BA(Hons) Social Work
Faculty of Health

The modules for Intermediate level are:
(links point to information on this page)

1. Social Work with Children and Families
2. Social Work: Community Care with Adults
3. Lifespan Development for Social Work
4. Practice Learning – 88 days
5. University ‘call-back’ days

At Intermediate Level students should expect to attend the university for 18 hours each week in semester 1. In semester 2 students will be in a practice learning setting for 88 days x 7 hours, i.e. a standard working day for four days each week. The fifth day will be used for a variety for learning activities in the university:

1. continuing the teaching of the Social Work practice modules;
2. theory to practice – students bringing work materials to group discussion;
3. study days for completion of practice learning requirements.

1. Social Work with Children, Young People and Families

Presents a range of issues providing students with a knowledge and understanding of:

• the relationship between the law and Social Work practice;
• theories of abuse and protection and prevention;
• child care policy;
• the relevance and application of research findings to practice;
• the needs of looked after children;
• the needs of disabled children;
• the adoption process;
• the role of local education authorities in child protection and family support;
• Social Work practice with young offenders;
• work with families within a framework which is non-oppressive and which values diversity – personal, cultural, multi-faith.

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2. Social Work: Community Care with Adults

Presents a range of issues providing students with a knowledge and understanding of:

• the historical and policy context of community care;
• models and theories of ageing, disability, mental health and multiple oppression, and their implications for practice;
• working with diversity in community care: personal, cultural, religious and spiritual
• the impact of social factors on patterns of need and vulnerability;
• the impact of professional interventions;
• the concerns of service users;
• care management, including assessment and care planning;
• inter-disciplinary working;
• rights, civil liberties and capacity for consent and decision-making;
• strategies for involving and empowering service users;
• understanding and working with risk.
• the abuse of vulnerable adults, and the Social Work role in adult protection.

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3. Lifespan Development for Social Work

Presents a range of issues providing students with a knowledge and understanding of:

• learning, interactionist and psychodynamic theories.
• inheritance – mechanisms of inheritance; gene context interaction; hormonal influences on development.
• early years – pre-birth, neonatal and early life; physical, cognitive and social development. play, gender learning.
• middle years and adolescence – growth; cognitive development; social development.
• adulthood and middle life – social development; cognitive development; gender issues; life tasks.
• older age – physical development; ageism; social development; cognitive development; gender issues; death.
• valuing diversity – personal, cultural, religious and spiritual, multi-faith perspectives.

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4. Practice Learning Level 2

Practice learning for Social Work in a Social Work, social care, health, offenders and/or education agency in the statutory and/or independent sectors of Social Work provision.
This eighty-eight day period of practice learning will enable students to demonstrate knowledge, critical understanding and application of the knowledge, concepts and principles for Social Work. Practice learning and assessment will focus on the National Occupational Standards for Social Work (2002).

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