Course outline. Code: SCS172 Title: Social Work and Human Services Practice

Transcription

1 Course outline Code: SCS172 Title: Social Work and Human Services Practice Faculty of Arts and Business School of Social Sciences Teaching Session: Semester 2 Year: 2015 Course Coordinator: Christine Morley Room: D1.23 Phone: CMorley@usc.edu.au 1. What is this course about? 1.1 Course description This course introduces you to theoretical frameworks that practitioners use to understand people within their social contexts. Various organisational contexts within social work and human services practice are examined, with an emphasis on social justice values and critical reflection. It aims to provide an overview of the breadth of human services work within contemporary Australian society, examining the current political context and its impact on practice processes, methods and sources of knowledge used by social work and human service practitioners. 1.2 Course content Understanding the scope of the human services practice Policy and organisational contexts for practice Formal and informal theoretical frameworks/ practice approaches Social justice Critical reflection Sources of knowledge Practice methods Practice processes Professional practice issues 2. Unit value 12 units

2 Page 2 3. How does this course contribute to my learning? Specific Learning Outcomes Assessment Tasks Graduate Qualities On successful completion of this course you should be able to: You will be assessed on the learning outcome in task/s: Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming: Describe and analyse the roles and activities undertaken in the delivery of human services including practice and service frameworks and contexts Identify and apply theoretical concepts, including notions of difference, to human services practice appropriately Critically evaluate how ethics and professional practice issues influence power relationships within human services practice Demonstrate logical and critical thinking through clear and appropriately written communication Discuss, collaborate and explain how sense of self and personal values can impact on human service relationships 2 and 3 Creative and critical thinkers. Knowledgeable. 2 and 3 Creative and critical thinkers. 2 and 3 Ethical. 1, 2 and 3 Creative and critical thinkers. 1, 2 and 3 Engaged. 4. Am I eligible to enrol in this course? Refer to the Coursework Programs and Awards - Academic Policy for definitions of pre-requisites, corequisites and anti-requisites 4.1 Enrolment restrictions Nil 4.2 Pre-requisites Nil 4.3 Co-requisites Nil 4.4 Anti-requisites SCS Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills N/A

3 Page 3 5. How am I going to be assessed? 5.1 Grading scale Standard High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL) 5.2 Assessment tasks Task Assessment Tasks No. Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Week 5 1 Presentation of detailed essay plan Individual 20% 5-7 minutes 2 Essay Individual 40% 2000 words Week 12 Friday by 3pm 3 Case Study Evaluation Group Presentation/ Performance Individual 40%* Maximum 20 minutes To be confirmed by your tutor 100% Week 12 9am- 12pm LT7 Where should I submit it? In tutorial SafeAssign Delivery of presentation / performance in class * This learning/assessment task will be graded in two parts: For Learning Assessment Task 3, 70 percent of your mark will be graded individually on the basis of your participation and contribution to the group s preparation of the presentation/performance, and 30 percent of this mark will be judged by the quality of the material presented and performed on the day by your group as assessed by your tutor. Assessment Task 1: Presentation of detailed essay plan Goal: Product: Format: For you to understand how the course materials for the first 4 weeks will contribute towards the final essay. This essay plan allows you to demonstrate your understanding of the contexts in which human services practices operate and your beginning understanding of your own professional practice, covering the topics in weeks 1-4. You need to identify the social justice issue of importance to you that you are going to focus on in your essay. This issue could be regarding child protection, mental health, aged care, youth, sexual assault, drug and alcohol, and/or may cover culturally diverse populations, for example. The presentation of your essay plan is designed to assist you to make significant progress in thinking through the essay that you will submit later in the semester (Learning/Assessment Task 2) and is an opportunity for you to receive feedback from your tutor and tutorial group. Essay plan This is an individual assessment. In the presentation of your essay plan your task will be to share with the other member of your class: your identification and understanding of a social justice why the issue you ve chosen is a social justice issue how your social justice issue relates to broader social contexts (ie how do dominant social forces impact on your social justice issue?)

4 Page 4 a brief comment about what some of the change practices might be in responding to this issue ethical considerations and your own values in relation to this issue Criteria relevant, detailed and critical content demonstrated ability to critically reflect on own values, identify social justice issues and understand required knowledge for practice applied understanding of social justice beginning understanding of how dominant social forces create social injustices demonstrated awareness of various change practices (eg critical analysis, social policy, social movements, community development, social research, etc) logically structured essay plan with consistent argument effective and organised presentation arguments indicate originality and independence of thought, including providing relevant examples from your chosen field Generic skill assessed Skill assessment level Communication Organisation Assessment Task 2: Essay Goal: Product: Format: This task will enable you to understand how various theoretical frameworks inform practice. This assignment follows on directly from your essay plan. In this assignment you are expected to write up your essay and articulate your understanding of your social justice issue and the methods of practice in working with it from various formal theoretical perspectives. In building on Learning/Assessment Task 1, you will need to continue to gather new information about your social justice issue. The information you collect could include newspaper / magazine / online items, but also must also include at least three academic sources about social work / human services research into your issue. (The Discovery search tool, available through the USC library website uses appropriate data bases including Proquest 5000 and GoogleScholar). Your essay will focus on your understanding of practice methods (for example, counselling, case management, group work, community development, etc), to emphasise how theory informs your practice in relation to your social justice issue. In your assignment you will need to analyse appropriate practice methods and explain the ways that theoretical approaches (eg critical, systems, psychodynamic, feminist, etc) would inform your use of your chosen methods to your field of practice and the social justice issue you have chosen to focus on this semester. Essay This is an individual assessment. Some questions that might help you formulate your essay include: What is your understanding of social justice? What are the social justice issues involved in the issue you ve chosen? How do dominant social forces impact on your social justice issue? Which formal theoretical perspectives are informing your analysis? (Choose three different theories to discuss in your essay.) What are you own values in relation to this issue and how did these affirm or challenge the three theoretical perspectives you ve chosen?

