MA Social Work

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Social Political and Organisational Context for Social Work Practice

Course unit fact file
Unit code SOWK60662
Credit rating 15
Unit level FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree
Teaching period(s) Semester 1
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

The course will critically assess how social issues are currently constructed and outline similarities and difference in such constructions in different historical periods, placing developments in an economic, political, social and organisational context. Social processes that lead to marginalisation and exclusion will inform this debate. Specific attention is paid to social divisions in society, enabling an exploration of the ways in which inequality, discrimination and oppression manifest themselves in society, and impact on the provision and organisation of social work services.
Aspects of care and control, social justice, citizenship and understanding different models of need will be explored and placed within an organisational context. Models of welfare will be examined which will facilitate an analysis of contested debates regarding the nature, scope and purpose of welfare provision and implications for providers and service users. The growth of social movements in relation to service user participation in social care will also be explored.

Aims

  • Enable students to engage in critical debate regarding the contested nature, scope and purpose of welfare provision, drawing on dominant theories and concepts in social policy and organisational theory.
  • Explore critically the impact of social divisions, social inequalities and oppressive social relations on the provision and delivery of social welfare and social work.
  • Facilitate a critical analysis of the ways in which policy initiatives and implementation reflect wider structural developments in society, and the ways in which these influence the nature and context of service provision

Teaching and learning methods

This course unit will comprise a mixture of direct face-to-face teaching, seminar and small group work and e-learning activities

Knowledge and understanding

  • Critically analyse the impact of economic, social, political and organisational developments in the provision of social work
  • Critically assess key theories and concepts that inform social policy and social work contexts
  • Critically review and appraise the nature of social divisions in society and social policy and organisational responses to social divisions
  • Demonstrate a critical awareness of the ways in which the policies, procedures and practices within welfare institutions can operate in a discriminatory and oppressive manner

Intellectual skills

  • Ability to critically analyse conflicting perspectives on social welfare & social work and how it should be organised
  • Ability to critically appraise literature to develop coherent and informed arguments
  • Critical appreciation of contested issues such as care/control, human need and the principles underpinning social work policy and practice
  • Understanding how organisations influence, structure and manage social work processes

Practical skills

  • Demonstrate ability to take responsibility for own learning
  • Ability to work collegially in small group tasks either on-line or face-to-face
  • Ability to link social policy theories and concepts and organisational theory to concrete social work issues

Transferable skills and personal qualities

  • Ability to write coherently and cogently
  • Ability to develop critical thinking and analysis
  • Ability to participate in small group or seminar settings

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Written assignment (inc essay) 100%

Feedback methods

Students will normally have the opportunity to receive feedback on formative work submitted prior to the summative assessment. Other feedback opportunities will also be available in class and online discussion boards. 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. 

Recommended reading

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 36
Tutorials 2
Independent study hours
Independent study 112

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Dharman Jeyasingham Unit coordinator

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