Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Human service and social work professionals engage with people in a wide variety of situations across a range of fields of practice. The legal dimensions of practice range from the nature of legislative provisions to the legal accountabilities of direct practice. Practitioners often work with vulnerable and/or marginalised persons, groups and communities and need to understand the law as both context and as a dynamic resource with which they can engage. Legal and ethical considerations in practice often intersect and are usefully examined in conjunction with each other. An understanding and capacity to respond to ethical dimensions of practice situations is central to professional capability and requires students develop literacy about key ethical approaches and concepts, and the capability to critically apply social work and human service professional Codes of Ethics.

Aims

This unit aims to equip students with the capacity to identify and appropriately respond to the legal and ethical dimensions of social work and human service practice, consistent with professional expectations.

Objectives

On successful completion of the unit, students will:

1. identify and critically analyse the legal dimensions of social work and human service practice generally and in respect of particular fields of practice (GVS 1.2, 1.4. 1.5, 1.7);


2. identify and critically analyse the roles of the human services and social work practitioner within the legislative, judicial and administrative systems (GVS1 - 1.1, 1.4, GVS3 - 3.1);


3. examine and critically analyse the ethical dimensions of human service and social work problems, identify ethical dilemmas, explore response options and demonstrate a capacity to critique the merits and implications of particular options (GVS1 - 1.5; GVS2 - 2.6; GVS3 - 3.1);


4. demonstrate a reflective approach to the incorporation of ethical and legal considerations into social work and human service practice (GVS1 1.5; GVS2 - 2.6; GVS3 - 3.2; GVS4 - 4.6); and


5. demonstrate a knowledge of professional Codes of Ethics and an ability to apply these to practice situations (GVS1 - 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.5).

Learning outcomes link to:
AASW Education and Accreditation Standards: 4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4.1.4, 4.1.5, 4.1.6
AASW Practice Standards for Social Workers: 1.5, 2.1, 3.1. 4.1
AIWCW Core Competencies: 1.2, 1.3, 1.6, 7.1, 7.3, 7.4

Content

An approach which articulates legal and ethical considerations for practice will be utilised.
Legal content includes:

• Identifying, accessing and understanding legislation relevant to human services and social work, and to particular fields of practice


• Understanding and engaging with courts, tribunals and alternative dispute mechanisms


• Relevant human rights, consumer rights and anti-discrimination provisions


• Administrative law, particularly procedural fairness provisions and appeal processes


• Legal accountability, liability and negligence considerations for practitioners.

Ethical dimensions of human services and social work practice include:

• Key ethical approaches, theories and principles


• Common ethical dilemmas in human services and social work


• Public sector ethics, and statutory human services and social work


• Purpose and requirements of professional Codes of Ethics (specifically examining and applying AASW and AIWCW Codes)


• Promoting ethical practice in human services and social work


• Ethical intercultural and cross-cultural practice

The interaction of legal and ethical considerations in practice.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Learning in this unit will occur via a two hour lecture and one hour tutorial each week complemented by use of virtual learning modes via Blackboard. Lectures will combine presentations, activities designed to enhance understanding and skills, and opportunities to pose and discuss questions regarding the implications of lecture content for practitioners. Following the on-campus sessions students will be encouraged to continue engagement in collaborative learning via the Blackboard site. One hour tutorials will be forums for discussing a small number of detailed case studies designed to equip students to appreciate the complexities of integrating ethical and legal dimensions of practice.

Assessment

Students undertake two pieces of assessment, one focused on a field of social work/ human service practice of their choice, and another where they analyse case studies in terms of the legal and ethical considerations. Legal provisions and professional Codes of Ethics are used as core resources.Formative feedback is built into this unit in the following ways:

1. Blackboard site discussion forums are established for each field of practice being investigated in assessment item 1.


2. Material posted by students on these is available for comment by staff and students.


3. Tutorial groups will be a venue for discussion on how assessment item 1 is being understood and progressed.


4. Whole of group feedback on Assessment 1 will be posted on the Blackboard site to indicate general areas for students to keep for Assessment 2.


5. Tutorials will discuss aspects of the case studies for Assessment 2 relevant for the topic of that week.

Written summative feedback will be provided on both reports (Assessment 1 and 2).

Assessment name: Research Report
Description: Legal and ethical aspects of practice report

Report on legal and ethical dimensions of a chosen field of practice.

Group or individual.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid-semester

Assessment name: Research Report
Description: Case studies analysis

Students will analyse the legal and ethical dimensions for practice of a series of provided cases, align these to the relevant Code of Ethics and legal provisions and opportunities.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5.
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of semester

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

Two texts will be used for this unit.

Kennedy, R., & Richards, J. (2007). Integrating human service law and practice (2nd ed.). Oxford.

Bowles, W., Collingridge, M., Curry, S., & Valentine B. (2006). Ethical practice in social work: An applied approach. Crows Nest: Allen and Unwin.

Current Codes of Ethics from the respective professional associations (AASW and AIWCW).

The Blackboard site will contain a range of relevant resources, including topic specific podcasts. Students are to complement these with their own research.

Risk assessment statement

There are no unusual risk management issues associated with this unit. Students are advised that if any agency field trips are included these will be to inner city Brisbane locations and that they are to make their own travel arrangements to and from these. Students are encouraged to refer any concerns to the Unit Coordinator.

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: 22-May-2012