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

Developed interpersonal communication skills are the cornerstone for both personal and professional relationships. Human service and social work in a broad sense, aim to help people in their struggle for self determination and social justice. At a fundamental level, the struggle for independence, justice and empowerment is facilitated by interpersonal processes involving the effective use of communication and conflict resolution skills. This is a skills based unit located in the second year of the Social Work degree and the third year of the Human Service degree to build upon fundamental communication skills. These culturally sensitive and diverse skills are at the core of sound practice, whether at a micro or macro level. The essential practitioner skill of a heightened sense of self is closely examined as are reflective strategies to effectively deal and prevent vicarious trauma, burnout and enhance lifelong learning.

Aims

This unit aims to facilitate and enhance students' communication skills and ability to explore and reflect on their own strengths and limitations for dealing with a variety of practice situations.

Objectives

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

1. demonstrate an ability to use advanced oral and written communication skills including interviewing (utilising a variety of approaches) and conflict resolution methods (GVS1 - 1.1, 1.2, 1.4; GVS2 - 2.1, 2.2, 2.3);


2. identify and demonstrate methods for intervention, assessment, engagement and conflict resolution (GVS1 - 1.1, 1.4; GVS2- 2.3, 2.4);


3. describe and critically examine a variety of methods for assessing the nature and impact of situations requiring interventions and select appropriate strategies to assist in its amelioration or resolution (GVS1 - 1.8, 1.9; GVS3 - 3.1, 3.3);


4. plan and ethically apply appropriate assessment methods and interventions to conflicted situations(GVS2 -2.6); and


5. critically reflect on their personal history, values, beliefs, social and cultural perspectives and the impact on professional practice styles (GVS2 2.1, 2.2; GVS3 - 3.2; GVS4 - 4.6).

AASW Education and Accreditation Standards: 3.1, 4.1.1, 4.1.3, 4.1.4, 4.1.5
AASW Practice Standards for Social Workers:
AIWCW Core Competencies: 1.1, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.6, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 7.1, 7.4

Content

This unit examines:

• methods to optimize the effectiveness of interventions


• the use of self


• engagement


• interviewing techniques


• assessment and report writing


• approaches to counselling


• the nature of interpersonal and group conflict


• methods of conflict management


• processes for resolving conflict through negotiation, mediation and restorative justice processes.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit will be taught through a mixture of two-hour formal lecture presentations and small group/individual exercises and discussions in the two-hour tutorials. Lectures will provide a concise overview with explanation and examination of the relevant theory or practice method, supported by PowerPoint slides available to students through the blackboard homepage. Guest speakers who have practice expertise in particular areas may provide additional insights into practice dilemmas and issues.

Tutorials will feature small group exercises and discussions using problem-solving scenarios, requiring the application of relevant theory and appropriate interventions. Problem-based scenarios will feature practice and ethical issues and dilemmas, as well as situations dealing with cultural, indigenous, gender, age, discriminatory and organizational issues and perspectives. Role-plays and other experiential exercises are used to develop students' professional skill base. It is anticipated that all students will actively participate in the experiential learning strategies as skills development is an important goal for this unit. Attendance at tutorials is expected.

Assessment

The assessment in this unit has been constructed to provide students with a structure for critical self reflection and to demonstrate their ability to conduct and reflect upon an interview, which is the cornerstone of professional practice.Both formative and summative assessments are utilized in this unit. The essay and audio visual presentation will be summatively assessed and formative feedback will be provided. Tutorial discussions and role-plays will provide formative feedback that will assist students to appropriately prepare for the audio visual presentation and to enhance their professional skills. Oral feedback from teaching staff and peers is a central element to professional development of skills.

Assessment name: Essay
Description: A 2,500 word reflective paper on factors impacting the students' communication and conflict resolution skills.
Relates to objectives: 1,2, 5
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 6

Assessment name: Presentation (Individual)
Description: Students will present an audio visual presentation of themselves as a practitioner interviewing a client and an accompanying critique of their interview. Weight: 40% for audiovisual presentation; 20% for critical reflection on interview.
Relates to objectives: 1, 3, 4, 5
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 12

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

Texts:

Barsky, A. E. (2007). Conflict resolution for the helping professions (2nd ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson
Brooks/Cole.

Boyle, S. W. (2009). Direct practice in social work (2nd ed.). Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.

Circelli,I. (2000). The impact of the use of self on social workers' attitudes. Ann Arbor ,Mich.; UMI Dissertation Services.

Corey, M. S. and G. Corey (2007). Becoming a helper. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.

Harms, L. (2007). Working with people ;communication skills for reflective practice (1st ed.). Melbourne, Vic: Oxford University Press.

Maidment, J., & Egan, R. (2009). Practice skills in social work & welfare: More than just common sense (2nd ed.). Crows Nest, N.S.W.: Allen & Unwin.

Moss, B. (2008). Communication skills for health and social care (1st ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage

Mayer,B. (2000). The dynamics of conflict resolution; A practitioner's guide Jossey-Bass. San Franciso.

Miller, L.(2006). Counselling skills for social work. London ;Thousand Oaks, Calif:SAGE.

Sidell, N., & Smiley, D. (2008). Professional communication skills in social work. Boston: Allyn & Bacon/Pearson.

Risk assessment statement

Students are advised that some content and experiences may be distressing. Appropriate measures will be in place for debriefing and closure.

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: 17-Oct-2012