1. Demonstrate a critical understanding and analysis of a contemporary social work issue.

Knowledge and Understanding

2. Critically apply research skills to identify and evaluate relevant research related to a contemporary issue in social work

Research Skills

Personal Development & Entrepreneurship

3. Synthesise relevant research to form your own recommendations for social work practice, effectively communicate these to diverse audiences.

Communication

Research Skills

4. Critically reflect on how research applies to social work practice and improves the lives of people who access social work services.

Reflection

Application & Problem Solving

Formative assessment:

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, your module lead will be able to provide feedback on 10% of the work and will review a plan should you wish.

Summative assessment:

You will be required complete two assessments.

The first assessment is a 2500-word written essay describing and analysing a contemporary social work theme/issue which interests you. To complete this, you will need to evidence your research skills by exploring relevant peer-reviewed literature, assess its quality, and use it to demonstrate an understanding of your chosen topic.

The second assessment is a 15-minute presentation where you will verbally present your topic, provide further analysis, explain how the research you found helped you understand it, and how what you learned applies to social work practice. This will be followed by a 5-minute opportunity for questions from the assessment panel.

Each week you will be 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 will cover work with children, adults and people who experience mental health issues. The teaching will include the evaluation of government reports and inquiries concerning social work and social care. This process will highlight how practice is shaped by national policies and demonstrate the importance of remaining current with political, legal, social and cultural changes. Each week a research article will be included in blackboard to support the topic, and this will be the platform by which your assessment will be informed.

This flexible approach enables you to choose a theme relevant to contemporary social work and potential career aspirations. Your research will be guided by your personal tutor and/or module leader.

Much of the enquiry and study undertaken will be independent due to the assessment’s broad nature and this will enable you to develop independent thinking skills and lifelong learning that you will need as a social worker. 

This is an exciting and topical module based on current and emerging social work issues. A generic approach is taken to the subject matter to include impact and relevance in children's services, mental health and adult’s services with many of the themes cutting across each discipline.

In consultation with people with lived and living experience of social work, social work practitioners and other key stakeholders, topics to be explored in the module will be changed to reflect contemporary social work.

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities:

During the classroom sessions there may be -

Lectures on key topics

Case-based learning: Realistic scenarios to illustrate the application of research to social work practice

Reflective groups: Peer discussion.

Guest speakers: Experienced practitioners and people with lived experience of social work

Guided Independent Study:

Research and reading related to the topic

Assignment preparation

Subject specific texts will vary dependent upon the topics for discussion. However, examples include:

Aveyard, H (2018) Doing a Literature Review in Health and Social Care: a practical guide. London: OU

Bell, L. (2017) Research Methods for Social Workers. London: Bloomsbury Academic.

Aveyard, H. (2023) Doing a Literature Review in Health and Social Care: A Practical Guide. 5th edn. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Clark, T., Foster, L., Sloan, L., Brookfield, C. and Bryman, A. (2026) Bryman’s Social Research Methods. 7th edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://global.oup.com/ukhe/product/brymans-social-research-methods-9780198895985

https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/making-sense-of-research-in-nursing-health-and-social-care/book271686

Webber, M. (2017) Applying Research Evidence in Social Work Practice. London: Red Globe Press

Simulation suites

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