Units
The Ethical, Legal and Organizational Context of Practice
Unit code: SWN006
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
This unit locates social work practice within its ethical, legal and organizational context. It emphasizes the imperative for students to know, understand and actualize core social work values particularly those incorporated in the profession’s national and international codes of conduct, professional standards and ethical practice requirements. The statutory and organisational dimensions of social work practice are described and explored with case scenarios providing opportunities to develop strategies for self management within diverse organisational contexts.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 1 | Yes |
| 2013 Semester 2 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
At all levels, social work is based on fundamental principles of promoting human dignity, human rights, social justice and well-being, and is located in a multiplicity of organisational and legal contexts. These principles and contexts are critical for practice particularly when engaging those members of society who are disadvantaged, marginalised and relatively powerless in the face of legal and organisational systems. Therefore it is essential that social workers recognize the complexities of organisational settings, understand the legal and statutory dimensions and nature of their work and appreciate the power imbalances at the interface with clients. Social workers must appreciate fundamental social work ethical perspectives and principles, be accountable for their actions and comply fully with relevant professional standards and statutory Codes of Ethics.
Aims
The aim of this unit is to deconstruct the ethical, legal and organisational contexts of social work practice and skills and to scaffold the professional and ethical social work practitioner.
Objectives
On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:
- Explain the fundamental features of the Australian legal system.
- Recognise, investigate and analyse the complexities of the organisational, legal and ethical contexts and mandates of social work practice.
- Access, research and apply relevant law across a range of social work practice contexts.
- Contextualise and apply professional practice standards, ethical codes and approaches across a range of social work scenarios.
- Articulate, analyse and argue the roles and responsibilities of the social worker within legislative, judicial, administrative and organisational contexts.
AASW Education and Accreditation Standards - 2.4; 2.5; 3.2; 3.3; 4.1.1; 4.1.5; 4.2.1;
AASW Practice Standards for Social Workers - 4.1; 4.9; 3.3; 3.4; 3.6; 3.8; 3.9
Content
This unit covers the following:
- fundamentals of the Australian legal system including the legislative process, courts and tribunals
- sources of law for social work, legal aid, human rights and administrative law
- key principles of administrative law including natural justice and procedural fairness
- theories of ethics and approaches to ethical practice
- professional practice standards and ethical codes
- organisational contexts of social work practice
- organisational change processes
- the legal, ethical and organisational responsibilities and challenges for practitioners
- self and change management
- the engaged practitioner.
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
The unit uses a purposely constructed blended environment integrating virtual and campus learning and teaching. The virtual mode includes audio, video, and written material placed on Blackboard allowing students to learn in flexible, mobile modes through podcasts, text files and online collaborative tools. Students are expected to be thoroughly familiar with all virtual material prior to campus sessions. The initial campus orientation includes summary lectures, guest speakers, current affairs discussions, question / answer sessions, and support for collaborative peer group deliberations.
With the mentoring of teaching staff, students work collaboratively with a small group of colleagues on a legal, ethical and organisational social work case scenario and issues. Students will be required to integrate the theory and other material located in the virtual mode into their collaborative work using a range of web-based interactive communication technologies to enhance your internal group collaboration and interaction with relevant community sources. A series of intensive weekend workshops will provide summarised information on relevant topics and focus on skill development including analysing the influences on practice of different organisational contexts, researching and interpreting legislation, and recognising ethical issues and exploring alternative ethical approaches to address these.
Assessment
Students are required to do two pieces of assessment, the first a take home exam and the second an in-depth response to a provided case study.Feedback for the first item, the take home exam, is formative and summative. Feedback and support will be provided by individual and group feedback mechanisms. Opportunities for formative assessment, including practice quizzes in the unit Blackboard site will be included.
Feedback for the case scenario analysis is both formative and summative. At the final workshop students have the opportunity to present their draft response to the group and have a class discussion about their and other students responses. Following submission students will be given individual and group summative feedback, via a unit podcast and one that specifically addresses the individual's submitted work.
Assessment name:
Examination (written)
Description:
Students will complete multiple choice questions and short answer questions concerning organisational contexts and issues, the role of social work and the application of relevant laws to practice.
Relates to objectives:
1, 2 and 3
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Mid semester
Assessment name:
Case Study
Description:
Students are required to write a 1250 word paper and present a 20 minute oral presentation to unit staff. The assessment will concern a problem-based scenario and will investigate and analyse the contextual elements related to the organisation, application of relevant law, and the personal ethical considerations and approaches to address the requisite issues and circumstances that are present. The assessment will assist students to develop their own professional standards, ethical codes and practice frameworks and approaches.
Relates to objectives:
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
Recommended text:
Kennedy, R., Richards, J. and Leiman,T. (2013) Integrating human service law, ethics and practice (3rd ed.). Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
Selected readings will be taken from each of the following texts.
Banks, S. (2006). Ethics and values in social work (3rd ed.). Basingstoke, England: Palgrave Macmillan.
Brody, R. (2005). Effectively managing human service organisations (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications.
Connolly, M., & Harms, L. (2009). Social work: Contexts and practice (2nd ed.). South Melbourne, Vic.: Oxford University Press.
Gardner, F. (2006). Working with human service organisations: Creating connections for practice. South Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press.
Bowles, W. Collingridge, M. Curry, S. Valentine, B. (2006). Ethical practice in social work. Crows Nest, NSW: Allen and Unwin.
Swain, P. A., & Rice, S. (2009). In the shadow of the law: The legal context of social work practice (3rd ed.). Annandale, N.S.W.: The Federation Press.
Web based resources:
Students will have access to Databases including Social Work Abstracts, Australian Public Affairs, Family and Society Plus, Social Services Abstracts, Sociological Abstracts.
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: 25-Mar-2013
