Social Work and the Law (UG) (U03134)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : SPS-3-sps

This course aims to ensure students have a good understanding of the Scottish Legal system and detailed knowledge of professional law of relevance to practice.

Entry Requirements

? This course is not available to visting students.

? Pre-requisites : Name of Course(s) SW1ah Social Work: Making a Difference SW1bh Policy and Legal Frameworks SP1h Social Policy and Society SP1h Politics of the Welfare State SW2h From Research into Practice: Landmarks in Social Work Research SP2h Social and Political Enquiry

Subject Areas

Home subject area

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

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Full Year (Blocks 1-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 15 weeks

? Other Required Attendance : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

On completion of the course participants will be able to describe and evaluate:

1. Legal bases for intervention and the significance of relationships with statutory social services, especially education, housing, health, criminal justice, income maintenance and with other services provided by partner voluntary organisations and support groups;
2. The concepts of rights, responsibility, freedom, authority and power associated with the practice of social workers as moral and statutory agents.
3. Social workers' roles as statutory agents with duties and responsibilities to protect the public and uphold the law;
4. The significance of legislative and legal frameworks, service standards, practice guidelines and codes of practice.
5. The nature of legal authority, the application of legislation in practice, statutory responsibility and conflicts between statute, policy and practice.
6. Up-to-date legislation defining the rights of people, especially measures designed to tackle all forms of discrimination.