Applied social work practice
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This course is a module of the OU degree in social work in England and Scotland. You must be registered for the degree, have passed Foundations for social work practice (K113), be working in a practice context and be sponsored by your employing agency. The course helps you to understand the application of social work knowledge to practice, addressing key roles and standards for social workers and relevant knowledge, values and skills for social work. The course includes a 100-day practice learning opportunity under the supervision of a practice assessor appointed by your sponsoring agency.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Health and Social Care.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | K216 |
| Credits | 60 |
| OU Level | 2 |
| SCQF level | 9 |
| FHEQ level | 5 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 5 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| 3 Interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees and financial support may vary by country.
What you will study
This course is a compulsory module of the degrees in social work (England and Scotland). It is one of two compulsory modules that, together with an optional module, make up the second level of the three-level degree in England. It is also one of the two compulsory modules for the degree in social work in Scotland that make up the third stage of the four-stage degree. The degree programmes have been approved respectively by the General Social Care Council and the Scottish Social Services Council. (See Applied social work practice (KZW216) for information about the version of the module to be studied for the degree in social work in Wales).
The study materials provide you with case examples and illustrations of social work practice (using audio and video on CD-ROMs); original discussion of key social work concepts and theoretical debates; and as well as reprinted articles introducing important theoretical and ethical issues. Activities help you to apply your learning to your current social work practice. The course is structured in three blocks of study:
- Working with needs and risk
- Working with groups and networks
- Working with communities and diversity.
Each block consists of four units, with an introduction and conclusion to the course forming two additional units, so that there are 14 in all.
The course will support and enable you to:
- make relevant application of the social work occupational standards and codes of practice relating to the nation of the UK in which you practise
- apply underpinning knowledge – including theories and methods for practice – relevant to the six key roles of social work
- apply the four components of good practice: knowledge; values and ethics; skills; and social work process
- learn from the expectations and needs of individuals, families, carers, groups, and communities who use services
- learn from other resource materials in the social work degree programme, so that you can meet the learning requirements appropriate to this level or stage of the degree.
The course follows on from your study and successful completion of Foundations for social work practice (K113), which gives particular emphasis to the key roles ‘Preparation for assessment of need’ and ‘Support, representation and advocacy’. K216 emphasises in particular two further key roles: ‘Plan, intervene, review and evaluate practice’ and ‘Assess and manage risk’ while giving an overview of all key roles. K216 assists you in preparation for assessment of your practice and demonstration of your competence in undertaking the six key roles of social work.
The course also helps you to build on your skills in information literacy and in information and communication technology (ICT), based upon Care Council requirements.
Entry
To study this course you must:
- be registered for the relevant degree in social work for your nation with the University
- be registered as a social work student with the General Social Care Council or the Scottish Social Services Council
- be sponsored by your employing agency
- be working in a practice context
- have passed all your modules, including K113, for Level 1 of the BA (Hons) Social Work (England) or Stage 2 for the BA (Hons) Social Work (Scotland).
The sponsoring agency will provide you with appropriate practice learning opportunities and undertake to allow you one day a week study time for 120 credits study each year while you are on the programme. (There will be a pro-rata reduction in the entitlement of study time allowed if you are studying less than 120 credits per year.) Further information for sponsoring agencies will be available from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You will need to spend between seven and ten hours a week studying, in addition to the hours spent on the practice learning opportunity.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Preparatory work
You will need to have access to a practice learning opportunity of 100 days, organised by your sponsoring agency.
You will receive guidance of how to get started online in your first course mailing. This will provide you with information on using your computer for OU study and working with the Computing Guide. For example, it explains how to access and use your website and online discussion forums. If you have time before the course starts, you can work through this and explore all the online services available to you.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader. Other alternative formats of the study materials may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting Your Needs.
You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Study materials
What's included
Three course workbooks, other printed materials and four CD-ROMs. You will have access to a website through which teaching and library resources are available. Electronic versions of most of the printed study materials are provided on the website.
You will need
Please note that all course guidance for ICT activities is written for Microsoft Office 2000 or 2003 software.
For more details on the use of computing on the Social Work Degree you can download the document Use of computing on the Social Work Degree.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave. Some of your course software will be provided on disk.
You will need internet access and a computer with Microsoft Office installed. The software on this module has some advanced features that only work in the proprietary versions of Microsoft Office. If you don't already have Microsoft Office, you can take advantage of a special educational offer.
If you have purchased a new Windows computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual. Please note that you cannot use an Apple Mac or Linux computer unless it is running Windows using Boot Camp or similar dual-boot system.
Materials to buy
Set books
- Lishman, J (ed) Handbook for Practice Learning in Social Work and Social Care: Knowledge and Theory (2nd edn), Jessica Kingsley Publishers £19.99 - ISBN 9781843101864
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have two types of tutor on this course – a tutor and a programme tutor.
The tutor will help you with the academic content of the course, mark and comment on your written work. You can ask them for advice and guidance. Part of your tuition is delivered online so some of the contact with your tutor will be through email and online discussion forums, although phone communication may also be used. Your tutor will run six, compulsory, full-day workshops. These provide essential support for you to apply course concepts to your practice learning setting and for you to prepare for academic and practice assessment. As well as the six compulsory workshops, you will be expected to participate in your online tutor group discussion forum for workshop-learning consolidation exercises.
Your programme tutor will provide an additional introductory workshop as well as individual support in relation to your practice learning opportunity and your professional development. Questions of a professional social work nature should be directed to your programme tutor.
Your regional or national centre will provide support to give general help and guidance with your studies.
Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.
Your end-of-module assessment (EMA) must be submitted online.
There will also be a practice assessor's report.
Professional recognition
This course is one of a set of modules that together constitute an approved programme leading to a Degree in Social Work endorsed by the General Social Care Council and Scottish Social Services Council.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in February 2013. We expect it to be available once a year.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Health and Social Care.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | K216 |
| Credits | 60 |
| OU Level | 2 |
| SCQF level | 9 |
| FHEQ level | 5 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 5 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| 3 Interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
Study explained
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
Course satisfaction survey
See the satisfaction survey results for this course.
Your questions
We may have already answered it in our frequently asked questions.
Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90+44(0) 845 366 60 35
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