1. Demonstrate systematic understanding of the global and political factors that impact the role and function of agencies that deliver social work and those with experience of using social work/care services.

Knowledge and Understanding

Digital Literacy

2. Apply theoretical perspectives to analysing organisational factors that impact on professional social work practice.

Application & Problem-Solving

3. Systematically evaluate strategies that social workers in England can use to balance competing perspectives in a multi-agency context whist demonstrating a clear understanding of professional standards.

Critical reasoning & collaboration

Safe and professional practice

Formative Assessment:

You will have the opportunity to complete formative tasks throughout the module. Teaching staff will provide you with formative feedback as these tasks are completed.

You will build on the professionalism and professional leadership domains of the PCF in delivering feedback on the assessed role play to your peers through written and verbal peer to peer reflection sessions.

Summative Assessment:

Written Assignment: A written assignment focused on a real-world challenge. This will vary to reflect contemporary practice and will be identified in consultation with employer partners. for example, AI in social work or financial pressures on services delivery.

Simulated practice discussion (maximum of 5 students): The case study will reflect contemporary social work practice and will be developed in partnership with key stakeholders e.g. placement providers, practitioners and experts by experience. Students will be assessed individually against the learning outcomes. The role play will be facilitated by an academic to ensure each students has equal opportunity to participate and will be recorded for the purposes of moderation.

This module commences towards the end of the course and aims to prepare you to be a professionally qualified social worker.

The module content is dynamic and will reflect current issues and concerns.

The module themes reflect the real-world challenges of working in organisations that provide social work services, with a focus on work in the statutory sector.

The module will explore the relationship between social workers, organisations, and the political context for practice in a globalised world.

Some of the main themes include; developing and maintaining professional identity, understanding organisational culture, responding to changes in the workplace, management theories, applying and maintaining professional values in changing or challenging practice contexts and how performance is measured.

The module will also support students to prepare for their first year in practice (the ‘assessed and supported year’) and the knowledge, skills and behaviours required at this point of their career.

The module contains 5-mandatory skills days, the purpose of these is to prepare students for professional practice in their final placement, during these days content will focus on a range of skills, behaviours and knowledge relevant to placements in statutory social work settings.

This module aims to prepare you to be a professionally qualified social worker. The themes of the module reflect the real-world challenges of working in organisations that provide social work services, with a focus on the political and organisational factors that impact on social work, whilst considering globalisation. You will also explore the knowledge, skills and values that professional social workers can use to overcome ethical dilemmas or challenges that present in practice.

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities

You will attend lectures on key topics.

During the classroom sessions there will be -

Peer learning: Small group discussion to explore some of the key issues in greater depth.

Case-based learning: Realistic scenarios for critical thinking.

Simulated practice: Role-play multi-agency meetings.

Reflective groups: Peer discussion.

Guest speakers: Experienced practitioners.

5 mandatory skills days are embedded into the module; this will be clearly communicated on the module timetable, as these form part of the mandatory 30-skills days in the course, any non-attendance of these taught sessions, will need to be made up.

Guided Independent Study:

Independent assignment / simulation-based role play preparation - you will need to undertake the necessary research and analysis to respond to the assignment question and role-play activity. You will be expected to have made use of academic databases to identify relevant peer-reviewed academic journal articles and contemporary research. It is also recommended that you dedicate some of this time to producing a detailed plan to help you structure your assignment.

Alcock, P. (2022) Social policy in Britain. 5th edition, Bloomsbury Academic.

Hughes, M. & Wearing, M. (2022) Organisations and Management in Social Work: Everyday Action for Change. 4th Editon. Sage

Kirwan, G. & López Peláez. A. (eds) (2023) The Routledge International Handbook of Digital Social Work. 1st Edition, Routledge.

Mullins, L.J. and Rees, G. (2023) Management and organisational behaviour. 13th edition. England: Pearson.

Webb, S.A. (ed.) (2019) The Routledge handbook of critical social work, 1st Edition, Routledge.

Simulation suites

Virti or other digital tools to aid in phenomena or simulation-based learning