Social Work with Children, Families and Communities module (SW51003)

This is the first of 5 modules on this course.

In this module, you will consider the significance of rights, relationships, and resilience in social work with children, families, and communities. You will be encouraged to explore what leadership means in different roles, contexts, and stages of professional development.

This will involve debate about themes and examples drawn from specific fields of practice, such as:

• kinship and foster care
• child protection and family support
• domestic abuse
• support for young carers
• child protection and family support
• social work support for transitions, such as transitions to adult life for young people with complex disabilities

Themes, topics, and examples will be supported by reference to UK and international research and developments.

The module will support your employability and professional development. You will be encouraged in reflective skills and critical analysis as relevant to social work, collaborative practice, and leadership skills in context. Although practice placements are not offered you will be encouraged to consider the meaning of critical and reflective practice. The content of this module complements other modules in considering the relevance of global and cross-cultural influences for local practice and policy.

What you will learn

In this module, you will learn about:

• collaborative and effective practice and leadership in differing fields of social work
• sustainable developments in local and international social work
• global and cross-cultural influences on local practice
• the varied role and identity of social workers in diverse contexts

By the end of this module, you will develop:

• a critical awareness of social work skills, knowledge, and values within and beyond Scotland
• critical appreciation of concepts of professional identity, leadership, and development of social policy in different contexts
• a critical awareness of research approaches and how research and other forms of evidence may be used to inform leadership and developments in social work practice, services, and policy
• collaboration, analysis, presentation, and communication skills transferable to professional life and leadership across professions, through reflection, reading, debate, and exposure to diverse perspectives and approaches

Assignments / assessment

Early in the module, you will complete a developmental task. This consists of a short written task and a group presentation. The aim is to improve your writing, teamwork, and skills through your presentation.

At the end of the module, you will complete a 4,000-word essay. This will give you an opportunity to choose and critically consider the significance of key concepts to a field of care or practice covered in the module.

This assignment provides 100% of the marks within this 30 Credit Module.

This module does not have a final exam.

Teaching methods / timetable

• lectures
• seminars

This course does not include practice placements. Supplementary options to support employability will be available.

Careers input will be integrated with the course. Optional, tailored careers advice will be available during and following the course.

During the module you will have access to an optional module which supports academic writing for international students and is designed to be a helpful complement for this one year MSc.