SCWK3008: Semester 1, 2024

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Units SCWK3008 Semester 1 2024 [Normal day]

Unit of study_

SCWK3008: Professional Practice

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

In this unit of study students are asked to imagine themselves as emerging social worker practitioners. The unit of study provides an introduction to the diversity of social work practice and aims to develop the capability of students to practise generic skills needed in the field. It addresses the theory-practice relationship and provides students with opportunities to engage with reflexive practice. There is an emphasis on understanding social work values and the fundamentals of ethical practice. Students are encouraged to recognise and build upon skills and knowledge they already have, and to develop their capabilities for acquiring further knowledge and skills.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	SCWK3008
Academic unit	Social Work
Credit points	8
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	96 credit points including (KOCR2600 or KOCR2603 or SCWK2009), and SCPL2601 and (SCWK2006 or SCLG2602) and ((two of SCWK2004 or SCWK2005 or SCWK2007 or SCWK2008) or (12 credit points at 2000 level from Psychology))
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Margaret Spencer, margaret.spencer@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Margaret Spencer, margaret.spencer@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Lillian Findlay, lillian.findlay@sydney.edu.au
	Joel Hollier, joel.hollier@sydney.edu.au
	Wendy Cosier, wendy.cosier@sydney.edu.au
	Sarah Murray Heal, sarah.murrayheal@sydney.edu.au
	Dominic Cork, dominic.cork@sydney.edu.au
	Liron Drummond, liron.drummond@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Personal Learning Statement Creative reflection (video format)	20%	Week 03 Due date: 04 Mar 2024 at 23:59	5 minutes, equivalent 1500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Communication Skills Assignment Record an interview AND written reflection on the interview	20%	Week 07 Due date: 08 Apr 2024 at 23:59	1500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Professional Writing Task Prepare a Social Work Report	30%	Week 08 Due date: 29 Apr 2024 at 23:59	1500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Ethical Decsion Making Exam Pre and Post reflection plus in-class simulation activity (equiv.1500wds)	30%	Week 12 Due date: 17 May 2024 at 23:59	1500 words plus attendance in 45min. sim
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

Communication Assignment: This task requires you to create a 10-minute recording of an interview. You will role-play and then critique the interview.
Personal Learning Statement: Record a reflection on your social work journey to date.
Professional Writing Task: This assessment requires you to write a social work report and demonstrate your professional writing skills.
Ethics Exam (in semester test): You are required to (1) apply an EDM process to a scenario and submit it before the small group supervision session, (2) share the EDM process in the small group supervision session, (3) submit a reflection on learning after the small group supervision session.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

As per the FASS U/G handbook (See University Resolutions Part 8: 3 (1-2)

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Becoming a Professional Social Worker	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 02	Use of Self	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 03	Casework: Ethical & Relational Practice	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 04	Critical Reflexive Practice	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 05	Engaging and Gathering information	Simulation laboratory (4 hr)
Week 06	Interviewing	Simulation laboratory (4 hr)
Week 07	Documenting Practice	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 08	"informed" practice (cultural, trauma, disability)	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 09	Advocacy	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 10	Facilitating Groups	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 11	Navigating Risk and Discerning Ethical Dilemmas in Practice	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 12	Supervision	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: The Sydney School of Education and Social Work requires attendance of at least 90 percent of all seminars, workshops or lectures. Where a student is unable to attend at the required rate, evidence of illness or misadventure may be required and the student may be required to undertake extra work. Students should discuss the circumstances of their absence(s) with their unit of study co-ordinator. Further details are provided on Canvas.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 8 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 160-200 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

See Canvas

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Recognise the diversity of the social work practice in contemporary contexts
LO2. Develop critical reflection skills and demonstrate application of these skills in classroom activities and assessment tasks
LO3. Articulate and apply the values and ethics underpinning social work
LO4. Demonstrate the capacity to identify and apply theory and prior learning to social work practice
LO5. Develop and demonstrate professional communication skills (interpersonal and written)
LO6. Understand and develop basic competencies in working with groups/communities
LO7. Learn about working as a social worker with other professionals

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The assessment schedule and learning format have been changed based on student feedback, teaching team evaluation and consultation with the Learning and Teaching Unit.

Additional information

Work, health and safety

When undertaking field visits, students are expected to wear smart casual attire.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

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