- An undergraduate course
in
Health and Social Care.
The law and social work in England and Wales
- On this page
| Course facts | |
|---|---|
| About this course: | |
| Course code | K270 |
| Credits | 60 |
| OU Level | 2 |
| SCQF level | 9 |
| FHEQ level | 5 |
| Course work includes: | |
| 5 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| Examination | |
| No residential school | |
This course examines the legal frameworks that shape and regulate social care and social work decision-making. It considers how social work can make use of the law in a positive way and examines the value of law from the perspectives of service users and professionals. The course deals with a range of legal issues related to social care and social work practice, including children and families services; youth justice; community care; and mental health.
If you’re interested in this course but work in Scotland, you can take the similar course K207 The law and social work in Scotland.
Modules at Level 2 assume that you are suitably prepared for study at this level. If you want to take a single module to satisfy your career development needs or pursue particular interests, you don’t need to start at Level 1 but you do need to have adequately prepared yourself for OU study in some other way. Check with our Student Registration & Enquiry Service to make sure that you are sufficiently prepared.
Register for the course
What you will study
The policy issues raised by social care and social work practice are often controversial. They include the pressure on local authority resources that limits provision of, for example, community care services, the abuse scandals that surface regularly in relation to children, older people and those with learning difficulties, and controversy over professional decision-making and interventions in family life. This course examines the role of law in regulating the complex range of tasks and issues raised by modern social care and social work practice.
We explore how the law influences and shapes social work practice, not forgetting how social work practice can use the law in a positive way; and we consider the different views that service users and professionals have of the role and value of the law.
The course will develop your knowledge and understanding of the law as it relates to social care and social work practice. It covers a wide range of legal issues raised by social care and social work practice, including:
- the relationship between values associated with social work and social care and legal values
- themes arising from professional practice in legal settings: the tension between welfare rights, professional power and empowerment, working in partnership, accountability, and anti-discriminatory practice
- the legal framework that regulates social care and social work in England and Wales
- child protection and the role of the local authority
- youth and criminal justice and the role of the welfare professional
- the law related to work with service users in all sections of society.
Entry
This is a Level 2 course and study at Level 1 with the OU or equivalent work at another university is desirable. Some previous knowledge of the subject area would also be an advantage. Our Level 1 course An introduction to health and social care (K101) offers ideal preparation for study at Level 2 in this field.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Preparatory work
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.
Please note that a significant part of the study material is available online, so the use of a personal computer and internet access is essential for successful completion of this course.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Module Regulations and the Student Regulations which are available on our Essential documents website.
If you have a disability
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. Online material will normally have printable versions available. 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.
As much of the study material is delivered online you will need to make extensive use of a personal computer and the internet. If you use specialist hardware or software to assist you in operating a computer or have concerns about accessing the types of study materials outlined you are advised to talk to our Student Registration & Enquiry Service about support which can be given to meet your needs.
If you have particular study requirements please tell us as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Visit our Services for disabled students website for more information, including:
- help to determine your study requirements and how to request the support that you need
- Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs)
- using a computer for OU study
- equipment and other support services that we offer
- examination arrangements
- how to contact us for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Study materials
What's included
Printed course blocks, DVDs, a law reference pack, two wallcharts, and supplementary materials. 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
The facility to play DVDs.
Computing requirements
You will need a computer with internet access to study this course as it includes online activities, which you can access using a web browser.
- If you have purchased a new desktop or laptop computer since 2007 you should have no problems completing the online activities.
- If you’ve got a netbook, tablet or other mobile computing device check our Technical requirements section.
- If you use an Apple Mac you will need OS X 10.6 or later.
You can also visit the Technical requirements section for further computing information including the details of the support we provide.
Materials to buy
Set books
- Long, L-A, Roche, J & Stringer, D (eds) The Law and Social Work: Contemporary issues for practice (2nd edn), Palgrave Macmillan £24.99 - ISBN 9780230543034
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. We offer group tutorials that you are encouraged to attend. Where your tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of students taking the course. 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 circustances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.
Professional recognition
This course is one of a set of modules that together constitute an approved programme that leads to the Social Work degrees for England and Wales. If you would like to know more about the BA (Hons) Social Work for England or Wales, please request one of our BA (Hons) Social Work prospectuses.
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in February 2014. We expect it to be available once a year.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button.
Student Reviews
“The law and social work in England and Wales was far more than I could have ever expected. A module ...”
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“Great course but very challenging, this was my first Level 2 course and a bit of a baptism of fire ...”
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Distance learning
The Open University is the world’s leading provider of flexible, high quality distance learning. Unlike other universities we are not campus based. You will study in a flexible way that works for you whether you’re at home, at work or on the move. As an OU student you’ll be supported throughout your studies – your tutor or study adviser will guide and advise you, offer detailed feedback on your assignments, and help with any study issues. Tuition might be in face-to-face groups, via online tutorials, or by phone.
For more information read Distance learning explained.
Undergraduate
| Course facts | |
|---|---|
| About this course: | |
| Course code | K270 |
| Credits | 60 |
| OU Level | 2 |
| SCQF level | 9 |
| FHEQ level | 5 |
| Course work includes: | |
| 5 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| Examination | |
| No residential school | |
Your questions
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