Social Work – (M.Sc.)

Contents

Course structure
Year 1 introduces core skills, theories and approaches for social work practice in its inter-professional context and fosters a critical understanding of key law, policy and human growth across the lifespan. Year 2 focuses on more complex and accountable practice together with the development of more specialised skills and knowledge. There is also a focus on research in social work and the critical use of evidence to underpin own practice.

Learning in practice is supported by periods of study at the university, by directed study (with a range of learning materials) and by small group practice tutorials facilitated by social work-qualified university staff.

Students are required by the General Social Care Council (GSCC) to spend at least 200 days engaged in practice learning. Each student will experience at least two practice settings, statutory social work tasks involving legal interventions and provide services to at least two user groups.

Areas of study
The course includes learning on the following areas:
- social work theories and methods
- core social work skills
- social work values, ethics and anti-oppressive practice
- legal and policy frameworks
- applied social science (social policy, psychology and sociology) for social work practice
- inter-professional learning and practice
- approaches to working with risk, assessment and safeguarding
- contemporary developments and issues in social work
- research methods and the place of research evidence in social work practice.