Units

---

Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

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

Rationale

Among the core skills required by all professional practitioners is the ability to engage in meaningful interpersonal relationships and to communicate authentically and empathically with clients, colleagues and others across the macro, messo and micro levels of practice. These fundamental skills constitute the basis for practice and development of a range of assessment, intervention, negotiation and advocacy competencies essential in professional practice.

Aims

This unit informs students about key theoretical approaches to understanding the nature of interpersonal and group interactive processes and helping relationships. It develops students' communication micro skills that are essential for interviewing, client engagement, counselling, assessment, brief therapy, effective professional and personal relationships, negotiation, conflict resolution and effective advocacy.

Objectives

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

1. Apply the theoretical underpinnings of chosen practice skill approaches to communication and models of interpersonal processes


2. Evidence a range of interpersonal, advocacy, negotiation, conflict resolution and communication skills


3. Reflect on the 'Use-of-self' in interpersonal processes and assess your own communication strengths and limitations for dealing with a variety of professional situations


4. Plan and apply appropriate communication for interviewing and for engagement with clients from Indigenous, culturally and ethnically diverse backgrounds, marginalised minority groups and those experiencing vulnerability


5. Argue the social and ethical responsibilities of professional communications in the Social Work context

AASW Education and Accreditation Standards - 2.6; 3.1; 4.1.1; 4.1.3; 4.1.4; 4.1.5;
AASW Practice Standards for Social Workers - 1.1; 1.2; 1.3; 1.4; 1.5; 1.8; 2.9; 2.5;

Content

This unit covers the following:

• functions ,process, principles and ethics of communication


• social perceptions, formation, use and effect on communication


• concepts of communicating in relationships


• use and misuse of verbal and nonverbal communication


• engaging with clients, sharing of information, appropriate questioning


• interviewing skills, self awareness, self reflection and supervision


• the essential micro skills of active empathic listening


• group communication and decision making hierarchies


• effective communication in Indigenous, cultural and vulnerable contexts


• professional communications in a mental health context


• power, control and conflict in professional communications


• sharing of personal information including personal disclosure by practitioners

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit will be taught in an intensive, on campus and off campus, experiential mode. Lectures will provide a concise overview with explanation and examination of the relevant theory or practice method, supported by appropriate technologies to students through the online Blackboard site. Guest speakers who have practice expertise in particular areas will provide additional insights into practice dilemmas and issues.

Small group exercises and discussions using problem-solving scenarios, requiring the application of relevant theory and appropriate interventions will form part of the on-campus experience.

Problem-based scenarios will feature practice and ethical issues and dilemmas, as well as situations dealing with cultural, Indigenous, gender, age, discriminatory and organisational 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 to develop the required skills.

Assessment

This unit contains assessment items which link theory with the contemporary understanding and practice of social work and human services. There is a particular emphasis on ensuring the relevance of assessment to learning, practice and real world challenges and contemporary issues.You will be provided with formative and summative feedback on the various items of assessment. You will be able to incorporate constructive feedback into your assessment as the semester progresses. Further details on feedback will be provided at the commencement of the semester.

Assessment name: Interview
Description: Drawing on a selected family case, students will write a case scenario and, as the Social Worker, conduct an initial interview. Your interview plan will apply the theoretical underpinnings of chosen practice skill approaches evidence a range of interpersonal processes and communication skills

Feedback: Small group discussions and role-plays will provide formative feedback on developing professional skills. Oral feedback from teaching staff and written feedback from peers will be a central element to professional development of skills and heightening self awareness.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 8

Assessment name: Self-assessment
Description: Students will write a 2500 word self reflection of issues raised for them during the interview process, connecting your reflections to practice theory,evidencing a heightened sense of self in interpersonal processes and the social and ethical responsibility of professional communication .skills in social work.

Feedback: Peer feedback will inform this reflective assessment.
Relates to objectives: 1, 3, 4 and 5
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 13

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.

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 Publications.

Sidell, N., & Smiley, D. (2008). Professional Communication Skills in Social Work. Boston: Allyn & Bacon/Pearson.

Web based resources:

Students will have access to material on the Resource Clearinghouse and a range of Electronic databases including Social Work Abstracts, Family and Society Plus and Social Services Abstracts.

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: 25-Mar-2013