GradDip Social Work Studies (Specialist Social Work with Adults)
ObjectivesThis is a Level 3 programme for qualified, practicing social workers who hold a social work qualification at Honours or Master's degree level. The requirements of the Post Qualifying Framework for Social Work Education and Training (GSCC 2005) and the Specialist Standards for Social Work with Adults (2006) are closely embedded in the programme. In delivering the post qualifying award, the programme therefore seeks to 'consolidate, extend and deepen, initial professional competence' in the specialist context of practice with adult service users, their carers and families' (GSCC, 2005). The programme is closely linked to the National Occupational Standards in Social Work and so aims to enhance, maintain and integrate high academic and professional practice standards.
Entry requirements- A professional qualification in social work (eg DipSW CQSW) - An honours degree - Current social work practice experience with adult service users This programme is for practitioners who hold a degree. For non graduates, the BA(Hons) Social Work Studies will offer a more appropriate way of attaining the Post Qualifying Award in Specialist Social Work with Adults.
Academic titleGradDip Social Work Studies (Specialist Social Work with Adults)
Course descriptionContent
The programmes are flexible, modular and made up of a number of compulsory and optional modules, each of which has an amount of credit attached to it. The length of time taken to complete the programme will therefore vary from student to student although this is not expected to exceed five years. The programme is made up of 120 credits at Level 3. There are five modules:
-Consolidation of Competence in Social Work Practice (20 credits)
-Specialist Social Work Practice with Adult Service Users and their Carers (40 credits)
-Practice Education for Social Work Practice (20 credits)
-Option Module I (20 credits)
-Option Module II (20 credits)
Consolidation of Competence in Social Work Practice
This module will enable you to build on and consolidate your competence as a social worker within a specific area of practice. Teaching and learning takes place through a series of five full day workshops over a three month period and is supported by an online site. Topics covered include policy and procedures in adult social work; the contribution of service user and carer expertise; using theory and research to critically reflect on practice; communication and engagement; planning, assessment, evaluation and review in adult services; managing risk; values in adult practice and personal and professional development.
The assignment for the module consists of an assessment of your practice by your employing agency and a reflective assignment based on a direct observation of your practice.
For most students, this will be the first module of the programme.
Specialist Social WorkPractice with Adult Service Users and their Carers
This module provides an opportunity for you to explore an area of specialist practice in detail and to relate this to your individual practice. The module is taught through a series of five full day workshops over a six month period and is supported by an online site. Teaching and learning will focus on key issues for adult care practice including legislation and social policy; adulthood, development and transitions; assessment, risk, vulnerability and protection; multi agency working and the value base of social work.
The assignment for the module consists of an assessment of your practice by your employing agency and a 6,000 word assignment on a theme closely related to your own practice.
Practice Education for Social Work Practice
This module focuses on the planning, facilitating and assessing of learning in practice and requires you to be involved in these activities in your work place. The module is taught through a series of five full day workshops over a three month period and is supported by an online site. Teaching and learning focuses on theory and practice, in relation to adult learning and assessment.
The assessment for the module consists of a direct observation of your practice as a facilitator of learning and a reflective assignment based on your experience as a practice educator.
Option module
There are a number of option modules available. Most of these are accessible to students on a variety of programmes. The timing and availability of these modules will vary according to demand. You should consult your Programme Leader about which modules are available in any particular term, but option modules likely to be of particular interest to social work students include:
-Ageing in Contemporary Society
-Leadership and Change
-Issues in Child Protection
-Engaging Communities and Service Users
-Public Health and Health Promotion
-Independent Study
-Principles of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
-Person Centred Care for People with Dementia
-Contemporary Issues in the Delivery of Support Services for People with Learning Disabilities
-Meeting the Mental Health Needs of People with Learning Difficulties
-Working with People with a Diagnosis of Personality Disorder
-Dual Diagnosis: Substance Misuse and Mental Health
-An Introduction to Drug and Alcohol Use and Misuse
-Motivational Interviewing
Teaching and learning
Inter-professionalism is a key aspect of students' learning on the programme. Learning outcomes associated with inter-professionalism are embedded in each of the modules and these are all open to non-social workers. The option module enables learners to pursue in depth, an area of particular practice interest or specialism, by selecting a module from the faculty option pool. In many cases this will also provide a multi-professional learning experience.
A broad range of teaching and learning approaches are employed within the programme. Online learning is used widely to support lectures, learning sets and workshop activities.
Assessment methods include reflective and research based assignments, direct observations of practice, assessment under controlled conditions and agency based assessment of practice.
Study facilities
The Faculty is superbly equipped with an extensive range of resources across four campuses. Although teaching and learning sessions will take place at Glenside, students in the Faculty are able to access facilities at all four campuses.
The library on the Glenside Campus is one of the best health and social care libraries in England with a huge selection of books, journals and audio-visual materials including access to specialist health and social care packages.
UWE Library successfully bid for the substantial library collections which the National Institute for Social Work (NISW) made available when the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) was created. The Library will continue to receive donations of books and journals from SCIE, and will work in partnership with SCIE to make UWE's library resources available to social care professionals regionally and nationally.
Information Technology provision is used extensively to support student learning. At the main Frenchay Campus there is 24-hour access to computing facilities.