SWB220 Practice Theories

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

In line with the orientation of the social work and human service courses as a whole, this unit emphasises the conceptual component of your developing personal and professional practice framework integral to working effectively with a range of service users in a range of different contexts. It is essential that you have a capacity to integrate and apply theoretical concepts to specific practice contexts, consider your own practice frame of reference and ideological influences, and understand the implications of these for practice. This unit introduces you to the dynamic interplay between the theoretical, personal, professional and ideological influences. Additionally, this unit provides a platform for developing practice frameworks in preparation for the social work and human services field placement units.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Articulate the selection and application of major theorists and theoretical approaches, disciplinary knowledge and research that informs the ethical practice of social work and human service
2. Critically analyse and evaluate the integration, application and utility of major theories and theorists to complex practice contexts and problem based scenarios
3. Critically reflect on frames of reference for practice and consider the way these are influenced by differing social and cultural perspectives, including the influence of gendered, Indigenous and international perspectives
4. Develop knowledge and skills required for working collaboratively in a group setting (in synergistic teams) as would be anticipated when working in the field of social work and human services

Content

Learning Approaches

Study in this unit will be a mixture of formal lectures, student presentations, class discussion using group case scenarios, role plays and other exercises. You will examine relevant theoretical approaches and practice implications in tutorials which provide opportunities to critically examine, discuss and apply major theoretical approaches to problem-based scenarios and collaborative small group learning activities. The underlying goal is to create a learning environment where students appreciate the nature and experience of collaboration and real-world learning. Learning is individual and group centred.

Regular weekly engagement is required through lectures and tutorials as the interactive group activities link to assessment. If you are unable to attend (online or on campus) tutorials, you will need to negotiate with the Unit Coordinator around the missed events as Assessment tasks are undertaken through collaborative tutorial engagement. You should make every effort to attend all tutorials.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives: Indigenous social work perspectives (theory and practice ideas) are taught in this unit. 

Diverse perspectives and inclusion are captured in this unit to support understanding of the influence of gendered, Indigenous and international perspectives on critical practice.

Embedded support for learning: Regular postings of the Student Success offerings are made through the unit's online learning platform.  Unit staff make referrals to the QUT Counselling Services when necessary.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Both formative and summative feedback will be provided in this unit including peer feedback

Assessment 1 Part A Collaborative practice component and Part B Group presentation with visual media: tutors will assess and provide the mark, but peer and self-feedback will also be expected in the tutorials, directly after the presentations have occurred. 

Assessment 2 Critique (Written): You will have the opportunity to discuss the written critique of the tutorials and get feedback from tutors and each other. The tutors will then mark the papers and provide written feedback on the final product. 

Assessment

Overview

You are required to apply the learned theory, perspectives and models to a complex practice context. There are two assessments for this unit. Assessment 1 has two parts; part A is a collaborative component and part B a group presentation (with visual media) component. Assessment 1, Parts A and B are designed to develop knowledge and skills in collaborative approaches to practice whilst undertaking a group task. Parts A and B are designed to scaffold your learning toward the successful completion of Assessment 2 written critique, by providing a foundation for critical analysis and practice responses to case-examples. In the first assessment, the collaborative component in part A is assessed according to your involvement in working collaboratively with peers within small groups to complete Part B within the tutorials. Assessment 2 is designed to assess your capacity to critically analyse each perspective in terms of its implications for informing your practice approach.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: PART A - Collaborative Practice Component

This assessment task with tasks toward it spans weeks 2-8 and is designed to develop your capacity for collaborative practice in the field of social work through your involvement in collaborative and creative engagement. This component requires you to participate in and contribute to the development of assessment PART B (Group Presentation with visual media). You will demonstrate knowledge and skills in working collaboratively with members of your tutorial group to support inclusive and ethical practice based on social justice, principles and entrepreneurial thinking (thinking through problems, identifying a theorist/theoretical approach, making recommendations, implementing the plan and evaluating the outcome). You will be required to self and peer review collaborative contributions in your small presentation groups. Reviews are moderated where necessary by the tutorial team. 

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension. 