5 Page 5 What implications do the three different theories that you ve chosen hold for working with your social justice issue (ie How do the theories shape your choices about practice methods?) Criteria relevant, detailed and critical content recognising conflicting theories, ideas and understandings ability to apply theory to a social issue, and your practice critical self-reflection on your chosen methods for practice articulate understanding of your own developing professional self arguments effectively presented, organised and logically ordered Adequately supported through discussion and use of referenced evidence where relevant. Evidence of careful reading in planning, preparation and writing. arguments indicate originality and independence of thought Clarity and Expression: Clear quality of expression. Correct grammar, punctuation and spelling. Referencing: Evidence referenced as appropriate and documented through correct use of citations, quotations and reference list. Generic skill assessed Skill assessment level Communication Organisation Information literacy Assessment Task 3: Case Study Evaluation Group Presentation/Performance Goal: Product: Format: Through working with a group to prepare a presentation/performance that teaches others about the relationship between theory and practice, you will gain skills in the comprehensive analysis of a situation and a critical appreciation of the contribution that theory and knowledge can make to your practice. This Learning/Assessment Task requires you to work with others in your tutorial in order to contribute to your groups capacity to demonstrate the ability to apply at least three specific theories or bodies of social work/human services knowledge to a practice scenario. (Practice scenarios will be provided midway throughout the semester.) In the second half of the semester, you will be given the opportunity in the tutorials to work in smaller theory groups, which will ultimately contribute towards your tutorial group s ultimate presentation/performance. Your group will need to pursue an integrated and multi-perspective understanding of the scenario, highlighting the differences between various theoretical perspectives in terms of their implications for understanding and responding to the scenario. The presentation/performance will need to demonstrate how different aspects of the scenario link with a range of theories and bodies of social work knowledge. It will address how these various theories complement or conflict with one another, and will consider the implications for how you as a social worker or human services practitioner might proceed in the situation. In this way the presentation/performance will provide a comprehensive analysis of the situation, and a critical appreciation of the contribution that theory and knowledge can make to your practice when attempting to understand and act within the scenario. Group collaboration and presentation/performance This is an individual assessment

6 Page 6 Your presentation must: demonstrate an understanding and application of your chosen theories using relevant resources demonstrate your understanding of the other (possibly conflicting) theoretical frameworks demonstrate how different theoretical approaches hold implications for practice methods (such as counselling or community development) and practice processes (such as assessment and intervention) demonstrate the importance of being a critically reflective practitioner Criteria This learning/assessment task will be graded in two parts: Participation and Contribution For this learning/assessment 70 percent of your mark will be allocated to you as an individual on the basis of your participation and contribution to the group s preparation process in the weekly tutorials leading up to the presentation/performance. This component of the grade will be determined by your tutor in consultation with other group members evaluation of your contribution. demonstrated ability to actively participate in tutorials and contribute to your group s capacity to apply theoretical aspects of human services work with a practice situation demonstrated ability to actively participate in tutorials and contribute to your group s capacity to develop an understanding of professional practice issues including a contribution to knowledge about how theory relates to practice, social justice values, and practice processes and methods willingness to undertake task as negotiated with your group in order to prepare for the presentation/performance demonstrated capacity to work constructively and collaboratively with others as a group member Presentation/Performance The other thirty percent of this mark will be judged by the quality of the material presented and performed on the day by your group as assessed by your tutor. This requires you to be present on the day and participate in the presentation/performance as negotiated with your group. demonstrated ability for your group to work constructively and as a team demonstrated ability to apply theoretical aspects of human services work with a practice situation demonstrated understanding of professional practice issues including a contribution to knowledge about how theory relates to practice, social justice values, and practice processes and methods presentation/performance indicates originality, independence of thought, creativity, and the capacity to engage others in the learning process arguments put forward in the presentation/performance are effective, organised and logically ordered evidence of comprehensive engagement with and understanding of the course materials clear expression of your ideas

