HCS506 Social Work Field Education 2 (16)

This is the second of two field education subjects. Students have the opportunity to demonstrate and/or develop professional practice skills, knowledge, values and their social work identity in a different practice setting and field of practice from their first placement, under the supervision of a qualified social worker. In this subject students are required to demonstrate entry level standards of professional practice for masters graduates according to social work practice standards and Code of Ethics as well as requirements for field education in Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards.

Availability

Session 1 (30)
Online
Wagga Wagga Campus
Session 2 (60)
Online
Wagga Wagga Campus

Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: HCS506. Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Subject Information

Grading System

SY/US

Duration

Two sessions

School

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Enrolment Restrictions

Students must be enrolled in the Masters of Social Work  (Professional Qualifying)

Prerequisites

( HCS501 and HCS505 ) or ( HCS507 and HCS505 )

Incompatible Subjects

SWK424

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
  • be able to demonstrate entry level standards of professional practice as outlined in the AASW Social Work Practice Standards, Code of Ethics, as well as requirements for Field Education in Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards at the Masters Professional Qualifying level;
  • be able to engage with the standards focusing on the intervention and evaluation stages of social work practice;
  • be able to formulate, define and evaluate individual learning objectives and performance measures drawn from the AASW practice standards in consultation with field educators and academics;
  • be able to demonstrate investigation, analysis and synthesis of complex information, problems, concepts and theories that apply to the placement context;
  • be able to independently research design and implement professional methods of intervention and evaluation demonstrating practice skills (including integration of theory into practice) and professional judgment;
  • be able to critically reflect on their own practice, values and knowledge of social work and identify strengths and areas for future development;
  • be able to interpret ethical issues in the placement context and apply ethical professional practice standards according to the AASW Code of Ethics to their own and others practice;
  • be able to demonstrate and monitor sensitive communication practices (written, oral) that are appropriate to the professional context;
  • be able to identify, synthesise and apply culturally sensitive practices to their professional placement; and
  • be able to engage in the learning experience. This includes: a constructive supervision relationship with their field educator, ability to give and receive constructive feedback, and awareness of own learning style based on Kolb's learning inventory.

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:
  • Students will undertake a structured, individualised syllabus of experiential learning in an approved real world work site
  • Being supervised by a qualified social worker with a minimum of two years practice
  • Completing the balance of hours required to meet the 1,000 hours of total supervised field education experience
  • The individualised syllabus is based on Social Work Practice Standards and Code of Ethics as well as requirements for field education in Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards
  • Utilising principles of adult learning and theories of professional supervision
  • Design, implementation and assessment of the learning experience and student performance are undertaken collaboratively by the student, field educator and university staff
  • Students who completed the Placement Strand of the first field education subject choose the alternate focus from their first placement, either a direct or an indirect focus
  • Students who completed the Professional Practice Assessment (PPA) strand of the first field education subject are required to undertake a placement with a direct focus

Workplace Learning

This subject contains a 40 to 92 days Compulsory Workplace Learning component.

In this subject WPL is undertaken across 2 sessions for 16 credit points. Students complete approximately 500 hours (a total of 1000 hours required in the Masters of Social Work (PQ) over two subjects)  of experiential learning/professional practice under the supervision of an experienced qualified social worker in a real workplace. Learning and assessment is undertaken through a collaborative partnership articulated in an individualised learning plan

The information contained in the CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: May 2021. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.

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