SW0746 - Critical Social Work Enquiry

You will learn through lectures, seminars and workshops, from interactions with academic supervisors and through directed and self-directed independent learning. The lectures will cover theories and concepts that will enable you to tackle a series of guided individual and group exercises within the seminars and workshops. There will be a number of hands-on sessions, some of which will take place in computer labs which are fully equipped with the latest industry-standard software. You will be offered formative feedback from your peers and seminar leaders during seminar sessions and through research and extended learning on a chosen topic area exercise leadership in relation to the professional learning and development of others.

The teaching and learning methods are based on a critical two-way dialogue between student and tutor and support will include feedback from tutors and peers during seminars and workshops. You will also be allocated and supported by an experienced academic supervisor who you will be expected to contact outside of formal scheduled teaching sessions. Peer support will be facilitated through group based seminars, including student-led sessions.

Feedback and feedforward to guide future work will be provided through group work sessions throughout the module. These will also support you to generate material, debate ideas and discuss your developing views of key concepts and reflect on your knowledge, skills and values as a research minded practitioner helping you identify strengths and areas for development.

General queries about the module will be addressed by the module leader. Contact details for all tutors for this module are available in the module handbook and you will have access to lecturers at teaching times, by email, and telephone. The e-LP will provide substantial learning resources and also serve as an additional communications pathway between students and staff.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
LO.1 You will be expected to demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the philosophy of enquiry, techniques applicable to social work research, and a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret social work knowledge

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
LO. 2 You will identify and critically appraise a research problem and locate this within the relevant literature and the practice context

LO.3 You will select and defend your choice of research methods to apply to a specific research problem or issue, including consideration of pertinent ethical issues

LO. 4 You will demonstrate the ability to critically identify, appraise and review ethical, social policy and political dimensions of practice

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
LO. 5 You will design and articulate strategies informed by professional codes of practice and anti-oppressive practice to involve people who use services, carers and the wider stakeholder communities in service planning/policy development/practice development

Summative assessment
1) You will present a project plan/proposal in the form of a 10 minute oral presentation which should specifically address module learning outcomes 2 and 3. Your presentation should focus on: the identification and articulation of a viable research topic; identification of data sources, methods of enquiry, ethical issues and how key stakeholder perspectives will be integrated. Written feedback will assess topic viability and additional verbal feedback will be provided by tutors and peers.
30% of the total mark for the module

2) The main element of assessment will be a 12,000 word dissertation/project report that brings together all your new skills and techniques. Feedback will be in the form of a written pro forma which will indicate strengths and learning points for future practice and academic development.
70% of the total mark for the module

SW0741, SW0742, SW0743

N/A

‘Critical Social Work Enquiry’ aims to provide knowledge and thinking skills to support development of critical reflection and enquiry at qualifying level as set out within the Social Work Professional Capability Framework (PCF) and the relevant professional standards as set out by Social Work England. It also aims to provide an opportunity for you to develop and demonstrate originality in the application of knowledge to practice consistent with post-graduate study.

You will be supported to develop and execute a research project that will support you to contribute to practice knowledge, development and dissemination in your chosen field of practice. This will be of benefit to current/future employers and enhance your employability in a range of settings where project planning and evaluation are required. ‘Critical Social Work Enquiry’ aims to enable or facilitate you, as appropriate, to reflect critically on past, current and future practice through identifying and developing a relevant practice problem or issue, and identifying and critically analysing the ethical, social policy and political dimensions of this topic. You will be supported and encouraged to engage with the views of people who use services, carers and other key stakeholders. Your knowledge and understanding will be assessed by means of an oral presentation outlining your research proposal and a final written report/dissertation (2 summative assessments).