Department of Social & Policy Sciences, Unit Catalogue 2008/09 |
SP20024 Legislation for social work practice 1 |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Intermediate |
| Semester: 2 |
| Assessment: EX 100% |
| Requisites: |
| After taking this unit you must take SP30029 |
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This unit is for SWASS and ASS students only.
Aims: To provide knowledge about the significance of legislative frameworks and the effects on social work practice and provision. To learn about the relationship between law, practice and people's lives. To develop the skills and knowledge to work effectively with the law to promote people's safety, well-being and rights.
Learning Outcomes: The students should have an understanding and knowledge of: * The legal framework and service delivery standards, including the nature of legal authority, the application of legislation in practice, statutory accountability and tensions between statute, policy and practice; * The key areas of legislation for statutory social work in the childcare field; * The legal framework and professional boundaries that regulates practice and provision in relation to children, families and young offenders; * The complex relationship between justice, care and control in social welfare and the practical and ethical implications of these, including roles as statutory agents and in upholding the law in respect of discrimination; * The roles and responsibilities of a social worker working with the law in relation to children and families and young people who offend; * Students should be able to assess human situations, negotiate goals and plans taking legislative options and issues of safety into account. Skills: * To develop critical, analytical problem-based learning skills and the transferable skills to prepare the student for graduate employment (facilitated and assessed); * To gather information, data, research and literature from a number of different sources (taught, facilitated and assessed); * To select appropriate and relevant information from a wide source and large body of knowledge (facilitated and assessed); * To synthesise information from a number of sources in order to gain a coherent understanding (facilitated and assessed); * To utilise problem solving skills (assessed); * To explore a variety of relationships and environments relevant to learning and practising within the context of the social work degree (facilitated and taught); * Study and learning skills (facilitated); * Revision and examination skills (facilitated and taught); * To develop a knowledge of legislative and policy frameworks and the effects on social care practice; * To develop knowledge of the moral concepts of rights, responsibilities, freedom, authority and power and the influence on the relationship between justice, care and control in the delivery of social work services. Content: Each week focuses upon one area of legislation. Topics include: specific areas of the law relating to private law, social services support to families, child protection, Adoption, Care and Supervision Orders, family placements, residential placements and youth justice. In relation to each of these areas of the law the students will explore the role, responsibility and duties of a social worker. |