Undergraduate Course: Social Work: Making A Difference (SCWR08003)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The course will introduce students to notions, definitions and insights about social work practice from within the profession, discussing how they compare with public understanding (and prejudices) of the social worker¿s role and task. A theme will be to explore how social workers can and do make a difference. Outside contributors will discuss what they do and how they interface with other professions, providing students with an awareness of the distinct place of social work in the range of welfare services. |
| Course description |
The course is divided into three sections with an introductory lecture and closing lecture that begin with and return to the theme of 'making a difference'.
The first section is entitled Social Work in the Past, Present and Future. It provides historical perspectives on the development of the social work profession and offers a picture of 21st century social work. The second section is entitled The Professional Role and Challenges for Today's Practitioners. Here, the overall aim is to provide students with an opportunity to understand and discuss the unique contribution that social workers make to people's welfare and well-being. The section consists of three sets of lectures and contributions from guest speakers. Each set will look at the key strands of social work today, Children and Families, Adult Services and Justice, and will introduce students to the concept of the social worker as a professional with a body of values, ethics and a distinct social work identity. An overview of contemporary practice will be provided by academic staff and complemented by input from statutory social work practitioners who will present a snapshot of what they do with an emphasis upon the distinct role they play as social workers, e.g. how they are different to and interface with other professions. Non-statutory professionals and service user groups will offer a wider perspective on the social work role and services. The third section, Our Professional Values and Good Practice, consists of two lectures that restate an essential element of social work practice - that of confronting disadvantage and promoting empowerment.
The overall themes will be the nature and diversity of contemporary social work and the people who need the services of social workers; the uniqueness of the social work profession and its relationship to other professions; and finally, the difference that social workers can make in helping people maximise their well-being.
On completion of this course, the student will have acquired an overview of:
1. how social services and the social work profession have developed
2. the role, challenges and diversity of contemporary social work practice in the UK
3. the values required for good social work practice
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
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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 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
80 %,
Practical Exam
20 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Presentation (20%)
Essay (80%)
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| Feedback |
Presentations: The Course tutor will provide immediate verbal feedback on the standard and content of the presentation and the grade will be provided at the end of the course. Standardisation of assessment across each tutorial group will be ensured via a tutor/course organiser meeting.
Essays: Students will also receive written individual feedback on their essays, which will be uploaded to the course Learn page in line with the SPS feedback return deadlines.
The course also includes two dedicated sessions focused on presentation and essay preparation, which are offered in addition to the assessment preparation provided within the tutorial group. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Examine the historical development of social services and the social work profession, demonstrating an understanding of key milestones and their impact on contemporary practice.
- Evaluate the role, challenges, and diversity of contemporary social work practice in the UK, providing evidence-based insights into the complexities professionals face.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the core values required for good social work practice.
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Reading List
Adams, R., Dominelli, L. and Payne, M. (eds) (2009) Social work: themes, issues and critical debates. 3rd ed, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Cree, V. (2013) Becoming A Social Worker. London: Routledge.
Cree, V. and Davis, A. (2007) Social Work: Voices from the Inside. London: Routledge.
Cree, V. and Smith, M. (eds) (2018) Social work in a changing Scotland. London: Routledge.
Davies, M. (2013) The Blackwell Companion to Social Work. Oxford: Blackwell.
Doel, M. (2012) Social Work. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis.
Fook, J. (2016) Social Work: A Critical Approach to Practice. 3rd ed, London: Sage.
Gibson, A., Lishman, J., Brannan, J. and Yuill, C. (2018) Social Work: An Introduction. London: Sage.
Hothersall, S. (2014) Social Work with Children, Young People and their Families in Scotland. Exeter: Learning Matters.
Hunter, S. and Rowley, D. (2015) Social work and people with learning difficulties: making a difference. Bristol: Policy Press.
James, E., Mitchell, R., Morgan, H., Harvey, M., Burgess, I., Romeo, L. and Neary, M. (2020) Social work, cats and rocket science: stories of making a difference in social work with adults. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Kirkwood, S. (2018) Criminal justice social work. In V. Cree and M. Smith (eds) Social work in a changing Scotland. London: Routledge.
Thompson, N. (2015) Understanding social work: preparing for practice. 4th ed, London: Macmillan Education/Palgrave.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Hadijah Mwenyango
Tel:
Email: Hadijah.Mwenyango@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Ewen Miller
Tel: (0131 6)50 3925
Email: Ewen.Miller@ed.ac.uk |
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