SWM5003 · Preparation for supervised social work practice

Overview

This unit is designed to prepare you to capitalise upon the varied learning opportunities you will encounter throughout your supervised placement. The unit will address placement allocation, the pre-placement interview, and compliance obligations including immunisation, police checks, and Working with Children checks. The concepts of professionalism, confidentiality, consent, and Fitness for Practice within an Australian context, will be examined and an explanation of the faculty Professional Standards, Ethical Behaviour, and Student Support or ProFESS framework will be provided. The concept of supervision within social work and the role and responsibilities of students in relation to their supervisory team throughout the placement will also be clarified. The unit will encourage you to strengthen your understanding about social work fields of practice and the delivery of collaborative care within the context of the Australian welfare system. It concludes with an examination of the concept of experiential learning and the processes adopted within the placement unit to monitor student progression and the development of transferable reflective and critical thinking skills.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment in this unit includes hurdle assessment tasks. Failure of any hurdle assessment task may result in failure of the unit.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. Comply with the placement allocation obligations, the pre-placement interview and screening processes.
2. Explain the key concepts of professionalism, fitness for practice, confidentiality, consent and their importance to ensuring the delivery of safe and respectful social work services within an Australian context.
3. Describe the ProFESS framework and its role in supporting students and the conditions under which students may be removed from placement.
4. Explain the concept of supervision within a social work context and the different supervisory roles that characterise the placement experience.
5. Make meaningful connections between collaborative care and social work fields of practice within the context of the Australian welfare system.
6. Apply principles informing the experiential learning cycle to the development of transferable reflective and critical thinking skills applicable to workplace.

Workload

Students enrolled in SWM5003 are expected to engage in online self-directed learning for 1 hour per month commencing in April until June. Students then engage in the unit through a series of 4 x 1.5-hour workshops between June to September. Total per month = 2.5 hours over 3 months / 1.5 hours per month for 4 months

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.