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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2024/2025

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Social and Political Science : Social Work

Undergraduate Course: Human Rights and Social Justice: social work and the law (SCWR08009)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Social and Political Science CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe International Federation of Social Workers describes social work as being based on ¿principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversities¿ (IFSW). This course will consider what that means in relation to law and policy for social work. Social work operates within international human rights frameworks but also within national legal structures and local policy contexts. The course will explore the role of law and policy in social work practice, using specific examples from Scotland and internationally.
Course description This course helps you to understand how principles of human rights and social justice underpin social work today. The course introduces you to international human rights frameworks and legislation relevant to social work law and policy. There is a focus on law and policy as it affects social work practice in the UK, particularly in Scotland, and we will also consider examples from a wider international field. The course forms a substantial part of the social work degree programme and reflects the Standards in Social Work Education set for social work qualifying programmes in Scotland. We also welcome students who are not registered for the social work programme but who are interested in how law and policy work together in this important area of social welfare.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 20, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 166 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) 2000 word essay (50%)«br /»
Policy briefing - 1500 words max (excluding bibliography) 50%
Feedback Students will receive individual feedback on their assignments.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Describe the main human rights frameworks which govern social work law, policy and practice, both internationally and within the Scottish context.
  2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of social justice within social work law, policy and practice.
  3. Show how social work practice both shapes and is shaped by legislation and policy.
  4. Explain the place of social work values in policy and legal frameworks.
Reading List
For an introduction to social work and the law in Scotland see Cree, V. and Smith, M. (Eds.). (2018). Social Work in a Changing Scotland. London: Routledge.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserDr Jackie Gulland
Tel: (0131 6)50 8256
Email: Jackie.Gulland@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Brodie Hamilton
Tel: (0131 6)51 3139
Email: Brodie.Hamilton@ed.ac.uk
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