MA Social Work / Course details

The unit focuses on social work interventions with individuals and with families in a range of specific situations that are likely to be encountered in social work practice. As students move into their final year their appreciation of the link between theory and practice develops further and this unit is a key part of enhancing this development and understanding. The unit is structured so that so that students are encouraged to apply their knowledge of social work theory and approaches to a range of social work practice situations. The unit is taught via a combination of asynchronous elearning materials alongside live seminars, workshops and self-directed learning. Students are encouraged to critically analyse social work interventions with reference to the available evidence base, alongside the perspectives of professionals and people with lived experience of social work.

Students are encouraged to apply their knowledge and ideas critically and reflectively and to consider what they might do differently and how they might improve their future practice. Students are provided with opportunities for feedback from peers, tutors, practitioners and people with lived experience of social work. Students are encouraged to continuously reflect on their practice and to process their experiences of undertaking direct work on their practice placements.

• Enhance knowledge and understanding of how practice in a range of social work contexts is informed by theoretical ideas, legislation, policy and evidence informed practice. 
• Consolidate and develop a more in depth knowledge of work undertaken in Year One of the MA Social Work programme by applying social work theories in relation to planning, implementation and evaluation of social work interventions.
• Encourage students to engage in giving and receiving constructive feedback from peers to help evaluate and improve practice.
• Ensuring students are familiar with Social Work England Professional Standards and to integrate these into teaching content and assessment.

• Integrate knowledge and understanding and critically evaluate relevant evidence, which informs effective social work and multi-disciplinary practice with people with lived experience of social work of all ages and in a variety of family relationships.
• Critically examine the implications of social work interventions in multi-cultural and diverse communities and explore ways to promote dignity, rights and strength – based approaches to practice.
• Systematically and reflectively apply theoretical perspectives and research evidence within a critical analysis of complex situations faced by users of social services from all social backgrounds and age groups.
• Develop ethical and professional decision – making skills in relation to Social Work England Professional Standards.

• Explain, debate and critically evaluate the relationship between policy, ethics, law and social work practice as this informs the provision of social work intervention with service users of all ages and in a variety of family and community relationships 
• Critically evaluate relationships between, knowledge power, policy and social work practice and articulate how social workers might ensure that their own practice is neither oppressive nor discriminatory 
• Identify and critically consider the evidence base for social work interventions including the perspectives of people with lived experience of social work 
• Evaluate their evidence based research skills and ability to use feedback.

• Articulate and critically examine the principles and process of assessing and 
• intervening in diverse social work contexts with service users of all ages and in a variety of family and community relationships.
• Identify, explain and critically reflect upon social workers working collaboratively with other professionals as well as with people with lived experience of social work of all ages.
• Demonstrate the ability to integrate knowledge of policy, theory and practice to solve complex problems facing people with lived experience of social work in a range of social work settings.
• Apply and reflect on collaborative working skills in practice.

Students will have the opportunity to receive feedback on formative work via undertaking peer assessment presentations which include a social work practitioner joining each small student group. Other feedback opportunities will also be available in class and online discussion boards.

Summative feedback is provided by an academic and person with lived experience of social work following the student giving a presentation.

Online feedback is provided in Grademark. Provisional feedback based on internal marking will be made available prior to the Exam Board on the basis that these marks are yet to be ratified at the Exam Board and therefore may be subject to change. A standard feedback mechanism in Grademark is
utilised across all postgraduate programmes within the School which provides detailed and constructive feedback on each component and aspect of assessment and identifies areas of strength and those aspects which could be enhanced. Student feedback is obtained through open discussion forums on blackboard, in class discussions, via formal University unit evaluation forms and also qualitative, in house evaluations at the end of the unit. 

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