Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

Content

Topics will include:

Professional knowledge

• Communication theories/concepts and the helping process in social work
• Strengths based, relational approaches and incorporating social justice and human rights principles.
• The professional relationship - engagement and initial rapport building
• Professional contexts – working with service users, working in organizations.
• Barriers that can impede effective communication.

Professional ethics

• Professional communication and use of language –
• Verbal and Non-verbal - interviews with service users, meetings (face to face and online) and responsibilities as per professional practice standards
• Written – emails, texts and responsibilities as per professional practice standards
• Ethical and accountable communication – service user confidentiality and privacy of information

Professional skills

Communication skills in the helping process –

• introducing professional self and role
• attending skills
• active listening and paraphrasing skills
• observation of non-verbal communication

Reflective skills

• self-awareness and emotional self-regulation, awareness of others and the interactional space for working collaboratively with service users
• ability to reflect on own communication style, identifying personal strengths and areas for professional development.

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

The unit is the first in a series of practice skills units (SWTP216, SWTP319 and SWTP 425) in the Bachelor of Social Work program designed to scaffold student learning for professional practice and develop their professional capabilities and practice skills. This unit introduces students to the key concepts in professional communication, developing skills required for a professional relationship and how to work effectively and collaboratively with service users. Verbal and non-verbal communication and reflective self-awareness are a focus throughout the learning experience to guide students on how to respond appropriately and purposefully to people's needs in different social work practice contexts. Recognising cultural diversity and the examination of conscious and unconscious biases in personal values and personal communication styles are integral to effective interpersonal helping skills. Students will be taught how to identify and incorporate these key elements in their own developing social work practice.

The unit commences with developing foundational knowledge in intra-personal and inter-personal communication and the key elements of a professional relationship in the helping process. Students will develop their interpersonal communication skills through experiential learning using strengths based, relational approaches and incorporating social justice and human rights principles. Students will develop their intrapersonal communication skills through critical reflection on their learning.

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS OF UNIT 

This unit is delivered in attendance mode on campus. The learning and teaching strategies include lectures, small group discussions and experiential skill development workshops/tutorials, including roleplay and reflection on practice activities.

This Unit incorporates professional social work skills based teaching and learning, and therefore has an attendance requirement of a minimum of 80% attendance at weekly lectures and the skill development and practice tutorials.  This unit initiates the development of students’ professional identity, and use of self in the professional context, using written and verbal reflection exercises.

An attendance record for weekly lectures and tutorials will be kept.

Reasons why attendance is required 

In tutorials, you will be interacting with other students and developing skills which you will use in your professional/clinical experience. Students who do not attend are at risk of not developing the required knowledge and essential skills. 

ASWEAS Profession-Specific Graduate Attributes

This Unit has been mapped to the ACU Graduate Attributes and the ASWEAS Profession-Specific Graduate Attributes. The following table sets out the broad relationship between the Learning Outcomes, Graduate Attributes and the ASWEAS Profession-Specific Graduate Attributes provided in the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards: https://www.aasw.asn.au/document/item/13565   

• ASWEAS 5.1

  Relating to

  Assess and analyse needs to inform practice

  • Gather pertinent information by systematic questioning and discussions, incorporating the clients and service users’ perspective
  • Apply initiative and judgement in planning, problem-solving and decision-making
  • Recognise the need for assessments and interventions to be informed by the lived experience of clients, service users and other stakeholders
  • Assess and adjust interventions in the light of ongoing monitoring and feedback
  • Motivate and engage clients and service users in the development of intervention plans

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1

• ASWEAS 6.1

  Relating to

  Communicate with a diverse range of people

  • Establish respectful and accountable relationships with clients and service users across their life course
  • Engage in effective professional dialogue with a diverse range of clients, consumers and other stakeholders, taking into account their varying communication capacities and needs
  • Use the services of interpreters when required

  Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1