SWM5116 Foundations for social work practice 2
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
SWM5116 Foundations for social work practice 2 is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. It isn't offered in 2022. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2022
- Other periods
- Caulfield
- Assessment
- No exam
- 3 tasks
This is the 2022 handbook entry. See the 2025 entry.
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Requisites
Before SWM5116
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After SWM5116
No unit lists SWM5116 as a prerequisite in the 2022 handbook.
Enrolment rules
Corequisite: Must be enrolled in a Postgraduate course
Prohibition: SWM5102
Overview
This unit is the second of two foundational units for social work practice which will progress your knowledge beyond the presenting problem and moving into assessment and basic intervention.
The unit uses a human development framework emphasising resilience across the lifespan. The dependency on accurate social assessments that account for a person's physical, emotional, cognitive, spiritual, cultural, temporal states are emphasised.
You will critically appraise and practice administering a biopsychosocial assessment. Risk and protective factors at individual, family, community and societal levels that impede or enhance child, adolescent and adult development will also be identified.
You will explore the symbiotic relationship between assessment and intervention and the common skills that form the bedrock of accurate and effective assessment tools and interventions in social work practice to enhance wellbeing and reduce risk.
Offerings in 2022
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Term 3 | Caulfield | On campus |
| Term 3 | Caulfield | Block off |
Assessment
- Structured critical analysis25%
- Part A: Written case plan for a case study & Part B In-class written test30%
- Biopsychosocial assessmentCompetency hurdle45%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Describe and identify the specific biopsychosocial developmental needs that arise in childhood, adolescence and adulthood to inform direct social work practice with individuals and families.
- 2
Draw on theory and evidenced frameworks to explain the manifestation of social problems, assess risk and protective factors that influence individuals and families to inform effective intervention
- 3
Undertake a biopsychosocial assessment identifying the risk and protective factors that impact on the client's development and reinforce the continuation of presenting issues.
- 4
Critically analyse the elements of effective social work practice in assessment and intervention including the different types of assessment, engagement techniques, decision making processes, cultural considerations, the worker/client relationship qualities and referral for the purpose of improving practice.
- 5
Explain the ways in which a culture’s structures and values may function to maintain the status quo by marginalising or privileging particular ideas or groups of people and its influence on an assessment and how to redress these types of issues through effective interventions.
- 6
Demonstrate knowledge and aptitude in documenting client assessments and recording details of the engagement demonstrating the AASW Code of Ethics and common agency protocols
Workload and teaching
- Lectures12 hours
- Tutorials24 hours
This unit uses a blended learning approach comprising 4 hours of teacher engaged classes and activities. This includes weekly online learning activities that must be completed prior to tutorials. The tutorials are compulsory for all students. It is expected that students will engage in up to 6 hours per week of self-directed learning activities including preparation for assessments and simulations.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Uschi Bay
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Catherine Flynn
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for SWM5116?
SWM5116 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is SWM5116 offered?
SWM5116 has no offerings listed in the 2022 handbook.
Does SWM5116 have an exam?
No. SWM5116 has 3 assessment tasks and no exam.