Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

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

Rationale

Social work and human services students must build foundational knowledge and skills in core practice processes and assessment. This unit begins that foundation through focusing on integration of theory and practice. Because of its importance in preparing you to undertake professional placements, the unit is strategically located in second year. Understanding and reflecting on cultural diversity will be an embedded feature of this unit.

Aims

This unit aims to orient you to the appropriate application of core social work and human services practice processes and psychosocial assessment techniques. It further aims to develop the capacity for you to critically evaluate the applicability and suitability of different practice processes and assessment techniques for application in a wide range of real-world practice contexts including cross-cultural and complex situations.

Objectives

On successful completion of this unit, you should be able to:
1. describe core practice processes and critically analyse their application to real-world social work and human services contexts (GVS1 - 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6);

2. identify psychosocial assessment techniques and critique their application in a real-world social work and human service practice context (GVS1 - 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.5, 1.9, GVS3 - 3.1);

3. critically apply and justify as appropriate, core processes and assessment techniques to social work and human service contexts, situations and problem-based scenarios (GVS1 - 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.8, 1.9; GVS3 - 3.1, 3.3); and

4. demonstrate an appreciation for the way cultural and other sources of diversity and complexity influence the choice and use of the core processes and assessment tools (GVS2 - 2.1, 2.2).


AASW Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards: 2.3, 2.6, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1.2, 4.1.3, 4.1.4, 4.1.5, 4.1.6
AASW Practice Standards: 1.1, 1.4, 1.5, 2.1, 2.4, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3
AIWCW Core Competencies: 1.1, 1.3, 2.5, 2.6, 3.3, 4.1, 4.4, 6.4, 7.1, 7.4

Content

The unit has a focus on the development of knowledge and skills necessary for social work and human services practice. Practitioners draw on practice literature and applied skills to make informed decisions around the most appropriate processes and assessment tools to use. The unit comprises three modules. The first module focuses upon Foundations of 'Helping' & Professional Practice (Knowledge, Application & Analysis) Topics include:

*The fundamentals of 'helping', orientation to professional practice processes and planned change

*Communication building blocks, including use of self, relationships and communication; empathy and authenticity; verbal following, exploring and focusing skills

*Access and engagement, including the interview process in various contexts

The second module focuses on Foundations of Assessment (Knowledge & Applications). Topics will include:

*Theoretical underpinnings of assessment and outcome negotiation, nature and techniques for collecting information

*Defining and understanding assessment, assessment phases, essential questions, and different assessment models

* Psychosocial assessment techniques and tools

* Assessing and responding to diversity, risk, violent behaviour and transference resistance

*Professionalism and written communication, including writing reports and case notes, and process recordings

The final module focuses on Planned Change and Practice Processes (Implementation, Evaluation & Justification). Topics will include:

*Intervention and planning for goal achievement, including matching intervention to assessment

*Identification and exploration of key intervention strategies, including approaches to problem solving, working with groups, building community, engagement with conflict, working in organisations, advocacy and policy

*Diversity and intervention

*Review and evaluation processes, including techniques for measuring progress or program outcomes

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The unit uses mixed modes of teaching and integrated learning. Each week you will attend on-campus formal lectures (1.5hours) and interactive tutorials (1.5 hours). Lectures and tutorial workshops will involve a discussion on key material relating to professional practice processes and assessment and incorporate guest presenters, multimedia (power point, video material, podcasts), class discussions and interactive activities. It is expected that you will engage in experiential and case study-based activities during the tutorial workshops and some online activities between the tutorial workshop sessions. The unit will be supported by a Blackboard site and by online tools such as a discussion forum and podcasts. You will also be encouraged to link lecture material to real-world practice. You will be expected to use the QUT ePortfolio to document your project outcomes (client folder) and written report.

Assessment

You undertake three pieces of assessment for this unit. The first piece of assessment is completed online as a take home examination. The second piece of assessment is a case-based project that comprises a written record of the application of a specific assessment technique. The final piece of assessment is a case-based written report detailing the application of a planned change strategy using all of the processes (engagement, assessment, planning, intervention, review/evaluation and closure). There is an expectation that student work is of a high standard commensurate with second year professional practice knowledge and skills development.The unit will involve both formative and summative assessment. The first and second pieces of assessment have a formative and summative component whereby formative feedback is provided through the workshop sessions, group discussions, engagement with learning activities and individual consultation. The final assessment is summative, and has a formative component whereby feedback on key learnings for professional practice will be offered in the workshop sessions, tutorial activities and student consultation.

Assessment name: Project (Applied)
Description: Project: Using a case study chosen in Assessment 1, development of a Client Folder that contains a written record of psychosocial, therapeutic or other assessment method based on a real-world practice context, which contains the identification of a presenting problem, strategy and expected outcome with attached case note file and process record.
Relates to objectives: 2, 3 & 4
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid-semester

Assessment name: Examination (Online-Home)
Description: Short answers and short responses to a case study scenario completed as online-home examination.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2 ,3 & 4
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 4

Assessment name: Written Report
Description: Using the case study identified in Assessment 1 and 2, devise and critically evaluate a change-process strategy by applying each of the processes involved in providing service delivery to individuals, families and groups within that real-world practice context (2000-2500 words).
Relates to objectives: 1, 3, 4
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End-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

Text:
Hepworth, D, H., Rooney, R. H., Rooney, G. D., Strom-Gottfried, K., & Larsen, J. (2006). Direct social work practice: Theory and skills (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson, Brookes/Cole.

Recommended Texts:
Maidment, J., & Egan, R. (Eds.). (2009). Practice skills in social work and welfare: More than just common sense (2nd ed.). Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin.

O'Hara, A., & Weber, Z. (2011). 2nd Edition. Skills for human service practice: Working with individuals, groups and communities. South Melbourne, VIC: Oxford University Press.

Additional reading materials will be made available through CMD and will be available via Bb.

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: 13-Feb-2013