Units
Health, Wellbeing and Social Work
Unit code: SWB202
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
Social workers frequently work within the health system and even where they work in other areas, the health and wellbeing of their clients remains central to their practice. The social determinants of health, as well as the social consequences of health problems, are both very much part of the social work landscape. Hence it is critical for social workers to ensure their knowledge and skill-sets include a specific focus on health and wellbeing. This unit is placed in the second year of the social work course, providing students with an opportunity to understand the foundation theories and systems relevant to health and wellbeing.
Aims
The aim of this unit is to provide students with an understanding of the multiple dimensions of health and human wellbeing within the context of ethical social work practice.
Objectives
On completion of this unit, students should be able to:
- critically analyse the social influences of health and wellbeing to determine an appropriate set of responsive health improvement strategies (GVS1 - 1.7);
- understand the structures, processes and relationships within a modern health care system and how these address health and wellbeing in the community (GVS1-1.7)
- articulate an holistic approach to the professional role of the Social Worker in a multidisciplinary health environment (GSV1 - 1.4, 1.5, 1.7);
- apply appropriate theoretical frameworks to social work practice in relation to a range of context areas relevant to health and wellbeing (GSV1 - 1.1, 1.2, 1.7, 1.9);
- demonstrate appropriate communication for interviewing and for engaging with clients from Indigenous, and other diverse backgrounds (GVS2 - 2.1, 2.2); and
- integrate concepts of quality of life into personal approaches to social work core values regarding social justice and ethical practice (GVS1 - 1.1, 1.2; GVS2 - 2.6).
Learning outcomes link to:
AASW Education and Accreditation Standards - 2.6; 3; 3.4; 4.1.1; 4.1.2; 4.1.3; 4.1.5; 4.2.1; 4.2.2
AASW Practice Standards for Social Workers - 1.1; 1.3; 1.5; 1.9; 3.2; 4.8
Content
The unit will provide a strong grounding in the following areas:
- Australian health care context
- Social determinants of health and well being
- Prevention, early intervention and therapeutic intervention
- Roles of social workers in the health system
- Social work practice within a multidisciplinary health context
- Theories and skills relevant to health social work practice
- Ageing and older people
- Oncology
- Communicable diseases
- Sexuality and gender
- Maternity and paediatrics - children and youth
- Chronic health conditions
- Health social work skills, including assessment and therapeutic interventions
- Health consumer perspectives
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' health
- Health within culturally and linguistically diverse contexts
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
With the support of teaching staff, students are required to work collaboratively with a small group of colleagues on case studies of wellbeing/health from a social work perspective. Students will integrate and contextualise generic knowledge from the unit into their group work and demonstrate an understanding of a specific case study of client wellbeing. Students' virtual collaboration platform may include the Blog, Wiki or Discussion Board functionalities of Blackboard. Student learning will be enhanced by interaction with relevant agencies/persons in the broader social/political/cultural community. A key principle of the approach to teaching and learning will be to focus students on the social work role within the health system reflecting real world environments and to facilitate their critical reflection on their potential contributions within this role.
Assessment
There are two pieces of assessment - one worth 40% and the other 60%.Written feedback will be provided to students following each assessment, and dialogue as required throughout the semester via generic Blog, and Q/A Wiki.
Assessment name:
Report
Description:
Students will prepare a detailed submission of 1,500-2,000 words on behalf of the AASW to a Federal ministerial taskforce which has recently been established to tackle a chosen health issue.
A list of health issues will be provided but will be drawn from topics discussed in lectures.
The submission will include a literature review of the chosen area including an assessment of the efficacy of different approaches and the role/ roles of social workers in responding.
Relates to objectives:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 6
Assessment name:
Case Study Analysis (Group)
Description:
Students will work in a small group of 3 to produce a detailed report (2,000 - 2,500 words per individual) that analyses a case study.
An inter-related series of case studies will be discussed weekly in tutorials. A specific case study will be allocated to each group during tutorials.
Details, including the marking criteria will be available on Blackboard.
Relates to objectives:
1,2,3,4
Weight:
60%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Group
Due date:
Week 14
Academic Honesty
QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.
A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.
Resource materials
Required Text:
Gehlert S. & Browne T. (Eds). (2012). Handbook of Health Social Work. (2nd ed.). New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.
Web based resources:
Students will have access to material on the Resource Clearinghouse and to Databases including Social Work Abstracts, Australian Public Affairs, Family and Society Plus, Social Services Abstracts, Sociological Abstracts, Current contents connect.
Risk assessment statement
There are no particular risks associated with this unit.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 04-Jul-2012
