Unit rationale, description and aim
Social work practice involves the purposeful use of knowledge to enable effective helping in a range of different fields of practice and settings, including with different client groups. The aim of this final year unit is for students to identify different sources of knowledge for effective social work practice, with an emphasis on including client perspectives. In consolidating understanding of the diversity of social work practice, students will articulate their own personal-professional practice framework in readiness for their future social work employment.
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.
Identify different sources of best practice knowle...
Learning Outcome 01
Locate and evaluate practice evidence in a specifi...
Learning Outcome 02
Critically engage with service user and practition...
Learning Outcome 03
Analyse current debates and challenges confronting...
Learning Outcome 04
Evaluate the impact of various cultural and struct...
Learning Outcome 05
Content
Topics will include:
Best practice in social work
- Evidence based practice: history, critical perspectives and application to social work
- Evidence based practice vs. evidence informed practice
- Linear vs. developmental models
- Sources of empirical evidence for ‘what works’: systematic reviews and scoping reviews, quasi-experimental trials, program and service evaluation; client and practitioner engaged research.
- Theoretical approaches to the use of evidence in social work
Applying skills for researching best practice evidence to a field of practice
- Developing a best practice question: converting your information need about a practice framework or intervention into an answerable question.
- Tracking down the best evidence to answer the question
- Critically appraise evidence for its validity and usefulness in specific practice setting and client group
- Knowledge translation: Critical and ethical appraisal with client's strengths, values circumstances.
Fields of Practice that students may choose from to demonstrate best practice research skills include:
- Health and Ageing
- Disability
- Domestic and family violence
- International social work
- Working with LGBTQI groups
- Community justice/ youth justice
- Rural and remote practice for social workers
- Practice in the time of crisis and change
Social Work Practice Frameworks and interventions
- Case management
- Crisis intervention
- Family mediation
- Prevention frameworks
- Community based interventions
- Consumer participation
- Ethical decision making
- Empowerment and advocacy
- Trauma informed practice
Developing a personal-professional practice framework
Assessment strategy and rationale
This unit takes an authentic assessment approach that will allow students to consolidate their skills and knowledge for graduate social work practice.
The Hurdle Task is ungraded. Students are required to submit their certificate of completion for an online NDIS interprofessional learning module, external to ACU.
Assessment 1 (Individual assignment) requires students to identify a field of practice of their interest followed by identification of particular practice question, and its significance for effective social work practice.
Assessment 2 (Annotated bibliography) will assess students’ ability to identify three different practice evidence sources for their chosen topic.
Assessment 3 (Reflective assignment- individual presentation) requires students to demonstrate their learning about identifying best practice evidence for their chosen field of practice topic, with requirement students critically reflect on the value of client perspectives, self and professional identity through the articulation of your personal-professional practice framework.
To pass the unit, students must demonstrate that they have achieved each learning outcome, pass the ungraded hurdle task, and obtained a total mark of 50% in the unit as the minimum standard.
Overview of assessments
Ungraded Hurdle - NDIS interprofessional learning...
Ungraded Hurdle - NDIS interprofessional learning module
Attendance at, and completion of, the NDIS interprofessional learning module. Upload of Certificate of Completion required.
Pass/Fail
Individual Assignment: Brief assignment task req...
Individual Assignment: Brief assignment task requiring students to identify a field of practice of their interest followed by identification of particular practice question, and its significance for effective social work practice.
20%
Annotated bibliography: Task requiring identific...
Annotated bibliography: Task requiring identification and summary of three different evidence sources for chosen practice intervention topic/ field of practice.
40%
Reflective assignment: In-class presentation ena...
Reflective assignment: In-class presentation enables students to synthesise their learning in the unit through the articulation of a personal-professional practice framework in the chosen topic area that incorporates critical reflection on self, client and practitioner perspectives, sources of knowledge and the relevance to best practice and critical reflection on self and professional identity.
40%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This unit involves 150 hours of learning with a combination of face-to-face lectures and interactive skill-building tutorials. Students are encouraged to bring their own device to class to support skill development in sourcing best practice evidence. Interactive tutorials incorporate small group reflective and skills exercises to allow students to link social work knowledge and ethics with their emerging personal-professional practice framework.
Graduate Attributes and the Practice Standards (ASWEAS, 2024)
This Unit has been mapped to the ACU Graduate Capabilities and the Graduate Attributes and the Practice Standards (ASWEAS, 2024) . The following table sets out the broad relationship between the Learning Outcomes, Graduate Attributes and the Graduate Attributes and the Practice Standards (ASWEAS, 2024).
Relating to
Recognise and take responsibility for what is within their power, control or
management
Relevant learning outcomeLO4
Relating to
Are aware of the diversity among, and differences between, Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander cultures throughout Australia
Relevant learning outcomeLO5
Relating to
Respect the knowledge and lived experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples, and privilege their voices
Relevant learning outcomeLO5
Relating to
Adopt appropriate cultural and communication protocols
Relevant learning outcomeLO5
Relating to
Advocate for human rights and practice in ways that aim to achieve access, equity, participation and legal protection for all
Relevant learning outcomeLO3, LO4, LO5
Relating to
Ensure that the rights of the people they work with are promoted, protected, and
upheld
Relevant learning outcomeLO5
Relating to
Support action to enable people to live a life free of abuse, neglect, exploitation and
violence
Relevant learning outcomeLO3, LO5
Relating to
Promote public policy initiatives aimed at eliminating structural and systemic
inequities experienced by people
Relevant learning outcomeLO4, LO5
Relating to
Conduct their approach to practice respectfully and inclusively with regard to culture
and diversity
Relevant learning outcomeLO4, LO5
Relating to
Apply an intersectional lens in their approach to complexities around culture and
diversity
Relevant learning outcomeLO3, LO4
Relating to
Respectfully engage with people who have culturally diverse identities
Relevant learning outcomeLO3, LO5
Relating to
Adapt and modify their practice on the basis of a critical awareness of how their
personal values, cultures and beliefs impact on their interactions with people
Relevant learning outcomeLO4, LO5
Relating to
Articulate and promote the unique scope and contribution of social work to the
people they serve, including within interdisciplinary settings
Relevant learning outcomeLO1, LO2, LO3
Relating to
Be active learners, open to new and emerging knowledge, research and evidence
informing their practice
Relevant learning outcomeLO1, LO2