Practice-focussed professional learning (Year 1) - SPY00108M

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  • Department: Social Policy and Social Work
  • Credit value: 10 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Module summary

‘Practice-focused professional learning’ Module (Year 1) allows students to reflect on the range of professional activities undertaken in relation to the 21 month CASPPER programme.

Professional requirements

N/A

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2022-23 to Summer Term 2022-23

Module aims

Aims

  • Gain practical insights into social policy development, governance and delivery at local, national and international levels, including roles of public servants, public officers and research analysts.
  • Compare and contrast national & local “policy-in-theory” (e.g. legislation, White Papers, Funding initiatives etc.) with how delivered in practice and so explore implementation issues.
  • Learn how to incorporate a range of policy tools (e.g. programme evaluation, organisational culture and behavioural insights) in real-world settings.
  • Explore how 1 or more aspect of policy and delivery compares to their own country experience and professional role.
  • Gain understanding of UK public service/Third Sector organisational culture and practices through networking and engagement.
  • Understand the international agency context of social policy activities.
  • Develop detailed plan of activities for Year 2 follow-on module

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module a student should be able to:

  • Understand roles, contexts and professional cultures of public services (across local, national and international settings);
  • Have examined at least one issues of particular professional interest (e.g. delivery mechanisms or personnel issues such training, professionalism, motivation, recruitment and retention of volunteers);
  • Understand and identify the use and limitations of tools and techniques for diagnosing policy requirements and evaluating change;
  • Have developed written and oral skills with regards to writing and presenting for professional audiences;
  • Reflect upon their own working context and professional assumptions regarding policy development and delivery.

Module content

The Module involves the following student activities undertaken during the programme:

- Conference attendance and participation;

- Bespoke training courses and seminar attendance;

- Agency visits and professional networking;

- Masterclass attendance and participation;

- Additional writing and presentations undertaken (e.g. article preparation, talks at conferences, contributions to consultations);

- Involvement in small groups projects undertaken within the CASPPER programme for external agencies.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100.0

Special assessment rules

Pass/fail

Indicative reassessment

None

Module feedback

During seminar discussions with whole-group, and through regular termly supervisions.

Indicative reading

Goodfellow, J. (2004) Documenting professional practice through the use of a professional portfolio, Early Years, 24:1, 63-74

Alsop, A. (1995) The Professional Portfolio — Purpose, Process and Practice, Part 1: Portfolios and Professional Practice, BJOT, 58, 7,