Year
2024Credit points
30Campus offering
Prerequisites
SWTP319 Group Work in Social Work Practice AND SWTP333 Social Work Field Education 1 AND SWTP339 Law and Social Work AND ALHT411 Honours Literature Review for Allied Health AND ALHT412 Honours Research Methods for Allied Health
Unit rationale, description and aim
Social work is a distinct discipline and social workers demonstrate their professional identity by applying and integrating social work values, ethics, knowledge and skills in diverse practice contexts. Students undertake a supervised field placement of 500 hours in a human service agency and attend 10 hours of integrative seminars. This final honours field education unit encourages students to build on knowledge and practice skills gained in Social Work Field Education 1, and Honours units to strengthen critically reflective practice and to facilitate a strong social work professional identity as graduating social workers. Learning in this unit is informed by the AASW Practice Standards and the AASW Code of Ethics.
The aim of this unit is that students develop a graduating level of competence in social work practice in an agency setting.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
| Learning Outcome Number | Learning Outcome Description | Relevant Graduate Capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| LO1 | Implement knowledge of social work practice and service delivery in an organizational setting | GC1, GC2, GC6, GC7, GC9 |
| LO2 | Assimilate and demonstrate professional and ethical behaviour appropriate to the practice setting | GC1, GC3, GC4, GC7 |
| LO3 | Apply knowledge and skills developed in campus-based units and in the placement setting to capably demonstrate AASW professional standards | GC1, GC2, GC3, GC5, GC8, GC9, GC11 |
| LO4 | Understand and prepare for Field Education processes and experiences | GC3, GC7, GC8, GC9 |
ASWEAS Profession-Specific Graduate Attributes
This Unit has been mapped to the ACU Graduate Attributes and the ASWEAS Profession-Specific Graduate Attributes. The following table sets out the broad relationship between the Learning Outcomes, Graduate Attributes and the ASWEAS Profession-Specific Graduate Attributes provided in the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards: https://www.aasw.asn.au/document/item/13565
| Standard/Attributes/Criteria | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
1.1 Practice in accordance with the AASW Code of Ethics 1.2 Manage ethical dilemmas and issues arising in practice 2.1 Represent the social work profession with integrity and professionalism 2.2 Behave in a professional manner and be accountable for all actions and decisions 4.1 Understand higher level systemic influences on people with respect to area of practice 4.2 Understand and articulate social work and other relevant theories and concepts 4.3 Understand the role of research and evaluation in obtaining and generating new knowledge for practice 4.4 Understand and articulate how and when theories, knowledge bases and knowledge sources inform practice | LO1 |
1.1 Practice in accordance with the AASW Code of Ethics 1.2 Manage ethical dilemmas and issues arising in practice 2.1 Represent the social work profession with integrity and professionalism 2.2 Behave in a professional manner and be accountable for all actions and decisions | LO2 |
1.1 Practice in accordance with the AASW Code of Ethics 1.2 Manage ethical dilemmas and issues arising in practice 3.1 Work inclusively and respectfully with cultural difference and diversity 3.2 Respect and strive to understand and promote the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their cultures 5.1 Assess and analyse needs to inform practice 5.2 Work collaboratively 5.3 Use a range of social work methods and techniques appropriate to the area of practice 5.4 Apply critical and reflective thinking to practice 6.1 Communicate with a diverse range of people 6.2 Communicate the details and nature of the service offered to people 6.3 Work with others in a team environment 6.4 Use information technology to communicate and provide services 7.1 Record and manage information appropriately 7.2 Keep and maintain information in accordance with ethical principles and relevant legislation 8.1 Actively participate in professional supervision 8.2 Engage in continuing professional development 8.3 Where appropriate, to contribute to the professional development of others
| LO3 |
AASW Practice Standards
This Unit has been mapped to the ACU Graduate Attributes and the ASWEAS Profession-Specific Graduate Attributes. The following table sets out the broad relationship between the Learning Outcomes, Graduate Attributes and the ASWEAS Profession-Specific Graduate Attributes provided in the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards: https://www.aasw.asn.au/document/item/13565
| Standards/Attributes/Criteria | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
GA1 Identify as a professional social worker | LO2, LO3 |
GA2 Sound understanding of and commitment to social work values and ethics to guide social work Practice | LO2, LO3 |
GA3 Ability to apply social work knowledge and interventions to respond effectively in meeting the needs of individuals, groups and communities in diverse settings, client groups and geographic locations | LO3 |
GA4 Ability to apply knowledge of human behaviour and society, as well as the social, cultural, political, legal, economic and global contexts of practice to respond effectively within a human rights and social justice framework | LO3 |
GA5 Ability to review, critically analyse and synthesise knowledge and values and apply reflective thinking skills to inform professional judgement and practice | LO1, LO2 |
GA6 Ability to apply research knowledge and skills to understand, evaluate and use research to inform practice and to develop, execute and disseminate research informed by practice | LO1, LO3 |
GA7 Demonstration of effective communication and interpersonal skills | LO3 |
GA8 Ability to work with diversity and demonstrate respect for cultural difference | LO3 |
GA9 Understanding of the importance of and commitment to ongoing professional development. | LO3 |
Content
TOPICS WILL INCLUDE
Interactive and experience-based discussions and exercises that explore placement processes and experiences with a focus on
- relating theory and knowledge to practice
- exploring values & ethics in practice
- critical reflection
- building social work identity.
