Social Work Across the Lifecourse - SPY00076H
Module summary
Module summary:
This module will introduce you to various
theories and models. It will give you an applied understanding of how
this knowledge is used within assessment, planning and interventions
in social work. The module is designed to cover the whole lifecourse
(including work with children, adults and older people in various
settings). A range of health and disability needs will be explored
over the course of the module, and the perspectives of various
professionals and people with lived experience will be presented. The
module takes a case study approach which integrates the learning of
theories and knowledge with practice.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 1 2026-27 |
Module aims
This module will cover key theories for social work (including human development, life course theories, sociological theories) and introducesthe skills and critical insight around how these theories might be applied in practice (assessment skills, risk assessment, multi-agency working and decision making).
There are a number of skills days throughout the module which focus on key topics relevant to applying theory to practise in social work across the whole life course.
Throughout the lectures, seminars and skills days, the module will draw on case studies to allow students the opportunity to apply theory to practise and understand the knowledge and skills required to undertake complex and dynamic cases in a variety of social work contexts.
Through the above activities, the module will prepare students for
practice in relation to the following PCF domains:
-
Professionalism. Students will learn about the role and expectations
of social workers in different areas of practice; they will develop an
appreciation of how our profession intersects with other professions
and of the centrality of the experience of people with lived
experience.
- Values and ethics: the module starts with two
skills days dedicated to ethics and values, and throughout the course
students will be introduced to ethics and values in social work
practice by using challenging and ethically complex case study
scenarios.
- Diversity: the module includes several skills days
tailored to supporting people who have protected characteristics, and
throughout the course students will explore the impact of practice on
diverse groups. The main case study includes people who have diverse
characteristics.
- Rights, justice and economic well-being: there
is an emphasis on person centred planning and participation within
this module, and social justice is a theme that runs throughout the
module.
- Knowledge: this module specifically explores key
knowledge and theories and considers how these might be applied to
social work practice.
- Critical reflection and analysis: the
module introduces models of critical reflection and analysis,. This is
central to effective social work practice. The module thus lays the
groundwork for ‘Social Work Across the Lifecourse Part 2: Knowledge
into Practice’ reflective module running in the next semester.
-
Intervention and skills: a practical understanding of the role and
responsibilities of social workers is a key element of this module;
each week a new area of social work is explored.
- Contexts and
organisations: this module analyses different practice settings and
allows students the opportunity to consider the multi-agency and
multi-disciplinary nature of social work. There may be opportunities
to work with students from other disciplines.
- Professional
leadership: students will begin to develop an appreciation for
leadership in social work practice, and how leadership can foster good
practice. Through work with students from their own course and from
other disciplines, they will begin to develop their own confidence
around sharing their knowledge and supporting others. This is
supported by the elements of ‘Enquiry Based Learning’ approach used as
part of the teaching.
Module learning outcomes
Having completed the module, students should:
LO1: Demonstrate an understanding into how social workers, in various settings, evaluate and apply social work knowledge.
LO2: Demonstrate an insight into a range of theories, approaches and models for assessment and intervention in social work practice.
LO3: Demonstrate the ability to negotiate practice dilemmas with a view to sound ethical decision making
LO4: Demonstrate an insight into how to approach effective practice, with particular attention to the importance of multi-agency working
LO5: Demonstrate reflective thinking and self awareness.
Module content
Ethics & Values
- Lifecourse / Lifecycle Theories, systems
theory
- Enquiry Based Learning, Case Study & Assignment
- Person Centred / Child Centred Working Practice: Children &
Families Teams
- Child Safeguarding / risk
- Human
Development
- Child Exploitation
- Children looked after,
Fostering & adoption
- Children with disabilities
-
Trauma-informed practice
- Sociological approaches
-
Domestic Abuse
- Working with parents with LD / MH needs
Theories of Change
- Transitions / Leaving Care
-
Substance misuse
- Youth Justice
- Connecting People
-
Models of mental illness / child & adolescent MH
- CMHT /
CAMHS
- Mental Health
- Models of disability / sociology of
disability
- Hospital teams, Adults with disabilities
-
Adults Safeguarding & risk
- Personalisation, solution
focused work
- Adults Social Care
- Dementia
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100.0 |
Special assessment rules
Non-compensatable
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100.0 |
Module feedback
Feedback will be given in accordance with the University Policy on feedback in the Guide to Assessment as well as in line with the School policy.
Indicative reading
-
Barnes, V. (2018) Child-centred social work: theory and Practice. London: Palgrave
-
Beckett, C. and Taylor, H. (2022) Human Growth and Development. (4th edn.). London: SAGE
-
Gould, N . (2016) Mental Health Social Work in Context. (2nd edn.). London: Routledge.
-
Shakespeare, T. (2014) Disability Rights and Wrongs Revisited. (2nd edn.). Abingdon: Routledge