Course Catalogue

Public and Allied Health

This module enables students to critically appraise the impact of poverty, inequality and social justice on social work practice.

Outline Syllabus:1. Introduction to key concepts: poverty, inequality, social justice 2. Defining and measuring poverty 3. The effect of poverty and inequality on service users 4. Social work responses to poverty and inequality: poverty awareness and social justice orientations and limitations 5. Power and oppression and their relationship to poverty and inequality 6. Ideology and its influence 7. Citizenship, participation and advocacy and their relationship to social exclusion and social work practice 8. Social capital and the state 'gaze' 9. The effect of poverty and inequality on specific groups: children, adults, mental health service users and refugees and asylum seekers 10. The international context of poverty, inequality and social justice

Module Overview:
This module enables students to critically appraise the impact of poverty, inequality and social justice on social work practice.

Additional Information:In completing this module students will gain a firm understanding of the meaning and effects of poverty and inequality on service users and their relevance to social work practice. They will be able to link poverty and inequality to poverty aware, social justice responses in their practice, as well as identify any limitations to these approaches. Students will develop an awareness of power and oppression and their links to concepts of participation and citizenship, in the local, national and international context. The module will focus on students applying the concepts and responses to everyday practice, and the value of a critical approach in doing so. In this context it will consider the tensions and competing priorities inherent in social work practice. The module has been mapped to the knowledge and skills statements (child and family social work and social workers in adult services) and to the SWE Professional Standards the Apprenticeship Standards, This module is mapped to the following Standards Social Work England Professional Standards 1 Promote the rights, strengths and wellbeing of people, families and communities. (1.5;1.6) 2 Be accountable for the quality of my practice and the decisions I make (3.3;3.5;3.14) 4 Maintain my continuing professional development.(4.4;4.8) 6 Promote ethical practice and report concerns.(6.1;6.2) PCF level descriptors 2. VALUES AND ETHICS -Apply social work ethical principles and value to guide professional practices 3. DIVERSITY AND EQUALITY -Recognise diversity and apply anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive principles in practice 4. RIGHTS, JUSTICE AND ECONOMIC WELLBEING -Advance human rights and promote social justice and economic wellbeing 6. CRITICAL REFLECTION AND ANALYSIS -Apply critical reflection and analysis to inform and provide a rationale for professional decision-making Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education- standards Behaviour 1 treat people with compassion, dignity and respect and work together to empower positive change 2 adapt their approach according to the situation and context 3 commit to continuous learning within social work, with curiosity and critical reflection Requirements, Knowledge and Skills: Professional values and ethics - be aware of the impact of your own values on practice, the importance of rights, responsibilities, freedom, authority and use of power Views of people who use services, carers, their families and communities - work with people to enable them to make informed decisions and exercise their rights; the concepts of participation, advocacy, coproduction, involvement and empowerment Evidence-based decision making and analysis - gather, analyse, critically evaluate and use research information and knowledge in your practice to develop an understanding of the individual’s situation; the impact of different society’s views on human behaviour, Personal and professional development - the impact of injustice, demography, social inequality, policies and other issues which affect the demand for social work services Working with others - the different social and organisational contexts within which social work operates