Social Work Placement 2

Unit Outline (Higher Education)

Level of Unit in Course

AQF Level(s) of Course

Level of Unit in Course

Introductory

Intermediate

Effective Term:

2027/05

Institute / School :

Institute of Education, Arts & Community

Unit Title:

Social Work Placement 2

Unit ID:

BSWUG4008

Credit Points:

30.00

Prerequisite(s):

Nil

Co-requisite(s):

Nil

Exclusion(s):

Nil

ASCED:

090501

Other Change:

Brief description of the Unit

This unit provides students with an advanced supervised social work placement experience in an approved practice setting. Building on the learning achieved in Social Work Placement 1, and following completion of prerequisite coursework and preparatory learning activities, students will complete a minimum of 500 hours of placement in a real-world social work context.

Through engagement in increasingly complex practice activities, regular professional supervision, and ongoing feedback, students will consolidate their professional identity and further develop their capacity for competent, ethical, and evidence-informed social work practice. Placement learning enables students to demonstrate and integrate the knowledge, skills, and values required for entry-level professional social work practice, including communication, assessment, intervention, advocacy, critical thinking and reflection, and professional judgement.

Social Work Placement 2 is undertaken concurrently with an integrative learning unit that supports the synthesis of theory and practice. Through structured opportunities for reflection, collaborative learning, and peer support, students critically examine their practice experiences, deepen their understanding of professional responsibilities, and strengthen their readiness for professional social work practice upon graduation.

Grade Scheme:

Ungraded (S, UN)

Work Experience Indicator:

Student is undertaking work experience in industry where learning and performance is not directed by the provider, but support is received from the provider. Fees (provider may charge a student contribution amount or tuition fee).

Placement Component:

Yes - 70 days

Supplementary Assessment:No

Supplementary assessment is not available to students who gain a fail in this Unit.

Course Level:

Learning Outcomes:

Knowledge:

K1.	Demonstrate engagement in reflective practice, including examination of personal and professional values that influence practice.

K2.	Identify ethical dilemmas arising from your own positioning as a beginning practitioner engaging with a vulnerable population group. Formulate solutions to address the ethical dilemmas making reference to the professional code of ethics, social work values and practice standards.

K3.	Demonstrate the capacity to work with increasing autonomy and professional responsibility.

Skills:

S1.	Demonstrate advanced skills in effective interpersonal communication, including culturally sensitive communication.

S2.	Prepare high-quality professional written material as required and in accordance with agency policy.

S3.	Create and maintain eﬀective working relationships within multidisciplinary and multi-agency contexts.

S4.	Demonstrate advanced level organizational skills to work autonomously and as a member of a team in managing multiple and complex tasks, including time management, planning and ability to prioritize tasks.

S5.	Eﬀectively utilize reflective practice in supervision to gain the conﬁdence and competence required of an early career social worker.

Application of knowledge and skills:

A1.	Participate in professional supervision applying reflective practice and critical reflection approaches to enhance knowledge and skills in practice and demonstrate professional accountability.

A2.	Demonstrate responsibility and commitment for self-directed professional learning and development, including identifying own professional strengths and areas for further development.

Other outcomes:

Unit Content:

Topics may include:

· Preparation for placement, including expectations of entry-level professional practice.

· Completion of a minimum of 500 hours of supervised placement in an approved practice setting.

· Application and consolidation of knowledge and skills developed in Placement 1.

· Development of professional identity through practice experience and reflection.

· Participation in practice tasks aligned with individual learning goals.

· Use of supervision, feedback, and reflective practice to support learning and development.

· Integration of theory and practice through concurrent learning and reflection.

· Development of core professional capabilities, including communication, assessment, and critical thinking.

· Participation in a concurrent integrative unit to support synthesis of placement experience and academic learning.

Graduate Attributes:

Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.

FED TASK and descriptor		Development and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit
FED TASK and descriptor		Level
FEDTASK 1 Interpersonal	Students at this level will demonstrate an advanced ability in a range of contexts to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups. Students will be required to display high level skills in-person and/or online in: • Using and demonstrating a high level of verbal and non-verbal communication • Demonstrating a mastery of listening for meaning and influencing via active listening • Demonstrating and showing empathy for others • High order skills in negotiating and conflict resolution skills\\ • Demonstrating mastery of working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams.	Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines
FEDTASK 2 Leadership	Students at this level will demonstrate a mastery in professional skills and behaviours in leading others. • Creating and sustaining a collegial environment • Demonstrating a high level of self -awareness and the ability to self-reflect and justify decisions • Inspiring and initiating opportunities to lead others • Making informed professional decisions • Demonstrating initiative in new professional situations.	Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines
FEDTASK 3 Critical Thinking and Creativity	Students at this level will demonstrate high level skills in working in complexity and ambiguity using the imagination to create new ideas. Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically to generate and consider complex ideas and concepts at an abstract level • Analysing complex and abstract ideas, concepts and information • Communicate alternative perspectives to justify complex ideas • Demonstrate a mastery of challenging conventional thinking to clarify complex concepts • Forming creative solutions in problem solving to new situations for further learning.	Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines
FEDTASK 4 Digital Literacy	Students at this level will demonstrate the ability to work competently across a wide range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks. Students will be required to display skills in: • Mastering, exploring, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and sharing digital information professionally • Collating, managing complex data, accessing and using digital data securely • Receiving and responding professionally to messages in a range of professional digital media • Contributing competently and professionally to digital teams and working groups • Participating at a high level in digital learning opportunities.	Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines
FEDTASK 5 sustainable and Ethical Mindset	Students at this level will demonstrate a mastery of considering and assessing the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting professional ethical and sustainable decisions. Students will be required to display skills in: • Demonstrate informed judgment making that considers the impact of devising complex solutions in ambiguous global economic environmental and societal contexts • Professionally committing to the promulgation of social responsibility • Demonstrate the ability to evaluate ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable challenges and generating and articulating responses • Communicating lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to the diverse professional others • Generating, leading and implementing required actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life	Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines

	Learning Outcomes Assessed	Assessment Tasks	Assessment Type	Weighting	Professional Standards
1.	K1, K3, A2	Complete activities aimed at integrating and developing professional knowledge and identity.	Placement Portfolio	S/U	3.1.d ; 5.2.c
2.	K1, K2, K3, S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, A1, A2	Complete a learning plan demonstrating successful achievement of all required placement learning outcomes	Learning Plan	S/U	5.2.a; 5.2.b
3.	K1, K2, K3, S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, A1, A2	Successful completion of 500 hours of practical experience.	Placement (Hurdle)	S/U	4.4.b

Adopted Reference Style:

APA ()

Professional Standards / Competencies:

Standard / Competency