Social Work: Policy and Legal Frameworks (U01500)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 8 ? Acronym : SPS-1-SW1b

This course will provide an introduction to how Policy and Legal Frameworks define social work practice. Social Work, both as an occupational practice and as an academic subject, evolves, adapts, and changes in response to the social, political and economic challenges and demands of contemporary social welfare policy, practice and legislation. This course will explore the policy aims and broad legal requirements in three major areas of social work practice: child care and protection; community care for vulnerable adults; social work in the criminal justice system. There will be a short series of lectures to consider the relationship of law to social work practice and to provide a basic understanding of the Scottish legal system.

Entry Requirements

none

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Social Work, (School of Social and Political Studies, Schedule J)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 1st year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

? Other Required Attendance : 1 hour(s) per week for 9 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
08/01/2008	11:00	12:00	Lecture Theatre C, David Hume Tower	Central

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Tuesday	11:10	12:00	Central
Lecture	Thursday	11:10	12:00	Central

? Additional Class Information : Tuesday lectures will be held in Lecture Theatre C, DHT, George Square

Thursday lectures will be held in Lecture Theatre A, DHT, George Square

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course students should have acquired a broad overview of:
- The nature of legal authority
- The significance of legislative and legal frameworks for social work intervention
- The application of legislation in social work practice
- The conflicts between statutory responsibility, policy and practice.