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SP20246: Social work with children and families 1

[Page last updated: 01 August 2022]

Academic Year: 2022/23
Owning Department/School: Department of Social & Policy Sciences
Credits: 12 [equivalent to 24 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 240
Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Period:
Semester 2
Assessment Summary: CW 70%, EX 30%
Assessment Detail:
  • Assessment Group S: Coursework (70%) (CW 70% - Qualifying Mark: 40)
  • Assessment Group S: Exam (30%) (EX 30% - Qualifying Mark: 40)
  • Assessment Group N: Coursework (70%) (CW 70%)
  • Assessment Group N: Exam (30%) (EX 30%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites: After taking this module you must take SP30029 . This unit is only available to students on the BSc Social Work & Applied Social Studies and the BSc Applied Social Studies.
Learning Outcomes: Students should have a knowledge and understanding of:
1. Contemporary child care policy, practice, research and law in England and the relationship between them. PCF 5.1; 5.2; 5.9; 8.3
2. Theories of child development and how to apply this knowledge in the context of child observation. PCF 5.3; 5.4
3. 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; PCF 5.2; 8.3
4. Understand how legislation and guidance can advance or constrain people's rights and recognize how the law may be used to protect or advance their rights and entitlements; PCF 2.3; 2.5; 3.3; 4.2; 4.3
5. Recognise the contribution, and begin to make use of research to inform practice and make evidence-based judgements; PCF 6.6
6. Demonstrate a critical understanding of research methods; PCF 5.11
7. Know how to formulate, test, evaluate and review hypotheses in response to information available at the time and apply in practice; PCF 6.5
8. The key areas of legislation for statutory social work in the child care field; PCF 2.1
9. The legal framework and professional boundaries that regulate practice and provision in relation to children and families;PCF1.7
10. Understand the inter-agency, multi-disciplinary and inter-professional dimensions to practice and demonstrate effective partnership working; PCF8.2; 8.5; 8.7
11. Skills and knowledge to undertake assessments of children and their parents' capacity to meet those needs (including parents affected by mental health issues, substance misuse and/or domestic violence) PCF5.7; 7.4; 7.10; 7.12
12. Skills and knowledge for working in in multi-professional settings and in private, voluntary and social enterprise organisations. PCF1.2

Aims:
* To ensure students meet both the Standards of Proficiency (HCPC) and Professional Capabilities Framework (TCSW) in relation to work with children and families.
* To develop students' knowledge and skills for social work practice with children and their families in multi-professional settings and in private, voluntary and social enterprise organisations.
* To provide students with a broad understanding of major child care research and policy developments and their implications for practice,
* Demonstrate a critical understanding of the legal and policy frameworks and guidance that inform and mandate social work practice.
* With support identify appropriate responses to safeguard vulnerable people and promote their wellbeing.

Skills: After completing the unit, students should have the INTELLECTUAL/KEY SKILLS to:
1. Reflect upon their own academic and professional performance and take responsibility for personal and professional learning and development (facilitated). PCF1.5; 1.9; 1.10
2. Understand and apply the profession's ethical principles and legislation, taking account of these in reaching decisions;PCF2.1
3. Develop critical, analytical problem-based learning skills and the transferable skills to prepare the student for graduate employment (facilitated and assessed); PCF6.4
4. Gather information, data, research and literature from a number of different sources (taught, facilitated and assessed);PCF6.2
5. Select appropriate and relevant information from a wide source and large body of knowledge (facilitated and assessed);PCF 6.2
6. Synthesise information from a number of sources in order to gain a coherent understanding (facilitated and assessed); PCF6.2
7. Utilise problem solving skills (assessed);
Students should also have the PROFESSIONAL/PRACTICAL SKILLS to:
8. Synthesise information from a number of sources in order to gain a coherent understanding of childcare research, policy, law and practice (facilitated and assessed).PCF5.2
9. Develop a knowledge of legislative and policy frameworks and the effects on social work practice (taught, facilitated and assessed) PCF 5.2
10. Critically evaluate and assess childcare research and evidence as well as a variety of other information, such as child development and attachment theory, childcare policy and guidance (taught, facilitated and assessed).PCF5.3; 5.4
11. Use research evidence to inform their practice (facilitated and assessed) PCF6.6
12. Apply their knowledge of attachment theory and child development to undertake assessments of the needs of children and their parents' capacity to meet those needs (taught, facilitated and assessed). PCF5.3; 5.4; 5.7; 7.4; 7.5;7.10; 7.12
13. Work in partnership with children, parents, carers and other professionals, including those from different disciplines (taught and assessed). PCF 2.4; 5.12; 7.5; 8.5; 8.7
14. Reflect upon their own academic and professional performance and take responsibility for personal and professional learning and development (facilitated) PCF 1.5; 1.9; 1.10

Content:
* Introduction to the unit
* Introduction to law
* Sociology of childhood
* Sociology of the family
* Family policy
* The policy child
* Introduction to research
* Research seminar/exercise
* Child observation
* Child development
* Attachment theory
* Skills for working with children
* Children Acts 1989 & 2004
* Children in need (s.17) & s.47 investigations
* Assessments & assessment skills
* Partnership working
* Parental capacity
* Mental health and young carers.

Programme availability:

SP20246 is a Designated Essential Unit on the following programmes:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • UHSP-AFB15 : BSc(Hons) Social Work and Applied Social Studies (Year 2)

SP20246 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2022/23 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2023/24 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2022/23.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.