Social Work BA (Hons)

Introduction to Social Work

To provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the role and responsibilities of social workers; To understand the purpose and impact of social work interventions with particular focus on risk and safeguarding; To equip students with knowledge of professional standards, relevant legislation and guidance, theoretical frameworks essential for effective practice and to consolidate knowledge and skills acquired in other level 4 modules; To provide foundational knowledge in accordance with Social Work England Professional Standards,and the BASW Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) towards preparing students for their first placement;

To promote professionalism and self-awareness among students, emphasising the importance of reflective practice; To develop students’ critical thinking skills, enabling them to assess and integrate diverse perspectives and evidence in social work contexts.

Social Work Values and Ethics

This module will introduce you to social work values and enable you to examine patterns of inequality, discrimination, and oppression. The module also aims to enable you to explore your own values and where these might conflict with professional values and practice. You will explore ethical frameworks and the Equality Act 2010, in order to take responsibility for your own behaviour, actions, and personal development in line with professional regulatory expectations. You will learn to critically consider ethical dilemmas.

Communication Skills - Children and Adults

To equip you with appropriate first level communication and interviewing skills with children, young people and adults.

Academic, Personal and Professional Development

To support students in their transition to Higher Education and progression to self-directed learning through the development of academic, personal and professional skills necessary for successful undergraduate study and future employment.

Co-production and Inclusive Practice

To introduce co-production and explore the idea and philosophies of inclusive practice. To also provide an informed understanding of the knowledge, perspectives and insights of people that use services and people who provide care and support in relation to policies and practices of social work and social care.

Readiness for Direct Social Work Practice

This module is a central hub that aims to provide students with an understanding of the social work role.

People that use services and employer perspectives will run through the module. Students will develop both a theoretical, research based and practical knowledge of current social work practice. Students will be required to demonstrate their readiness for social work practice by the end of the module.

Social Work Theories and Methods

To provide you with an understanding of some of the theories, models, and methods drawn from the social sciences and to reflect on their application to social work practice.

Child and Family Social Work

To gain a comprehensive knowledge base essential to effective social work interventions with children and their families. To enable students to understand and appreciate the complexities within risk assessment and ensure their practice is anti-discriminatory and grounded within the professional value base. The module will centre on the needs and wishes of the child, whilst working in partnership with families and other professionals.

Practice Learning I

To enable you to reflectively evaluate your social work practice in preparation for and during your first placement and to prepare and present items which will demonstrate understanding of your developing professional competence, including the integration ofrelevant knowledge and theoretical perspectives and understand the role of values within your practice. This module includes 5 Skills Days. These sessions are within the class-based content of the Practice Learning 1 module. These Skills Days are in addition to the 70 practice placement days. The skills days make up 5 mandatory days of the 30 skills days.

Working with Adults

On successful completion of this module you will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of social work practice and related theoretical issues when working with adults. You will develop an understanding of policy drivers and current research that influences collaborative and interagency working for social workers.

Mental Distress across the Life Course

* To enable you to understand a range of mental health issues affecting people across the life span including children and young people, people of working age and older adults and to recognise the impact of culture, ethnicity, gender, sexuality on mental health;

* To understand different models of mental health and the range of professionals and services that may be involved in offering support;

* To be aware of the relevant policy & legislative frameworks;

* To contribute to assessment, planning and intervention in work with people who have mental health needs, including situations involving risk;

* To work to promote wellbeing and recovery;

* To be able to promote the rights of people that use social work services and to challenge oppression and discrimination.

Law for Social Work

To familiarise students with legislation relevant to social work practice; to help students to understand the principles & practice of legislation; to enable students to develop an ability to critically reflect on the impact of legislation; to introduce the concept of applying the law in practical situations.

Research Methods for Social Workers

1. To increase your knowledge about research methods for social workers.

2.To equip you with the knowledge and methodological skills required to plan a Social Work practice-based research project.

3 To develop an awareness of the requirement to account for aspects concerning research ethics.

4. To uphold and promote the integrity and dignity of all those who participate and consent within the research process.

Practice Learning II

To enable you to reflect critically on your own social work practice in preparation for and during your second placement and to enhance your skills in drawing on literature to inform your work, relating theory to practice and understanding the role of values within your practice. This module includes 5 Skills Days. These sessions are within the class-based content of the Practice Learning 2 module. These Skills Days are in addition to the 100 practice placement days. The Skills Days make up the last 5 mandatory days of the 30 skills days.

Cultural and International Perspectives in Social Work

This module aims to equip students with:

* Knowledge of social work practice from UK and international perspectives

* The ability to reflect on their values in relation to social work in diverse communities

* An understanding of cultural competence in social work.

Domestic Abuse across the Life Course

In 2024 the British government heavily criticised HEI social work education for the lack of comprehensive teaching on domestic abuse, an issue that plays a large role within social work risk assessments. This module aims to equip social work students and other allied professionals in a thorough understanding of the complexities and nuances of domestic abuse and related topics.

This module will enable students to critically understand the theoretical contexts, legislative frameworks, and models of intervention relating to, predominantly but not exclusively, male violence against women and children, concentrating specifically upon adolescent dating violence and abuse, domestic abuse through the life course and the impact on adult victims and children. Students will consider abuse within many diverse intimate relationships and be able to demonstrate their understanding of how intersectionality and trauma can impede a victim’s ability to leave. Through increased knowledge of this complex and multi-layered phenomena students within the context of government strategies, legislation and policy, will be able to consider effective responses to ensure multi agency risk assessments offer safety to victims and promote wellbeing.