Unit details

SWSP5301 Foundations of Social Work Thinking and Identity

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Non-standard teaching period	UWA (Perth)	Face to face

Content

Personal and professional values underpin the practice of social work and determine our responses to complex issues. This unit encourages students to integrate values in a framework that critically analyses the socio-political context in which social work exists. There is an emphasis on building theoretical knowledge of social work and developing cognitive skills for critical thinking, evaluation and practice-based research. Key aims of this unit include developing social work cognition, mindset and identity within the context of the historical and evidence-informed theories that relate to the profession.

Key objectives of the unit include:
- That students have a beginning understanding of the role of professional associations and the Code of Ethics that will guide their practice.
- Be familiar with, and able to engage in, informed debate about the value base and common assumptions that underpin the profession.
- Have a beginning understanding of some of the complex debate about methods, means and models that surround the profession.
- Be able to identify the complex, and sometimes apparently contradictory, value base of social work and other human services and to start to articulate this within the context of their own value base and ideology.
- Be able to identify and articulate how the role of a social worker may fit within the broader framework of human service delivery.

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) critique the attitudes, ethics and values important to social work as determined by the Australian Association of Social Workers; (2) demonstrate the capacity to critically reflect on social work theory and practice issues; (3) analyse different issues, problems and dilemmas that confront social workers in the context of their daily practice; and (4) develop confident communication skills in both written and verbal formats in group and class settings.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) written assignment; (2) test; and (3) professional behaviour assessment. Further information is available in the unit outline.

For units commencing in May 2022 or later the availability of the supplementary assessment is subject to confirmation.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Except where supplementary assessment is not available in a unit, it will be offered to students in all units who:

• Are in good academic standing overall;
• Have passed over half the units taken in the teaching period concerned, except where they are only enrolled in two or less units in the period;
• Have submitted all assessment items in the unit;
• Have achieved a mark between 45 and 49 for the unit overall, or the same mark in any failed component item in the unit; and
• No finding of academic misconduct has been made against them in the unit concerned.

Additionally student may apply for supplementary assessment in any unit which is the final unit required for graduation in there course and where they have achieved a mark between 45 and 49 for the unit overall, or the same mark in any failed component item in the unit.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Dr Stephan Lund

Unit rules

Prerequisites:

Enrolment in 11550 Master of Social Work (ID 127)

Co-requisites:

Nil

Incompatibility:

Nil

Contact hours

3 hours per week x 12 weeks