Independent Practice Development Project for Apprentices - SPY00080H

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Module will run

Occurrence	Teaching period
A	Semester 2 2024-25 to Summer Semester 2024-25

Module aims

This module will provide you with all the skills you need to complete an independent practice development project on a social work related topic of your choice. You will discuss potential topics with your colleagues, supervisor, practice educator or manager to help you decide which one to pursue. You will have the option of exploring a topic of relevance to your placement or substantive workplace (if they are different), or in relation to a different social work related topic. In either case, it will need to have the potential to develop your practice and that of others.

The module will be taught through a series of 10 seminars which will include a mixture of lecture content and interactive discussions. You will undertake independent study to support your learning and will undertake an independent project with support from a supervisor. You will receive individual supervision sessions to help you to think through your project and give you feedback on your progress.

Specifically, this module aims to enable apprentices to: 

• Understand different methods which may be applied in practice development projects

• Understand different research methods which are used in social work research

• Design and undertake their own practice development project

• Critically reflect on the findings of their project to explore its impact on their social work practice.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• Design a practice development project, which is feasible, robust and of relevance to social work practice;

• Demonstrate a critical understanding of appropriate methodologies which can be used in practice development projects;

• Undertake a full literature review, including an appraisal of the quality of evidence in the topic areas;

• Undertake a practice development project of relevance to social work practice;

• Report their project findings and critically reflect on their implications for social work practice.

The module will help apprentices to develop and to integrate Professional Capabilities in all nine of the domains at the qualifying level.

Module content

Indicative content:

The module will be taught through ten three-hour seminars which will include a mixture of lecture content and seminar-style discussion. These will be supported by individual study. Indicative session content will include:

1. Introduction to practice development projects in social work

2. Practice development methodologies: qualitative approaches

3. Practice development methodologies: quantitative approaches

4. Searching the literature (taught by subject librarian)

5. Critical appraisal techniques

6. Designing your project and ethical considerations

7. Sampling and introduction to data collection

8. Data analysis

9. Writing up your project

10. Reflection on findings: what does it mean for your practice?

Indicative assessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100.0

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100.0

Module feedback

In accordance with University and School Policy.

Indicative reading

• Aveyard, H. (2014) Doing a Literature Review in Health and Social Care: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed. Maidenhead: Open University Press McGraw Hill. 

• Bryman, A. (2016). Social research methods. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

• Carey, L. (2013). The Social Work Dissertation: Using Smallscale Qualitative Methodology.

• Gilbert, N., & Stoneman, P. (Eds.). (2015). Researching social life. London: Sage.

• Petticrew, M. & Roberts, H. (2005). Systematic Reviews in the Social Sciences : A Practical Guide.