Social Work MA

Modules

• Readiness for direct practice
  This module develops practice relevant skills and awareness of the social work role and responsibilities. It will ensure that you are ready for your initial period of direct practice and to provide you with a foundation for skills development throughout the programme. Service users, carers and practitioners will be involved in the development, delivery and assessments of the module.
• Human growth and development
  This module critically explores a range of human growth and development theories across the life course in order to facilitate understanding of ordinary development and the impact of life events, disability, abuse, mental health issues, drug and alcohol use on development throughout life. You will complete a series of child observations over the period of the module which provide a key opportunity to integrate theoretical knowledge with practice, and to develop reflective skills.
• Practice placement 1
  70 days practice learning in practice placement.
• Social work Law
  This module introduces legal context and statutory responsibilities of social workers in England and Wales. You will be familiarised with the basic principles of English Law and the systems through which the legal process operates. You will be enabled to develop a sound understanding of the key legislation relevant to professional practice. There is a strong focus on the key major current legislation Children Act (1989), the NHS and Community Care Act (1990), the Mental Health Acts (1983 and 2007) and the Mental Capacity Act (2005). The module aims to ensure that you not only understand relevant law but are also able to apply it to specific areas of practice. The module familiarises you with the powers and duties of social workers and others in relation to children and families, and vulnerable adults. It also examines the implications for social work practice of the UK legislation on discrimination and the implications of the incorporation into UK law of the European Convention on Human Rights.
• Methods and theories for practice
  This module introduces the core body of knowledge clustered around the major social work theories, processes and methods. A major emphasis will be on anti-discriminatory practice, evidence based practice and critical reflection. You will learn about a range of theoretical perspectives and methods of intervention and their application in practice.

• Society and ethics
  This module brings together selected key areas of social policy and ethics relevant to social work. There will be a strong emphasis on the use of social policy to illuminate the challenges facing and social work in contemporary British society. Using a critical analysis of the impact of neo-liberalism and globalisation the module will be a focus on the ethical dimensions of decision making and practice delivery of policy. You will be encouraged to engage with contemporary debates and controversies associated with social work and to relate your work in class, with your reading and developing practice.
• Professional capabilities in social work practice settings
  This module covers the four settings of social work; disability, adults at risk, mental health and child and family. It is focused on gaining familiarity with the process and delivery of social work services, with particular regard to safe-guarding and empowering service-users.
• Communication and collaborative working
  This module explores the values, knowledge and skills required for effective communication, intervention and collaborative working. It provides a theoretical context for further skills development in the second year via skills days and practice placement. It builds upon the Year 1 modules, readiness for direct practice and methods and theories for practice. The module enables you to engage with the values and concepts and challenges of collaborative working with service users, carers and other professionals and agencies. Within this framework it addresses issues related to communication with specific service user groups and in particular circumstances such as working with resistance and conflict. It aims to enhance communication skills required for using particular methods and models of social work intervention.
• Practice learning placement 2
  100 days practice learning in practice placement.
• Limited systematic review dissertation
  This module provides the opportunity to undertake a limited systematic review into a contemporary and novel topic of choice with reference to the specific profession of social work. The findings would add to the professional evidence base. Dissemination of findings by publication is encouraged and expected.

• Professor Joan Orme, Glasgow School of Social Work
• Professor Jan Fook, University of Southampton
• Pam Trevithick, author of 'Social Work Skills'
• Creating sustainable futures: defeating the politics of austerity, Social Work Action Network Conference, April 2013
• Partnership in Social Care at a Time of Cuts, March 2012
• Neo Liberalism vs Social Justice: is social work ready for the challenges of the future? Social work student conference, February 2010