Social work and social care

Contexts of Social Work

Module code: L5088
Level 4
15 credits in autumn semester
Teaching method: Lecture, Seminar, Class, Tutorial *
Assessment modes: Report

On this module, you’ll place the modern UK social work profession within its historical and global contexts. 

You’ll explore the realities of modern social work and the factors shaping the profession's development through:

• lectures
• workshops
• group and individual research tasks.

You’ll investigate key policy changes and the political, contested and controversial aspects of the social work role, providing a strong foundation for future modules.

The focus in on learning to practice social work rather than just the content. You’ll benefit from the diverse perspectives of service users, carers, practitioners and faculty.

Module learning outcomes

• Understand the range of roles and tasks involved in social work practice through an appreciation of the range of settings in which social work takes place within contemporary British society. 
• Explain how social policy affects the development of social work practice  
• Demonstrate initial understanding of local and global challenges social work faces in the contemporary context 
• Describe some of the variations in how social work is practiced in other parts of the world through the lens of anti-discriminatory and anti-racist practice