Assignment - You will identify an issue which impacts on practice within your placement setting, you will review current and relevant literature and identify the implications of the findings for her/his own practice. You will reflect on current practice and discuss how your practice may be developed in light of your findings (assessing all LO's)

Formative assessment/ Feedback:
Tutors will give feedback on voluntary assignment plan at tutorials. You will also be able to discuss their choice of issue and focus with their practice educators during supervision within the placement opportunity

You will begin a critical evaluation of major Government reports and inquiries on aspects of social work and social care, with particular emphasis upon the personalisation agenda, care for vulnerable individuals, mental health and disability developments particularly surrounding legislation, and welfare reforms and the implications for social work practice.

Following this introduction to the module a flexible approach enables you to choose an award relevant topic which is best suited to your current areas of interest and career aspirations and relates to your final placement. Your research into the topic will be guided by your personal tutor and/or module leader to ensure there is suitable research available and that the topic is a current theme.

Much of the enquiry and study undertaken on this module will be independent due to the broad nature of themes chosen and this will enable you to develop the skills of independent thinking and lifelong learning that you will need to adopt in your career in Social Work.

Particular attention must be paid to the blackboard resources due to the contemporaneous nature of journals, articles and press releases contained within
Computer facilities to access materials on the web and specialist online databases
Access to appropriate texts and journals

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

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities (48 hours)

Engagement with SUCG;

Practitioner Led Practice based supervision discussions;

Tutorial discussions

Guided Independent Study: (252 hours)
30 hours preparation for and practice based supervision
190 hours In identifying a focus for the topic and in thinking about the relevance of this to the placement setting. You will then need to research the topic and start to think about the application to your practice and the practice of your peers.
30 hours assignment preparation

Service User and Carer Group ( SUCG) Involvement

Members of the SUCG will be invited to be involved in some of the Bb based discussions as Teaching Assistants on key themes for this module

https://staffs.keylinks.org/#/list/5574

Adi, B (2019) Critical Questions on Critical Social Work. British Journal of Social Work 49 (8) p2130

Koubel, G (2016) Safeguarding Adults and Children: Dilemmas and Complex Practice. London: Palgrave

Preston-Shoot, M (2019) Making Good Decisions: Law for Social Work Practice [Second Edition] London: Macmillan International

This is an exciting and topical module based on current and emerging social work practice issues. A generic approach is taken to the subject matter to include impact and relevance in children's services, mental health and adults services with many of the themes cutting across each discipline. Topics include: - Exploitation of children and Vulnerable Adults through Gangs and County Lines; Working with trafficked and unaccompanied asylum seeking children; Managing risk through the spectrum of crisis and emergency intervention;¿Assessing children under the Mental Health Act; Identifying risk with adults who experience acute mental health problems within the spectrum of personality disorders. ¿The final assessed piece is an assignment based on a contemporary theme of the student's choice supported by research and where relevant, professional experience.

1. IDENTIFY AND CRITICALLY APPRAISE A CONTEMPORARY ISSUE IN SOCIAL WORK OR SOCIAL CARE (PCF 6.1, SG 8) Professional Standards 4.4

2. DEMONSTRATE A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH OF THE SEARCH STRATEGIES REQUIRED TO UNDERTAKE A REVIEW OF EVIDENCE FOR THE CONTEMPORARY ISSUE IDENTIFIED PCF 5.1, 5.11, 6.3, 6.4; SG9) Professional Standard 4.3,

3. CONTRIBUTE EFFECTIVELY AND ANALYTICALLY TO DISCUSSIONS REGARDING CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN SOCIAL WORK / SOCIAL CARE (PCF 9.2, SG4,5) Professional standards 1.7, 3.5

4. CRITIQUE AND INTERPRET RELEVANT KNOWLEDGE AND ARTICULATE THE POTENTIAL FOR APPLICATION AND PRACTICE AND IN YOUR ROLE DEVELOPMENT (PCF 1.9, 5.1, 5.10, 6.5, 6.6; SG 2, 6,10) professional standards 3.1, 3.2, 4.6