Assessment: PART B - Group presentations (with visual media)

This assessment task will require you to work in groups of 4 within your tutorial in order to contribute to your group's capacity to demonstrate the application of theorists/theory perspectives to a social issue or practice scenario culminating in a group presentation using visual media to demonstrate learning. Your group will need to pursue an integrated and multi-perspective understanding of the scenario, and describe, apply and critique theoretical perspectives (from the unit) in terms of the implications for understanding and responding to the scenario. 

Assessment: Critique

This assessment task is designed to build on your learning from assessment 1. In this assignment, the authentic role is social work or human services practitioner. The audience are social work/human services students, practitioners and clients. The purpose is to show your ability to apply critical theories and perspectives to social work or human services practice. The product is a written critique. 

In the critique, you will outline at least two theories/theorists covered in this unit and critically analyse each perspective in terms of its implications for informing your practice with a given case scenario. This includes articulating your understanding of how theories inform methods of practice used in social work and human services. The critique will compare the ways the theories complement or conflict with one another and will consider the implications for how the social worker/human services worker might proceed in the situation. Please note the theories/theorists you choose in the final assessment need to be different from or complimentary to the theory you explore directly in assessment 1.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Requirements

Nil

Costs

Nil

Resources

Resource Materials

Prescribed text(s)

Garrett, P. (2018). Social Work and Social Theory: Making Connections (2nd ed.). Blackwell & Co.

Risk Assessment Statement

While there are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit, please note that videos may be used during lectures and tutorials to promote the critical discussion of points related to the lecture topic. Video content (M rating maximum) is also intended to reflect the reality of social work and human service practice. The use of the video method aligns with student and adult learning objectives. It is acknowledged that video content may be challenging and may generate strong emotional reactions. However, it is argued that this material is necessary for the realistic training of social workers/human service workers. Students who have difficulty dealing with the emotional content of any lecture or video are encouraged to seek appropriate support before or after the class.

Course Learning Outcomes

SW04 Bachelor of Social Work

1. Critique and apply coherent theoretical, practical and contextually relevant social work knowledge, skills and values, and cultivate a commitment toward meeting diverse clients and community needs. [Knowledge, Practice, Values and Disposition]
   Relates to: PART A - Collaborative Practice Component, Critique
2. Access, evaluate, and utilise relevant social work information that informs and assists in intra- and inter-professional communication in a range of contexts, through effective oral, written and digital interactions. [Practice, Knowledge]
   Relates to: PART A - Collaborative Practice Component, PART B - Group presentations (with visual media)
3. Design a plan of action for working within socially progressive, anti-oppressive, culturally safe and ethical practice, that embody an autonomous and collaborative evidence-based orientation to social work, integral to the standards of professional social work practice. [Values and Disposition, Practice]
   Relates to: Critique
4. Critically examine tenets of diversity and diverse perspectives in social work, and advocate for a socially just society and the promotion of human dignity that reflect different social, political, cultural and historical circumstances, on the beliefs, values and aspirations of various groups, including Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations. [Values and Disposition, Knowledge, Practice]
   Relates to: PART B - Group presentations (with visual media), Critique

SW05 Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)

1. Critically evaluate theoretical, practical and contextually relevant social work knowledge, skills and values and, as a change facilitator, meet diverse client and community needs that promote social justice
   Relates to: Critique
2. Develop advanced knowledge, skills and values, to inform culturally safe communication and effective intra- and inter-professional collaboration and with a wide range of audiences and contexts, including accessing, evaluating and utlising digital health information.
   Relates to: PART A - Collaborative Practice Component, PART B - Group presentations (with visual media), Critique
3. Construct and implement strategies for practising collaboratively and independently, focused on socially progressive, anti-oppressive, culturally safe and ethical practice, integral to the standards of professional social work practice
   Relates to: PART A - Collaborative Practice Component, PART B - Group presentations (with visual media)
4. Access, evaluate and utilise social work information to advocate for a socially just society and the promotion of human dignity and worth that reflect different social, political, cultural and historical circumstances, on the beliefs, values and aspirations of various groups, including Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations
   Relates to: PART A - Collaborative Practice Component, PART B - Group presentations (with visual media), Critique