7 Page 7 Generic skill assessed Collaboration Communication Information literacy Organisation Applying technologies Skill assessment level 5.3 Additional assessment requirements Submission Requirements: Printed document, stapled in top left corner, not bound, no plastic sheet protectors. Copy of assessment item must be retained by you. SafeAssign In order to minimise incidents of plagiarism and collusion, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks are submitted electronically via SafeAssign. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work that SafeAssign has access to. If required, details of how to submit via SafeAssign will the site of the course. Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale c) You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct 5.4 Submission penalties Late submission of assessment tasks will be penalised at the following maximum rate: 5% (of the assessment task s identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. 10% (of the assessment task s identified value) for the third day 20% (of the assessment task s identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome. 6. How is the course offered? 6.1 Directed study hours On campus Lecture: 1 hour per week On campus Tutorial: 2 hours per week 6.2 Teaching semester/session(s) offered Semester 1 Semester 2

8 Page Course activities Teaching What key concepts/content will I Week / learn? Module What activities will I engage in to learn the concepts/content? Directed Study Independent Study Activities Activities 1 Introduction to critical social work Tutorial: Why are we drawn to social work and the human services? 2 Social justice and social contexts Tutorial: Exploring the impact of dominant 3 Responding to social contexts/injustices : Practice for change 4 Values, ethics and critical reflection social forces on practice Lecture Tutorial activity: The knowledge melting pot: Evidence based practice, practice wisdom, ideology and life experience. Understanding your own paradigm. Questions about first assessment. Reflective exercises about social justice 5 The history of social work Essay plan presentations 6 Conservative Theories: Implications for Practice 7 Critical Theories: Implications for Practice Essay plan presentations continue. Group processes: From working groups for learning/assessment Task 3 and create case study for tutorial performance 8 Social Work Practices Preparation for learning/assessment Task 3 - Group presentation / performance 9 Missing Voices and Working Across Difference (Mid Semester Break) Continue working in theory groups towards internal tutorial performance

9 Page 9 10 Monday 5 th October Labour Day Public Holiday Critical social work in various fields of practice 11 Guest Lecturer: To be advised 12 No Lecture Case study evaluation presentation/ performance (Learning Assessment Task 3) Tuesday 9am 12pm LT7 13 Challenges and Opportunities for Critical Social Work Internal tutorial group presentations Final preparation for internal tutorial group presentations No tutorials Private study to organise group presentation / performance Lecture Tutorial activity: Revision, reflections Student evaluation Please note that the course activities may be subject to variation. The material noted in Course Schedule can be found in the Course Reader (unless in the text book). Note: Online communication for this course, including placement of any lecture notes, assignment information, electronic handouts, etc, will take place through BLACKBOARD which is accessed through It will be expected that you each have access to this online facility through the use of campus computers or home internet access. 7. What resources do I need to undertake this course? 7.1 Prescribed text(s) Author Year Title Publisher Morley, C. Macfarlane, S 2014 Engaging with Social Work: A Cambridge, Port Melbourne. & Ablett, A. Critical Introduction *SCS172 Book of Readings 2014 *Book of Readings are available for purchase from Mail and Print Services, located in the Resources Building, Ground Floor, E Street. 7.2 Required and recommended readings Lists of required and recommended readings may be found for this course on its site. These materials/readings will assist you in preparing for tutorials and assignments, and will provide further information regarding particular aspects of your course. 7.3 Specific requirements Nil 7.4 Risk management There is minimal health and safety risk in this course. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with the Health and Safety policies and procedures applicable within campus areas.

10 Page How can I obtain help with my studies? In the first instance you should contact your tutor, then the Course Coordinator. Student Life and Learning provides additional assistance to all students through Peer Advisors and Academic Skills Advisors. You can drop in or book an appointment. To book: Tel: or StudentLifeandLearning@usc.edu.au 9. Links to relevant University policies and procedures For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including: Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs Review of Assessment and Final Grades Supplementary Assessment Administration of Central Examinations Deferred Examinations Student Academic Misconduct Students with a Disability Faculty specific information Locating Journal Articles If you have been notified that the journal articles in this course are available on e-reserve, use the on-line library catalogue to find them. For journal articles not on e-reserve, click on the "Journals and Newspapers" link on the Library Homepage. Enter the journal title e.g. History Australia, then search for the volume and issue or keyword as needed. Assignment Cover Sheets The Faculty of Arts and Business assignment cover sheet can be found on or on the USC Portal at: Faculty of Arts and Business (Students) > Forms. It must be completed in full identifying student name, assignment topic, tutor and tutorial time. This must be attached securely to the front of each assessment item prior to submission. Claims of loss of assignments will not be considered unless supported by a receipt. Help: If you are experiencing problems with your studies or academic work, consult your tutor in the first instance or the Course Coordinator as quickly as possible. Difficulties: If you are experiencing difficulties relating to teaching and assessment you should approach your tutor in the first instance. If not satisfied after that you should approach in order your Course Coordinator, Program Coordinator then Head of School. General enquiries and student support Faculty Student Centre Tel: Fax: FABinfo@usc.edu.au