HCS501 Social Work Theory and Practice 1 (16)
CSU Discipline Area: Human Services (HUSER)
Duration: One session
Abstract:
This subject introduces students to the foundations of social work practice including ethics, values, and theory as well as basic skills for multidimensional practice. It focuses on the engagement stage of the professional helping relationship.
+ Subject Availability Modes and Locations
| Session 1 | |
|---|---|
| Distance * | Wagga Wagga |
*This subject offering contains a residential school. Please view following information for further details.
Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: HCS501
Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.
Enrolment restrictions:
Only available to students in the MSW (Professional Qualifying)
Not for students who have successfully completed HCS206
Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
- be able to demonstrate basic microskills required for early stages of intervention with clients in a counselling setting
- be able to demonstrate multi-dimensional assessment skills and strategies
- be able to demonstrate effective intervention skills in planning, setting up, and managing the developmental stages of a group including early leadership skills
- be able to identify a range of definitions of community and the utilise the current debates in assessing the community context of a problem
- be able to identify appropriate community resources and networks relevant to a problem
- be able to demonstrate understanding of the key elements of a needs analysis
- be able to describe principles of organisational structure, culture and communication processes
- be able to identify and describe the impact of the organisational context on the worker and the worker's role
Syllabus:
The subject will cover the following topics:
- principles of casework and case-management theory and practice: engaging with clients and assessing their need and circumstances
- principles of group-work theory and practice: planning, establishing and maintaining groups
- principles for understanding and working with communities: definitions of community and analysis of community needs
- principles of understanding and working within human service organisations: organisational structure, culture, communication and the role of the professional worker
in the context of two case studies:
Case Study 1: (Target Population: eg. Youth) (Target Problem: eg. Substance Abuse) (Target Service Context: eg. Educational)
Case Study 2: (Target Population: eg. Family) (Target Problem: eg. Mental Health) (Target Service Context: eg. Health)
Residential School
This subject contains a compulsory 5 day residential school.
The residential school will involve the students in interactive experiential learning of basic skills in a safe environment. It will provide specific lectures and opportunities for discussion and clarification of key concepts and processes. There will be individual and group activities to ensure that students have a clear understanding of the assessment process in preparation for their first practicum.
The information contained in the 2013 CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: 24 April 2013. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.