Course Catalogue

This qualifying social work programme aims to prepare students to work as part of the social care workforce, employed increasingly in integrated teams across and within specialist settings in adult health, mental health and children's services. The programme aims to enable students to work inter-professionally alongside colleagues in the National Health Service, schools, police, criminal justice, private, voluntary and independent sector support agencies, and in partnership with service users and carers/people with lived experience. The programme learning outcomes aim to enable students to acquire and integrate the five core skills outlined in the Subject Benchmark Statement; problem solving skills, communication skills, skills in working with others, skills in personal and professional development and skills in the use of technology and numeracy. Students completing the programme will be equipped with the knowledge, skills and values to work in line within the Professional Standards of Social Work England the professional regulator. Qualifying students will establish trust and confidence in people, be accountable for all aspects of their practice, ensure they engage with continuing professional development, practice safely adhering to professional guidance and never behave in a way that would bring into question their suitability to work as a social worker while at work, or outside of work. Qualifying students will have the confidence to promote ethical practice and report concerns about harm, discrimination and poor and harmful organisational practice. They will inform people of their right to complain and co-operate with any fitness to practice investigations as required. The learning environment provided will give students access to education and training opportunities that enable them to develop their skills and knowledge across all areas of social work, gain required experience in practice settings and meet the professional standards in supportive, supervised and safe settings. In partnership with practice placement providers, practice learning experiences will support readiness to practise at point of graduation. Alternative Exit/ Interim Award Learning Outcomes – Master of Arts in Applied Social Sciences: The student will have achieved 180 credits and less than 200 days of practice to the required standard. The student will not be eligible for application for registration with Social Work England. Consolidate knowledge, understanding and skills in the investigation, research and evaluation of issues related to effective and ethical social work practice and policy. Critically review and evaluate research findings relevant to Social Work through supervised independent study and make a coherent contribution to the knowledge base. Alternative Exit/ Interim Award Learning Outcomes - Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Social Sciences: The student will have achieved 60 credits and will not be eligible to apply for registration with Social Work England. A student who is eligible for this award will be able to: Integrate advanced critical reasoning and problem solving in relation to contemporary social issues.

The programme has a robust quality assurance processes and engages fully with service users and carers/people with lived experience of social work to deliver a curriculum that is fit for purpose. The academics delivering the programme have the relevant expertise and qualifications to deliver it. Practitioner expertise is be used to inform teaching delivery. The curriculum will continually evolve to take account of the developing evidence-informed practice and research that exists, to ensure it matches the contemporary demands of the whole social work sector. The academic programme team and wider LJMU support services will provide effective educational and pastoral support to progress students through their course and develop the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the professional standards when they qualify. Teaching and learning strategies include interactive lectures with a range of student centred learning methods, such as small group work, role play, discussion, case study and active blended learning. Specialist lT and internet resources are used. Postgraduate students will be expected to engage in a wide range of appropriate reading throughout the course to supplement and consolidate what is being taught, and actively participate in their own learning and that of others. They are expected to make maximum use of library and internet facilities to access recent research. Intellectual skills are developed through group discussions and debates within small and large group settings, and through practical project work, tutorial work and coursework assignments. Application of cognitive skills to practice is developed through case study work and via reflection upon the student's own professional practice, including postgraduate assignment and research based activities focused on ethical and methodological issues, professional practice and research. The teaching and learning strategy includes input from service users and practitioners with an emphasis on inter-professional and multi-professional practice. Assessment methods may include essays, case studies, self assessment tasks, group presentations, exams and practice observations. Additionally, knowledge is assessed via work based upon the student's practice placement. This requires students to demonstrate their ability to link theory to practice. Postgraduate students will engage in a research based task which will demonstrate their knowledge of the subject area, its relation to social work practice, and recent relevant research. Additionally students will be assessed on their practice skills via the analysis of case scenarios and direct practice with service users on placement. This evidence will be presented in their practice reports. Postgraduate students will be assessed on their ability to theorise their practice at the required level for a Masters programme. Students are expected to apply the knowledge gained in the University to their placements. Each student has a Practice Educator who, through professional supervision, consolidates the development of knowledge, skills and values as guided by the Social Work England's (SWE)Professional Standards (2019) and the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) (British Association of Social Workers). The assessment of SWE's Professional Standards and the PCF is undertaken by a suitably qualified Practice Educator. The student is responsible for compiling evidence upon which the assessment is based. There is a written report by the student's Practice Educator, which makes a judgement on whether the required standards have been met. In addition the report must detail the specified number of observed practices carried out by the student with a service user(s). Students must produce a Practice Assessment Report signed off by the Practice Educator. Assessment of postgraduate research and evaluation skills will be through the research task.

Students are expected to apply the knowledge gained in the University to their placements. Each student has a Practice Educator who, through professional supervision, consolidates the development of knowledge, skills and values as guided by Social Work England’s Professional Standards (2019) and the domains within the Professional Capabilities Framework (British Association of Social Work). The work-based placement will offer students an opportunity to develop their knowledge skills and values across public, private and voluntary sectors. The assessment of the Social Work England’s Professional Standards is undertaken by a suitably qualified social work Practice Educator. The student is responsible for compiling evidence upon which the assessment is based. There is a written report by the student's Practice Educator, who makes a judgement on whether Social Work England’s Professional Standards and the domains within the Professional Capabilities Framework have been met. In addition the report must detail the specified number of observed practices carried out by the student with a service user(s). Students must produce a Practice Assessment Report signed off by the Practice Educator.