In this module we consider citizens' welfare, and rights and duties within the Social Welfare Law system, including legal interventions in the family, employment, and other areas of the "private" domain to achieve welfare objectives. In addition, the focus is on State provision such as Community Care benefits and services.

More specifically, we consider:
citizens' welfare rights:

- the family and family welfare (with a focus on separation and divorce, crises brought on by relationship breakdown, domestic violence, 'living together' rules, financial provision, and court action)
- children's rights, including support for neglected children, those in need, support/care, and 'looked after' children.
- welfare-at-work: vulnerable workers, low pay, discrimination
- housing and welfare: homelessness, social housing
- Criminal Law aspects, focusing on welfare offences and fraud
- immigration and asylum, and support for migrants and their families
- older citizens' welfare rights
- Public Law aspects: appeal, review, Community Care 'complaints', etc
- EC/ECHR human rights aspects

WHOLE GROUP SESSIONS - these will be used to disseminate general information, and introduce new topics (including topics which are then developed further in small-group/workshop sessions). 12 Hours

SMALL GROUP SESSIONS - these will be used for developing specific topics and themes after their introduction in the Whole Group sessions. The programme of small group work will involve active learning and skills development by participants, including development of enquiry and enquiry-related skills, and post-sessional study. Typically, the sessions will be case study and scenario-based. Eg students will be advising a victim of domestic violence on remedies and support (such as a non-molestation order and welfare support: re-housing, financial assistance, a community care assessment, etc), and may be expected to take part in role play, eg a tribunal appeal involving a migration law issue, or welfare fraud appeal. Some tasks are undertaken in small groups, for example as part of a team preparing for a case for appeal. In general, work before, during, and after small-group sessions will assist participants gain a competent level of information literacy, and confidence when deploying research, analysis, problem-solving, and communication skills. Formative feedback on performance is provided after each workshop. 4 Hours

DIRECTED STUDY & PREPARATORY WORK - this is an important feature of the module programme. All participants will benefit from the opportunities to undertake independent as well as directed study. 134 Hours

Total Learning Hours - 150

Web-based material will be utilised to support all aspects of the module.
Participants are encouraged to make regular use of electronic data bases like Westlaw and LexisNexis which provide rapid access to up-to-date and regularly updated legislation and case-law - and to use those sources to develop their skills and 'information literacy'.

Access to appropriate texts, legislation and case law.
Module Study Guides
Computing facilities will be needed to access material available on the web and specialist on-line databases.
Westlaw
LEXIS

An OPEN BOOK EXAM length 2.25 HOURS under controlled conditions (100%) assessing Learning Outcomes 1-4.
To pass this module, students must obtain a mark of at least 40%.

There is no prescribed `essential' text. However, participants may wish to refer to these texts: Clements, L. & Thompson, P. (2007). Community Care & the Law. Legal Action Group, London.
Puttick, K. (2008). Welfare Benefits & Tax Credits: Law and Practice, 9th Edition (or 10th when available). XPL-EMIS Professional Publishing, Welwyn Garden City.
Puttick, K `Social Security & Community Care Law' in Burton, Sir Michael (Ed), Foreword by Lord Woolf, Civil Appeals (2008, 2nd ed). XPL-EMIS.
Puttick, K. Child Support Law: Parents, the CSA & the Courts (XPL-EMIS) (also supported by Seneca)
Other publications, journals, etc, as advised in the Study Guide.