VANCOUVER ISLAND UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM COURSE OUTLINE

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1 VANCOUVER ISLAND UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK PROGRAM SOCW 350A LAW AND SOCIAL SERVICES COURSE OUTLINE Section: F14W70 Instructor: Anne Spilker Semester: Fall Online Office Hours: TBA Office Phone: TBA COURSE DESCRIPTION A critical examination of criminal and family law as an expression of social policy relevant to anti-oppressive social work practice. Topics include laws affecting adults and children; human rights; organization of the legal system; and the ethical and legal accountabilities of social workers. COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES 1. To provide a basic understanding of, and working familiarity with: a. Key legal principles and the role of law in society; b. The court and legal system; c. The role of court personnel, including judges and lawyers - How the law can both oppress and empower individuals and groups; d. Key Charter, Human Rights and Privacy issues as they affect social services; amf Page 1

2 e. Key statutes and processes: Child Welfare, Human Rights, Family Law, and Youth Criminal Justice; f. Ethical and legal accountability for social workers; g. Skills for testifying in court; h. Advocacy, conflict resolution and mediation skills. 2. To develop a critical perspective of systems and how they function in the lives of ordinary people. 3. To understand how the law and legal system can be both an instrument of oppression and an empowering instrument for anti-oppressive intervention, particularly as this relates to diverse populations including LGBTQ, Aboriginal populations, those with disabilities and newcomers as well as others possessing a distinct cultural identity. 4. To apply the above legal information and principles to practice situations. 5. To identify skills necessary to fulfill the legal responsibilities inherent in social work practice, and how this affects both workers and social service agencies. REQUIRED COURSE TEXT & MATERIALS Regehr, C. and Kanani, K. (2010). Essential Law for Social Work Practice in Canada. DonMills: Oxford University Press. Other Required and Supplementary Readings: These are listed on the course site under Readings and Web Links and will be accessed in electronic format through the Library and/or through Web Links. amf Page 2

3 WORKING THROUGH THE COURSE MATERIALS Please refer to your course website for the current term's readings, as well as course assignments and learning activities. The 'workbook' referred to in this course is a tool that you create yourself at home to record your notes and responses to questions and learning activities while working through the units. This may be a notebook or journal that could be in hard copy or electronic format. You do not submit your workbook to the instructor. You will be referring to this workbook for preparing assignments and for preparing for the quiz. Thematic Outline: Social Work 350A is designed to provide students with a basic introduction to law and a beginning knowledge base in areas of law particularly relevant to social work practice. This course provides a critical examination of criminal and family law as an expression of social policy relevant to anti-oppressive social work practice. Topics include laws affecting adults and children; human rights; organization of the legal system; and the ethical and legal accountabilities of social workers. Helping professionals function in a wide range of roles when providing assistance to individuals, groups and the community. They act as providers of social services, agents of social change and developers of social programs and social policy, and as advocates for disadvantaged individuals and groups. This range of roles requires that they have an increasing knowledge of the law and an awareness of the legal implications of their actions. Without a solid knowledge of the law, the rights of consumers may be in jeopardy and the legal and ethical liability of helping professionals increases. From our experience in teaching and field practice, however, we have found that it is often difficult for helping professionals to have easy access to clear and concise legal information to provide direction in their practice. This course and the required text, attempt to do this. amf Page 3

