Each week you were presented with a topic considered to be a contemporary issue in current social work practice. The module will take a generic approach to issues and there will cover work with children, adults and mental health. Included in teaching will be evaluation of Government reports and inquires on social work and social care. This process will highlight how individual practice is shaped by national policies and demonstrate the importance of remaining up to date with political, legal, social and cultural changes as you practice as a social worker. A research article will be included in the Visual Learning Environment each week to support the topic and this will be the platform for you to take and use to inform your assessment.

This flexible approach enables you to choose a topic which is best suited to your current areas of interest and career aspirations. Your research into the topic will be guided by your personal tutor and/or module leader.

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.

Summative Assessment:

The written assignment will demonstrate your ability to find research to support a theme provided as part of the module curriculum. Each week a piece of research will be provided to support the topic being presented. You will pick one of the topics presented and along with the research article provide complete a literature review * (LO 2).

You will be provided with a range of contemporary themed issues across the spectrum of social work practice and will complete a review of current and relevant literature and identify implications for practice. You will include the current legal frameworks and any relevant social policy or organisational procedures to evidence and support your research findings.

From this literature review you critically evaluate the findings (LO 1) and use your knowledge to outline the implications for practice (LO4). Application of your research theory into practice knowledge should include the national and local policies that shape practice and will demonstrate you can interpret and analyse information in relation to your chosen theme (LO3).

(All Learning Outcomes included)

Formative assessment/ Feedback:¿
* Personal tutors will give feedback on your initial literature review through tutorials. on a voluntary basis. You will also be able to discuss your choice of topic and use the experience of your mentor and/or tutor to inform links to current practice.

Students must achieve a grade of 40% or above to successfully pass the module.

Module Learning Outcome

University Learning Outcome

1. On completion of this module, you will be able to demonstrate that you can critically evaluate research evidence in a contemporary issue and reflect upon the application to social work practice


PS1, 1.1, 1.4, 1.5. PS3, 3.1, 3.3, 3.5. PS4. 4.3, 4.4.

(PCF 5; 7; 4)

(KSB 1.K6; 3.K2; 4.K1; 4.K2; 4.K6; 4.S9; 5.K4; 8.K1; B4)

1.Knowledge and Understanding

2.Learning

2. On completion of this module you will be able to demonstrate a systematic approach of the search strategies required to undertake a review of evidence for the contemporary issue

(PCF 2; 5; 6)

(KSB 2.S4; 3.S6; 4.S10; 4.K3; 5.K1;)

1.Knowledge and Understanding

3.Enquiry

5.Problem Solving

3. On completion of this module you will be able to effectively and analytically contribute to discussions regarding contemporary issues using your knowledge of national and local policies and procedures embedded within the legislative frameworks that underpin them

PS3. 3.1, 3.2. PS4. 4.4, 4.5.

(PCF 4;5;8)

(KSB 1.K1; 1.K6; 3.S3; 4.S9; 8.S3)

6.Communication

4.Analysis

1.Knowledge and Understanding

4. On completion of this module you will be able to critique and interpret relevant knowledge and articulate the potential for application to professional practice and the impact on the service user

PS1. 1.1. PS2. 2.4. PS3. 3.1, 3.3.

(PCF 6;8;2;3)

(KSB 3.S5; 3.K3; 4.K5; 7.K1)

7.Application

8.Reflection

5.Problem Solving

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: (63 hours)¿
8 whole group sessions (January – March) 8 x 7.5 hours ¿
3 hours Tutorial discussions¿(Individual and Group)

Guided Independent Study: (337 hours)¿
30 hours preparation for and practice-based supervision¿
247 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.¿
600 hours assignment preparation¿

Service User and Carer Group (SUCG) Involvement:¿

Members of the SUCG will be invited to be involved into support the teaching and attend the sessions

Beckett, C. (2006) Essential Theory for Social Work Practice. Sage. London

Gray, M and Webb, S.A (2009) Social Work: Theories and Methods. Sage. London

Thompson, N (2010) Theorizing Social Work Practice. Palgrave. MacMillan. Basingstoke

Treater, B (ed) (2014) Contemporary Social Work Practice. McGraw-Hill Education. Maidenhead

Worsley, A (ed) (2013) Key Concepts in Social Work Practice. Sage. London

Higgins, M., Popple, K. and Crichton, N. (2016) ‘The Dilemmas of Contemporary Social Work: A Case Study of the Social Work Degree in England’, British Journal of Social Work, 46(3), pp. 619–634. doi: 10.1093/bjsw/bcu142

Research resources will be made available on Blackboard 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

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