SW0516 - Social Work Law and Ethics

You will learn through a combined lecture and enquiry based approach using seminars, interactive learning and eLearning resources, and stakeholder involvement with teaching and learning both before and after your 70 day assessed practice placement. You will be introduced to key global and domestic legal frameworks in key note lectures. You will then have the opportunity in seminars to explore key concepts and practice issues associated with the ethical application of law in social work assessment professional judgement and decision making contexts.

Module lecturers and seminar leaders will support your development through seminar groups. You will have access to lecturers at specifically designated times via direct teaching sessions and online forums. Your Personal Tutor will also provide academic and pastoral support; the former in designated tutorials and as a member of the placement team training team. Formative assessment tasks include ‘feedforward’ in preparation for the summative assignment, and ‘feedback’ to identify aspects of your strengths and also aspects which require development. Contact details for all tutors for this module are available in the module handbook and via the eLP.

The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk

Knowledge & Understanding:
You will demonstrate a critical understanding of the social and political context of social work law and statutory guidance frameworks.
You will demonstrate a critical understanding of the dynamic and evolving nature of law and identify and recognize its complexity within the context of service delivery.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
You will analyse the tensions between protection and control when balancing rights and responsibilities in social work practice within a legal framework.
You will identify the rights and perspectives of service users and carers and articulate the implications of these for good social work practice.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
You will understand the interface between social work law, values and ethics and apply this to practice situations, promoting anti –oppressive practice.

Formative assessment.
You will undertake a court skills session which will enable you to develop your knowledge and skills in presenting evidence in formal decision making forums.

Summative assessment
You will undertake a three hour unseen examination in semester 2. You will demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the law in practice in relation to children and family law case study and an adult law case study. You will also be required to demonstrate critical understanding of social work values and ethical practice in social work assessment and intervention roles. The examination accounts for 100% of the summative mark.

SW0417, SW0418, SW0419, SW0420, SW0421, SW0422

SW0514, SW0515, SW0517, SW0518

This module aims to support you in progressing from identifying and understanding your own values and the perspectives of service users to applying specific legal and ethical frameworks in practice, and understanding the tensions inherent in this process.
This module will enable you to understand and interpret the ways in which the law underpins social work practice. You will develop a critical awareness of the legal system and its changing nature and be able to identify and apply legal frameworks in respect of all people who use services. You will develop your knowledge and understanding of specific areas of legislation and guidance that inform, guide or control your
practice. You will demonstrate awareness of the complexities inherent in the application of law to social work practice and interface between the law and social work ethics and values, examining how the law may be used to promote anti-oppressive practice.