1. Case study assessing child care law
Word length 1500
Learning Outcomes 1 and 3
40%

2. Case study assessing social work law with adults
Word length 1500
Learning outcomes 2 and 4
40%

3. Open book examination assessing advice work law
90 minutes duration
Learning Outcome 5
20%

Students must pass all 3 components in order to pass the module.

Formative Assessment
Tutor feedback during tutorial presentations and discussions, and through the use of advice work law `working examples' to consolidate student learning.
Values Exchange case study for adult law.

This module provides an introduction to all the major areas of law concerning all the main social work service user groups and some issues/problems/themes that `cut across? all of these groups :-

The relationship between the law and social work practice

The role of law in promoting social work values

The legal mandates for social work practice with children and their families, and with adults, arising from ill health, mental distress, disability, old age or involvement with the criminal justice system.

An outline of housing rights, welfare rights, the rights of asylum seekers and refugees and the legal framework for the management of debt and default debt.

The law relating to collaborative practice

The legal framework for accountability in social work practice

Knowledge and understanding of the Human Rights Act 1998

This module is open only to students enrolled on the BA (Hons) Social Work.

Values Exchange
Computing facilities will be needed to access materials on the web and specialist online databases.
Access to appropriate texts and journals.

This module uses a blended approach to learning and teaching.
Workshops 76 hours
Students will be taught in 2 hour sessions for all of this module, in children and family law; community care law; and advice work law. The sessions will have whole group and small group activities and will provide exposition of key legal knowledge and its practical application to social work practice.

Children and family law ) 2 hours x 22 wks = 44 hrs
Community care law )

Advice work law 16 x 2 hrs = 32 hrs


For the Advice Work Law component students will be expected to access and use materials in the VLE.

Students will work through an adult law case study using the Values Exchange on-line critical thinking tool.

Directed and independent study (224 hours)
Preparation for assessment including literature search and wider reading (112 hours)
Guided reading will provide focus for independent study in preparation for, and reflections upon, large and small group sessions and in preparation for assessments and seminar presentations (112 hours)

Some material will be accessed through Blackboard / VLE

Brammer, A (2007) Social Work Law, (2nd edition), Harlow, Pearson Education
Braye, S & Preston-Shoot, M (1997) Practising Social Work Law, (2nd edition) London, Macmillan
Brayne, H & Carr, H (2003) Law for Social Workers (7th edition) London, Blackstone Press
Johns, R. (2007) Using the Law in Social Work (3rd edition), Learning Matters
Randall, G (2008) Housing Rights Guide, London, Shelter
Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook (2004) London, Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG)
Wolfe, M. Debt Advice (2006) London, Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG)