SOWK301-14W (C) Whole Year 2014

Foundations of Social Work Practice

30 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 24 February 2014
End Date: Sunday, 16 November 2014
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 9 March 2014
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 7 September 2014

Description

This courses provides the theoretical and methodological foundation to the programme. A major component is a review and analysis of major theories and models that influence social work practice. Social work process is explored in relation to these theoretical underpinnings. Finally, practice modalities relevant to family, group and community work are considered. These studies will be integrated with methods and analysis from policy, cross-cultural and contextual perspectives.

This course provides an introduction to social work principles, alongside the critical analysis of theories, methods, and processes. It is designed to help prepare for the fieldwork practicum courses. The course includes cross-cultural learning and analysis, as well as a broad range of approaches that inform social work practice in inter-professional environments.  Other issues of relevance to social work, such as social policy considerations, will be incorporated in order to maintain awareness of their integration into practice. The course will partner the Social Work Principles and Skills course (SOWK 308/515/615), which addresses the practical application of this conceptual material.

Goals
• Critically examine the purpose of social work
• Identify and analyse principles, perspectives, and models and appropriateness to social work practice in New Zealand
• Critically consider the impact of context on social work policy and practice
• Identify and explore skill sets for social work practice
• Investigate social work processes
• Compare and contrast key knowledge bases for social work
• Explore the integration of purpose, values, skills and knowledge in social work
• Examine domains of difference and diversity and explore how these factors impact on social work practice.

Learning Outcomes

  • 1. Understanding of how social work contributes to a range of welfare, health, justice, and educational services.
    2. Understanding of the contributions that social work can make to welfare, wellbeing and social change.
    3. Understanding of a range of perspectives that inform social work practice.
    4. Understanding of the integrative nature of purpose, values, skills and knowledge in informing social work practice.
    5. Appreciation of how professional values interact with social systems to result in ethical outcomes.
    6. Appreciation of the role of culture in social work provision.
    7. Appreciation of the influnce of the Treaty of Waitangi in social work provision
    8. Critically-based understanding of a range of theories and models that inform practice.
    9. Awareness of dynamics and transformation in families, groups, and communities.
    10. Knowledge and skills that enable students to:
  • establish effective relationships with help-seekers and those who are referred for assistance
  • assess factors contributing to presenting problems
  • plan appropriate ways both to work with persons and to address identified issues
  • implement an intervention plan in conjunction with clients and other significant persons and services
  • bring professional involvement to an appropriate and effective end.

Prerequisites

135 points from required SOWK and HSRV courses, and must meet the minimum requirements for Group B and Group C courses from the BSW degree. 90 points from Group B (elective courses). 15points from Group C (optional courses).

Restrictions

SOWK514/614

Co-requisites

SOWK308. For students undertaking part-time study, SOWK301, together with SOWK308, must be completed in the last two years of study.

Course Coordinator

Yvonne Crichton-Hill

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Poster and summary 05 May 2014 15%
Groupwork Assignment 03 Sep 2014 20%
Integrated practice analysis 25% Due 15th, 16th and 17th September 2014
Take Home Test 40%

Textbooks / Resources

Required Texts

Connolly, M. & Harms, L; Social work: From theory to practice ; Melbourne, Vic, Australia: Cambridge University Press, 2012.

Ministerial Advisory Committee; Puao-te-ata-tu ; Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Department of Social Welfare, 1996.

Recommended Reading

Connolly, M. & Harms, L. (Eds.); Social work: Contexts and practice. New Zealand social work: Context and practice ; South Melbourne, Vic, Australia: Oxford University Press, 2009.

Dominelli, L; Social work in a globalizing world Cambridge ; UK ; Malden, MA: Polity, 2010.

Mullaly, Bob; The new structural social work ; 3rd; Ontario, Canada: Oxford University Press, 2007.

Nash, M., Munford, R. & O’Donoghue, K; Social work theories in action ; London, UK: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2005.

Payne, M; Modern social work theory ; 3rd; Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005.

Webb, S. A. & Gray, M; Social work : Theories and methods ; Los Angeles, London: Sage, 2009.

Weld, N. & Appleton, C; Walking in people's worlds: a practical and philosophical guide to social work ; North Shore: New Zealand: Pearson, 2008.

Notes

The administrator for the Human Services and Social Work Department is Denise Forbes and she can be located in room 310 in the Psychology/Geography Link Building.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,340.00

International fee $5,700.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

Limited Entry Course

Maximum enrolment is 40

For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences .

All SOWK301 Occurrences

  • SOWK301-14W (C) Whole Year 2014
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