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Department of Social & Policy Sciences, Unit Catalogue 2011/12


SP30132: Principles of practice

Click here for further information Credits: 6
Click here for further information Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Click here for further information Period: Semester 1
Click here for further information Assessment: ES 100%
Click here for further information Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Click here for further information Requisites: This unit is for students on the BSc SWASS programmes only.
Click here for further information Description: Aims:
To address the place of ethics in social work theory and practice.

Learning Outcomes:
Students will be able to demonstrate that they have learnt:
* to respond to ethical issues in social work practice raised in their prior learning;
* to develop thinking in identifying and clarifying values and principles for social work generally and students individually;
* to explore some of the ethical dilemmas and confusions raised in everyday social work practice;
* to understand authority within complex frameworks of accountability and ethical and legal boundaries;
* build upon their skills of critical analysis;
* to apply sociological knowledge and understanding of ethics to the analysis of complex practice issues;
* how to develop sensitivity to the values and interests of others;
* how to act, with others, to increase social justice by understanding the ethical underpinning of anti-racism and anti-discrimination;
* to understand the arguments that support working in partnership with service users and carers;
* to understand the conceptual links between codes defining ethical practice, the regulation of professional conduct and the management of potential conflicts generated by the codes held by different professional groups;
* the value of advocacy;
* value the voice of the service user.

Skills:
Students will develop the skills to:
* Think through ethical dilemmas when they arise in practice and develop processes to resolve them;
* Advocate on behalf of service users and carers;
* Promote the voice of the service user and carer.

Content:
General consideration of ethics and values and their place in social work including perspectives emerging in social work such as 'virtue ethics' and faith-based approaches; identification of ethical issues and dilemmas from students' experience - e.g. values and conflicts of interest; authority and accountability in social work; cultural relativism and values; values and the maintenance of purpose and morale; role of user and carer participation; role and value of advocacy; the voice of the service user.
Click here for further informationProgramme availability:

SP30132 is a Designated Essential Unit on the following programmes:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • UHSP-AFB15 : BSc (hons) Social Work and Applied Social Studies (Full-time) - Year 3

NB. Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.