Social Work Field Education 2

Unit Outline (Higher Education)

Level of Unit in Course

AQF Level(s) of Course

Level of Unit in Course

Introductory

Intermediate

Effective Term:

2025/02

Institute / School :

Institute of Education, Arts & Community

Unit Title:

Social Work Field Education 2

Unit ID:

MSWCF7208

Credit Points:

30.00

Prerequisite(s):

(MSWCF7106)

Co-requisite(s):

Nil

Exclusion(s):

Nil

ASCED:

090501

Other Change:

Brief description of the Unit

Students will participate in a 500-hour (minimum) indirect Field Education placement involving critical engagement with an issue of social concern at a macro-level and facilitating advanced integration of theory, practice and research. Students will extend their knowledge and skills required for professional practice as Social Workers at an advanced level. This will enable them to critically evaluate and apply appropriate intervention strategies. Students will be expected to advance their knowledge and apply social work values, ethics, roles and responsibilities and reflect on their growing professional identity.

Integrative seminars will assist and support students throughout this process, and provide opportunities for reflective practice, shared learning and mutual support.

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.	Critically analyse the nature and impact of social work within organizational, local, national and international contexts.

K2.	Critique the social, political, cultural and legal issues impacting a specific population of service users.

K3.	Critically appraise a range of theoretical frameworks and consider how these can be applied in intervention strategies for individuals, families, groups and communities with complex needs.

K4.	Investigate and analyse the structural and social inequalities that exist in a particular ﬁeld of practice leading to a critical understanding of strategies to address these.

K5.	Critically engage in reﬂective practice and reflection in action, including examination of personal and professional values that inﬂuence practice.

K6.	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.

K7.	Demonstrate the capacity to work with increasing autonomy and professional responsibility.

Skills:

S1.	Evaluate and implement interventions using a range of social work theories that addresses the complex needs of individual families and groups.

S2.	Design, implement and evaluate interventions in diverse areas of practice including community development, project management, evaluation and research.

S3.	Demonstrate advanced skills in eﬀective interpersonal communication, including the use of a variety of culturally sensitive communication skills.

S4.	Prepare high-quality professional written material as required and in accordance with agency policy, which may include emails, letters, assessments, and reports.

S5.	Create and maintain eﬀective working relationships within multidisciplinary and multi-agency contexts.

S6.	Demonstrate advance 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.

S7.	Eﬀectively utilize reflective practice and critical reflection 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.

A3.	Participate actively in skill development workshops, simulation activities and other exercises to develop and integrate their professional knowledge and skills as needed.

Unit Content:

Integration seminars will assist and support students throughout this process, and provide opportunities for reflective practice, shared learning and mutual support.

Topics may include:

1.Critically evaluating practice approaches

2.Managing complex ethical dilemmas

3.Project design, management and evaluation.

4.Working with complexity and ambiguity.

5.Cross cultural practice and working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

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.	1 - Yes
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.	1 - Yes
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.	1 - Yes
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.	1 - Yes
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	1 - Yes

	Learning Outcomes Assessed	Assessment Tasks	Assessment Type	Weighting
1.	K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, K6, K7, S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, A1, A2, A3	Completion of weekly worksheets may include samples of placement work completed in the following areas: Clear identification of a macro-level issue of social concern A clear profile of the individual(s) or population group impacted by the issue of social concern Examining Policy, Funding and Legal Contexts relevant to the issue of social concern Examining how social work organizations and communities respond to the issue of concern Identifying theories and knowledge that can be applied to effectively address the issue of social concern Reflecting on appropriate assessment and intervention skills Applying professional values and ethics Eﬀective interpersonal skills Self-learning and critical reﬂection Reflecting on research as social work intervention Engaging in culturally sensitive practice	Placement Workbook/Portfolio	S/U
2.	K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, K6, K7, S1, S2, S3, S4, S7, A1, A2, A3	A detailed presentation accompanied by PowerPoint slides outlining: the macro-level issue of social concern investigated; the population group impacted by this issue, an examination of relevant political, funding and legal contexts; social work (or social services) responses to the issue of concern; theories and models that are (or can be) applied to address the issue; ongoing (and possible) assessments and interventions; a discussion of personal values and ethical considerations vis-à-vis the issue of concern, a discussion of the process of undertaking the project and consideration of research as a tool for social intervention.	Presentation	S/U
3.	K5, K6, S4, S7, A1, A3	Identify an ethical dilemma and formulate a solution using ethical theories, principles and professional codes of ethics.	Case Study Analysis	S/U
4.	K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, K6, K7, S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, A1, A2	Develop speciﬁc learning goals as specified by the Australian Association of Social Workers Learning and Assessment Plan	Learning Contract	S/U
5.	K1, K2, K3, K4, K6, K7, S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, A1, A2, A3	Successful completion of 500 hours Field Education placement	Placement	S/U

Adopted Reference Style:

APA ()

Professional Standards / Competencies:

Standard / Competency