work with adults.
This module enables students to begin to critically evaluate, reflect on, and develop further specialist knowledge and skills (in line with GSCC. 2006 Specialist Standards and Requirements: Social Work with Adults) and enables them to demonstrate the consolidation of their initial competence in the NOS for Social Work in the context of their particular specialist area of practice with adults (this may be related to health; physical disability; learning disability; sensory impairment; ageing; end of life) .
Area examination board to which module relates / PQ Social Work Combined AEB/ CEB
Module team/authors/coordinator / Fiona Mainstone; Jem Price; Julia Stroud
Semester offered, where appropriate / 1
Site where delivered / Falmer
Date of first approval / April 2007
Date of last revision
Date of approval of this version / June 2009
Version number / 2
Replacement for previous module
Field for which module is acceptable and status in that field / PQ SW Programme (M)
Course(s) for which module is acceptable and status in that course / Postgraduate Certificate Specialist Social Work with Adults
Mandatory
School home / SASS
External examiner / Mr Alan Butler Leeds University