SW0417 - Introduction to the Social Work Profession

You will learn through lectures and seminars facilitated by academic staff, many of whom are qualified and registered Social Workers and who have experience in practice from a range of settings. In addition to taught sessions, you will also be expected to attend a series of Skills Development Days which may be facilitated by current practitioners or service users. These sessions encourage you to reflect on your academic learning and apply this learning to practice scenarios, also the sessions are designed to support your learning throughout the module and support you in applying theoretical knowledge to practice situations.

As part of the module, you will undertake a short placement in a private, voluntary or independent sector social care organisation. You will also have the opportunity to meet and shadow a social worker in a local authority setting.

Your learning is supported by active use of the e-Learning Portal on which the Module Team will post e-resources and materials to support your learning about specific topics which are covered in lectures.

Support will include feedback from tutors during small group seminars and guidance tutorials. Additionally, you will receive in-depth support from academic staff through detailed feedback following your formative assignment and in the development of your placement profiles before you move to Level 5 and your first assessed practice learning opportunity. This support is to enable you to reflect and develop your learning style whilst encouraging best practice in academic reading and writing.

There are opportunities for small group work sessions with peers so that peer-to-peer support is fostered throughout the module. Good group work is a key component for your development as a social work professional and you will have the opportunity to contribute to group discussions and present to small seminar groups too.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
• Be able to describe the role and tasks of the Social Worker in a range of settings
• Understand the connections between self-awareness, collaboration and effective action

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• Be able to reflect on yourself personally, professionally and as a learner
• Understand the purpose of professional supervision and construct a professional development plan for becoming a social worker

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• You will understand professional behaviour, professional boundaries, professional resilience, emotional intelligence and well-being.

This is module has two elements to the summative assessment and both must be passed to complete the module successfully:

1. An unseen exam lasting two hours allowing the candidate to evidence a contextualised understanding of the social work role and tasks. (Marked out of 100%)

2. A Portfolio comprising evidence of professional development, including your Placement Profile, evidence of three Guidance Tutorials attended throughout the year, Reflective Log relating to Skills in Practice Days and sign off by agencies to evidence attendance (Pass/Fail)

Not applicable

SW0418, SW0419, SW0420, SW0421 and SW0422

This module aims to support learners to move from entry level to a beginning understanding of what Social Workers do and where this is situated, and an understanding of themselves in relation to social work practice. The module provides the foundation for developing a professional identity that will translate into good practice and heightened employability potential.

This module aims to explain and emphasise the importance of personal, professional and educational development in the process of becoming a Social Worker and to start you off on that developmental journey. You will develop reflective skills and the confidence to discuss your development – both highly authentic abilities for effective scholars and Social Workers. These provide a context for student preparation for, and learning from, practice.