SOCI43030: Professional and Personal Development

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• The module will provide an opportunity for the students to:
• develop a critical understanding of the concept of professional development and use this in applying and integrating learning from the discrete elements of their professional programme;
• develop a critical understanding of reflection and reflexivity, and skills in reflective writing, and reflective practice;
• explore their own identity and values, and identify professional and personal development needs;
• explore the nature of the professional relationship, developing understanding and skills in one-to-one communication and working in groups;
• practice a range of professional skills within a classroom environment through practical exercises and case studies.

• The module will incorporate a number of specific elements reflecting the QAA benchmarks statements for social work, elements of the Professional Capabilities Framework (diversity, rights, justice and economic well-being, knowledge, critical reflection and analysis) and Social Work England Professional Standards. It will focus on the acquisition of subject specific knowledge and skills and their integration with other programme components.
• The module is delivered through:
• Core teaching covering generic aspects of professional and personal development: i) Professionalism, ii) Ethics and Values, iii) Communication Skills, iv) Diversity/cultural diversity, v) Interprofessional working, vi) Critical Thinking/critical reflection/reflective writing, vii) Critical practice, viii) Assessment, ix) Report writing/accountability,
• Workshops focussing on the practical development of skills for professional social work including: observation and communication skills, assessment and report writing skills and dealing with challenging circumstances in practice,
• Personal reflection on shadowing a qualified social worker / social work team.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• By the end of the module students will be able to demonstrate knoweldge and critical understanding of:
• the nature of professional practice, including professional values and responsibilities, within a social science theoretical framework;
• the concept of leadership and its application to practice.

Subject-specific Skills:

• be able to assess reflectively and critically the relevance of their current professional practice experience to the requirements of social work settings.
• be able to identify and apply strategies to build professional resilience.

Key Skills:

• be able critically to reflect on their personal values, experiences, knowledge, skills and professional practice;
• have developed skills in communication to support (i) engagement, assessment planning, intervention and evaluation, and (ii) accurate recording and preparation of reports.

• Teaching and Learning Methods will include group discussion, practical exercises (e.g. role plays, simulation, drama, use of visual arts), study groups, case studies, reflective recordings, independent reading, field visits (shadowing).
• Assessment will include a practical exercise to demonstrate the necessary skills in readiness for direct practice and a scaffolded 1,000 and 2,000 word critical reflection on the process of developing professional and personal skills.

1) 500 word reflection on communication and interview skills. Due one week after the already timetabled interview practice session with people with lived experience (November). Readiness for direct practice (January), focusing particularly on developing professional communication skills, will be assessed through a filmed exchange with a service user followed by feedback and student reflection. This must be made available to the practice educator in the first placement. This is a requirement for Social Work England, to evidence students readiness for direct practice. It is listed here as a formative assessment, it is pass or fail, with students enabled to re-sit very shortly after.

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