Unit rationale, description and aim
All social workers can expect to work with children, young people and families, whether they practice directly with clients, or are in advocacy, policy, community development, or research roles.
In this unit, students will be provided with the knowledge and skills to practice competently and ethically as social workers with children, young people and families from diverse backgrounds, at different life stages and in different contexts. The unit revises knowledge of developmental stages and analyses the progress of social work practice with families and children through consideration of theories and models. Emphasis is given to the principles of collaborative practice, strengths-based practice, child and family centred practice, and child safety and protection.
This unit will provide students with the foundations of an essential area of competency, as outlined by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), in working with children, young people and families. The aim of this unit is to provide an evidence-informed theoretical foundation as well as the development of ethical skills for future social work practice in the area of child and adolescent wellbeing and protection, and for working collaboratively with families.
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.
Examine and discuss issues experienced by children...
Learning Outcome 01
Apply knowledge of social work ethics in practice ...
Learning Outcome 02
Assess and respond effectively to complexities of ...
Learning Outcome 03
Apply understanding of the use of self and use of ...
Learning Outcome 04
Apply a wide range of advanced assessment and inte...
Learning Outcome 05
Content
Topics will include:
Specialised knowledge
- Theories of childhood, development, adolescence and family
- Systems
- Child protection/safety, including knowledge of state based legislation and relevant mandatory reporting requirements
- Family and domestic violence
Practice theories and approaches
- Solution focused approaches
- Child centred practice
- Family centred practice
- Collaborative practice and pro social modelling
- Psychodynamic theory
- Attachment
- Crisis Intervention
- Post-structural approaches (Narrative, Strengths)
- Practice frameworks which are informed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural knowledge and perspectives
Contemporary contexts of practice with children, young people and families
- Culturally diverse context of families
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, children and young people
Ethics
- Social work ethics, social justice and human rights framework in work with families, children and young people
Skill development
- Effective communication skills in conducting assessment and intervention
- Critically reflective use of self
Assessment strategy and rationale
This unit takes an authentic assessment approach enabling students to engage with relevant practice scenarios.
Assessment 1 is a quiz. After viewing a recording of a social work session, students will be quizzed on their ability to identify practice theory approaches.
Assessment 2 is a written report based on a practice analysis.
Assessment 3 asks students to deliver a case presentation. Students will be required to assess client needs reflect on ethical issues, professional and personal values and respond with appropriate strategies, manage risk and demonstrate case planning knowledge and skills. Students are required to demonstrate and apply knowledge of relevant theory to assessing needs and developing an intervention plan for a complex family scenario with children.
In order to pass this unit students must demonstrate achievement of every unit learning outcome and obtain a minimum mark of 50% in graded units.
Overview of assessments
Assessment Task 1 Practice Analysis Quiz Critiq...
Assessment Task 1
Practice Analysis Quiz Critique of a session - Enables students to further develop their ability to analyse an engagement session, assess client needs and respond with appropriate strategies and case planning.
30%
Assessment Task 2 Written Report based on Practi...
Assessment Task 2
Written Report based on Practice Analysis - Enables students to identify and develop the key social work skills necessary for conducting social work assessments and interventions with families.
30%
Assessment Task 3 Presentation Students choose ...
Assessment Task 3
Presentation Students choose one of several case studies and deliver an asynchronous oral presentation in the form of a case presentation. Students are required to demonstrate and apply knowledge of relevant theory to assessing needs and developing an intervention plan for a complex family scenario with children.
40%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This unit involves 150 hours of learning. It will be delivered in an online mode using an active learning approach. Students will have access to self-paced learning modules, contemporary literature, multi-media resources and collaborative discussion forums. Real-world examples of practice with children, young people and families will be provided by a range of practitioners. Online discussion forums will facilitate learning by sharing critical reflections with a focus on case-based learning relating to social work with children and families. This flexible and inclusive learning approach will allow students to meet the aim, learning outcomes and graduate attributes of the unit, as well as professional practice standards.
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
Conduct themselves according to the values, principles and guidelines of the AASW
Code of Ethics 2020
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3
Relating to
Have a clear sense of accountability for their actions and accept responsibility for the
decisions they make and their professional actions
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3
Relating to
Recognise and take responsibility for what is within their power, control or
management
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3, LO4
Relating to
Can articulate the ethics underpinning their approach to decisions and actions
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
Relating to
Practice in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to support
their priorities and aspirations
Relevant learning outcomeLO1
Relating to
Are aware of the diversity among, and differences between, Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander cultures throughout Australia
Relevant learning outcomeLO1
Relating to
Respect the knowledge and lived experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples, and privilege their voices
Relevant learning outcomeLO1
Relating to
Can recognise and draw upon the cultural knowledge, experience, and wisdom
provided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to guide approaches to
practice
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO4
Relating to
Adopt appropriate cultural and communication protocols
Relevant learning outcomeLO3, LO4
Relating to
Advocate for human rights and practice in ways that aim to achieve access, equity, participation and legal protection for all
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3
Relating to
Ensure that the rights of the people they work with are promoted, protected, and
upheld
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3, LO4
Relating to
Support action to enable people to live a life free of abuse, neglect, exploitation and
violence
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
Relating to
Conduct their approach to practice respectfully and inclusively with regard to culture
and diversity
Relevant learning outcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
Relating to
Apply an intersectional lens in their approach to complexities around culture and
diversity
Relevant learning outcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, 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 outcomeLO1, LO4
Relating to
Practise within a professional knowledge framework informed by a critical
understanding of contemporary social work theory and research
Relevant learning outcomeLO4
Relating to
Work from a clearly articulated framework for reflective practice
Relevant learning outcomeLO4
Relating to
Make professional decisions on the basis of a holistic assessment of the needs,
strengths, goals and preferences of people
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
Relating to
Recognise, and use responsibly, the power and authority they have when exercising
professional judgement affecting people
Relevant learning outcomeLO3, LO4
Relating to
Critically assess the quality and veracity of all relevant information to support their
decisions
Relevant learning outcomeLO3
Relating to
Make decisions aimed primarily at achieving the best possible outcomes for people
Relevant learning outcomeLO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
Relating to
Assess the nature and level of risk to people and incorporate that into the overall
assessment
Relevant learning outcomeLO5
Relating to
Make assessments and decide courses of action informed and guided by the lived
experience, wishes and preferences of service users to the fullest extent possible
Relevant learning outcomeLO5