- Department: Social Policy and Social Work
- Module co-ordinator: Mr. Mark Hardy
- Credit value: 10 credits
- Credit level: M
- Academic year of delivery: 2022-23
- See module specification for other years: 2021-22
In this module, students will be introduced to the idea of evidence based practice as it has developed and is currently applied in social work with children and families. The module will enable students to critically explore how evidence from various sources is produced, assessed and used by various stakeholders in social work. Students will be enabled to develop key skills associated with contemporary evidence based practice, including evaluation, critical thinking and appraisal, knowledge integration and decision making.
Occurrence | Teaching period |
---|---|
A | Autumn Term 2022-23 |
B | Spring Term 2022-23 |
In this module you will learn how to use evidence in social work practice with children and families. You will explore how different types of evidence are produced and applied. You will learn key skills associated with contemporary evidence based practice drawing on cutting edge research and the experiences of practitioners.
Students will be able to:
LO1. understand the variety of sources of knowledge that they can draw upon in practice based decision-making in children and families social work;
LO2.demonstrate an understanding of the distinctive strengths and limitations of knowledge claims made in social work by various stakeholders - policy makers, organisations, service users and carers, researchers, and other practitioners;
LO3.use critical thinking and appraisal in order to differentiate knowledge which is potentially useful in practice from that which is not and apply this in concrete decision making situations;
LO4.select appropriate approaches to reasoning in the day-to-day practice situations which characterise contemporary social work;
LO5.contribute to the development of the knowledge base of adult social work via evaluating in practice
The module will include a mix of lectures, in class activities, and private reading. The final three delivered by/with social workers from local Teaching Partnership, explaining research base underpinning current practice models, practical application and impact on individual and more general local outcomes. Topics reflect local priorities and over time will shift as these change. The provisional structure is as follows:
Autumn term - 9 x 2 hour lectures
Session 1 - Evidence based practice - principles and policy/ context and controversy
Session 2 - Using evidence in decision making
Session 3 - Sources of evidence in social work
Session 4 - Working partners? Practitioner and service user knowledge in social work
Session 5 - Research knowledge in social work
Session 6 - From critical thinking to critical appraisal (this includes assignment preparation)
Session 7 - Social approaches in social work with children and families
Session 8 - Restorative approaches in social work with children and families
Session 9 - Relationship based approaches in social work with children and families
A series of critical appraisal activities will take place between sessions. There are three of these, which will be threaded across the first six sessions as practicable. They are intended to supplement classroom teaching and have a skills focus, being geared towards critical thinking, critical appraisal and self evaluation.
Task | Length | % of module mark |
---|---|---|
Essay/coursework Essay |
N/A | 100 |
Non-compensatable
Task | Length | % of module mark |
---|---|---|
Essay/coursework Essay |
N/A | 100 |
Written feedback and marks will be provided to students within four weeks of submission. Verbal feedback on between class activities will be provided during next scheduled lecture
Brown, K. and Rutter, L. (2006) Critical thinking for social work, Exeter: Learning Matters
D’Cruz, H. and Jones, M. (2006) Social work research: ethical and political contexts, London: Sage
Evans, T. and Hardy, M. (2010) Evidence and knowledge for practice, Cambridge: Polity Press
Gray, M., Plath, D., and Webb, S.A. (2009) Evidence-based social work – a critical stance, Abingdon: Routledge
McLaughlin, H. (2006) Understanding social work research, London: Sage
Newman, T., Moseley, A., Tierney, S., and Ellis, A. (2005) Evidence based social work – a guide for the perplexed, Lyme Regis: Russell House
Munro, E. (2008) Effective child protection (2nd edition), London: Sage
Orme, J. and Sheppard, M. (2010) Developing research based social work practice, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
Payne (2014) Modern social work theory (4th edition) Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
Rogers, M. and Allen, D. (2019) Applying critical thinking and analysis in social work, London: Sage
Shaw, I. (2011) Evaluating in practice (2nd edition) Farnham: Ashgate