4 The course will explore the role of law in society and the myths or realities concerning "equality" and "justice. The law and justice system will be critically examined from the perspective of oppression, power, privilege and rights (individual, group and minority). The implications for practice and the reforms necessary to promote a more just society will be discussed. The basic introduction to law includes such topics as the Canadian Constitution, the court system, and how to find and understand the law. Throughout the course, consideration will be given to the function of law as an institution and the role of law as an expression of social policy. The course endeavours to instill in students an awareness of the rights of clients and the responsibility of social services staff to uphold these rights. Another objective is to provide students with a knowledge base in specific areas of law; both criminal and civil, with some emphasis given to family law as well as civil liberties, accountability and liability of social services staff, and the provision of legal services. These topics will be treated in such a way that students can become familiar not only with the social policy issues involved, but also with the actual practices and procedures in family law systems, and the impact of these procedures as well as laws, on individuals and families, and on the role of social services staff. Rather than memorize law, you will be expected to become familiar with legal principles, and be able to access and apply laws and processes to social service situations with an emphasis on practice; advocacy, conflict resolution, legal processes, child welfare and human rights. Unit One: Orientation to the Course Unit Two: TBA Unit Three: TBA Unit Four: TBA Unit Five: TBA Unit Six: TBA Unit Seven: TBA amf Page 4

5 Unit Eight: TBA Unit Nine: TBA Unit Ten: TBA Unit Eleven: TBA Unit Twelve: TBA METHOD OF STUDENT EVALUATION 1. Court Report: 35% Due Date: Purpose: To test your understanding of events in the courts you have visited and their significance for social work/child and youth care practice. 2. Evidence Giving Exercise: TBA 25% Due Date: 3. Participation Quizes (4) 15% Due Dates: Purpose: To test your understanding of assigned readings and outside research on topics covered in the course. 4. On-line Final Quiz 25% Due Date: amf Page 5

6 HANDLING OF STUDENT WORK 1. Students are responsible for retaining a copy of all submitted work. 2. All assignments are to be submitted to the instructor on the date due using the provided dropbox. 3. Every effort will be made to return assignments to students within two weeks. 4. Students can the instructor to review and discuss their exams, assignments or course grade. 5. Final grades will be posted for the student to view in their online student record. CLASS FORMAT AND ASSIGNMENTS An interactive approach will be used in this class. Students will have the opportunity to post in discussion forums and provide feedback to each other on course readings and other topics. REQUIREMENTS As class discussion and course assignments are based on the weekly required readings, it is important to complete your reading assignments. Quality of written English must be appropriate for academic work. If you need assistance to contact student supports located here: Vancouver Island University student information. It is recommended that you keep an academic journal of the insights you have gained through readings and online discussion activities. You can reflect on the learning accomplished using your journal to strengthen the quality of work you submit in graded assignments. Students are expected to review the following policy (with respect to student conduct) and the policies cross referenced: General Information for Students LATE POLICY All assignments are to be submitted by the due date. If extenuating circumstances arise such as illness or emergency and assignment submission by the due date will not be possible, please discuss this with the instructor prior to the date the assignment is due. amf Page 6

7 Any assignments received after any due date without prior negotiation will drop one grade per day late (e.g. B- to C+) and after 3 days will be graded as an F. All assignments set in the course must be submitted in order to receive a course grade. STUDENT SUPPORTS 1. Vancouver Island University student information. 2. Online APA style referencing sites provided under the APA style referencing link located here. 3. Online Coffee Shop discussion area located here. 4. Online access to Instructor through - insert link here. PARTICIPATION Active participation where forums and discussion groups are either optional or required is encouraged to assist with the learning of course material and (where required) facilitate course completion. GRADING Grade Scale Table Grade Percentage (%) Grade Value Point Description A+ A A- B+ B B- C+ C C Excellent Good D Poor Satisfactory F Failing work Unsatisfactory performance or failure to meet course requirements. CR N/A 0.00 Course passed amf Page 7

8 Requirements completed, but not calculated in GPA. INC N/A 0.00 Incomplete If course requirements are not completed after 90 days from the course end date, the INC grade will automatically become an F grade. CS N/A 0.00 Continuing Status In good standing. Course is delivered over 2 terms, separated by a break. Final mark to be issued at end of 2nd term. AUD N/A 0.00 Audit INP N/A 0.00 In Progress In good standing. Student must re-enrol within one year. NGS N/A 0.00 No Grade Submitted yet; neither Pass nor Fail. amf Page 8