Integrative seminars respond to the learning needs of students as they work toward meeting the AASW requirements for placement.
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
For this final professional experience unit, learning happens in three asynchronous, online preplacement sessions, in the 500-hour placement and in the classroom. The main teaching and learning strategies include experiential learning, reflective learning, practice - theory integration and skills development. These are used in the placement setting, and integration of this experience with social work knowledge, values and ethics is facilitated in 10 hours of campus-based integrative seminars. Planned learning goals and strategies for the specific placement are recorded in the Learning Agreement. This Unit Outline needs to be read in conjunction with the Social Work Field Education Handbook.
Assessment strategy and rationale
Students are assessed on a range of activities that accumulate prior to commencing placement and over the beginning, middle and end of the placement and which reflect developmental and experiential learning principles. Assessment of placement preparation is designed to reinforce the student’s learning in relation to the process of placement. The assessments of learning prior to placement and at the beginning, middle and end are designed to identify areas of competence and deficit, as well as strategies for students to address areas of deficit prior to the next assessment point. Students will have unlimited attempts to complete and pass the pre-placement quiz. They must achieve 100% for this quiz to be eligible to begin placement. This promotes the student’s understanding of the process and expectations of placement. The tasks that contribute to the assessments during placement include a Learning Agreement, Mid Placement Report and Final Placement Report. The mid and end of placement report are structured in line with Australian Association of Social Workers Practice Standards. Students are also required to submit a signed timesheet at the end of their placement. Each assessment task is informed by the identified learning outcomes for the unit.
The Learning Agreement is developed in collaboration with the social work supervisor. It sets out the specific goals and activities associated with the placement and the nature of evidence required to demonstrate achievement of learning outcomes.
The Mid Placement report requires students to demonstrate their progress toward their learning goals at the mid-point of their placement. The report also includes feedback from the student’s Field Educators. This task provides students with the opportunity to review progress against learning goals and plan for tasks and strategies to meet goals for the remainder of the placement. The Mid Placement tasks enable students to articulate the connections between relevant social work theory and ethics to their placement experience in order to develop informed practice decision making.
In the Final Placement Report, students demonstrate their progress toward and achievement of the learning goals at the conclusion of their placement. The report also includes feedback from the student’s Field Educators. Students use the Final Placement Report to evidence beginning practice capability.
In negotiation with the ACU Liaison Visitor and Social Work Supervisor, students will be able to revise the Learning Agreement and Mid Placement Report in response to feedback on the requirements to achieve a satisfactory standard.
In order to pass this unit, Students are required to pass the preplacement quiz, submit all assessment pieces to a pass standard, complete all 500 hours of placement and attend integrative seminars as per the attendance requirements.
Overview of assessments
| Brief Description of Kind and Purpose of Assessment Tasks | Weighting | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
Hurdle Task preplacement quiz Reinforces the information about placement processes and what to expect during placement. | Hurdle Task | LO4 |
Learning Agreement Enables students to identify their learning goals, tasks and timeframes for completion in alignment with AASW Practice Standards. As negotiated between the field educator and student, at least ONE goal must specifically relate to the students Honours research. | Pass/Fail | LO1, LO2, LO3 |
Mid Placement report, including Theory to Practice/Ethics Presentation Students need to demonstrate their progress against their learning goals at the mid-point of their placement. The report also needs to include feedback from the student’s Field Educators. Enables student to articulate the connections between relevant social work theory and ethics to their placement experience in the form of a 20-minute presentation at the mid-placement liaison contact.
| Pass/Fail | LO1, LO2, LO3 |
Brief Oral Conference Presentation on a practice highlight at the School of Allied Health Final Year Student Conference Enables students to develop professional presentation skills and a commitment to ongoing professional development as an Allied Health professional via the School of Allied Health Final Year Student Conference to showcase and celebrate their placement learning to a broader audience | Pass/Fail | LO1, LO2, LO3 |
Final Placement Report Students need to demonstrate their progress and completion against their learning goals at the conclusion of their placement. The report also needs to include feedback from the student’s Field Educators. | Pass/Fail | LO1, LO2, LO3 |
Completed timesheet Students are required to maintain and submit a record of the placement hours completed in order to meet AASW requirements for graduation as a social worker. | Pass/Fail | LO2 |
Punctual and full attendance on the placement is an essential requirement for the unit. The attendance requirements are specified in ACU Assessment Policy and are in accordance with AASW requirements. Attendance at all integrative seminars is expected and an attendance record of all seminars will be kept. Students are required to attend at least 80% of all integrative seminars scheduled for this unit.
Reasons why attendance is required
In integrative seminars, students will be interacting with each other and developing skills which they will use professional/clinical experience. Students who do not attend are at risk of not developing these essential skills. Attendance is required as part of meeting the AASW requirement to integrate campus learning with field placement learning and skill development.
Mode: Field education practice in community-based agencies as well as campus-based integrative seminars.
Duration: Students will participate in the equivalent of 500 hours of supervised field education experience including 10 hours of participation in class seminars.
Representative texts and references
Australian Association of Social Workers (2020) Code of ethics. AASW: Canberra.
Australian Association of Social Workers (2013) Practice standards. AASW: Canberra.
Cleak, H., & J. Wilson. (2019). Making the most of field placement (4th ed.). Victoria. Thomson: Learning Australia.