James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2023

WS3515 - Professional Skills for Social Work Practice

Available to BSW students only or by permission of Course Coordinator.

Subject Description

This subject will focus on the various contexts and discourses that influence social work practice and introduce students to case management as a social work skills and process for practice. Students will be encouraged to consider the challenges that confront practice informed by such frameworks and develop skills and competencies in core social work processes such as assessment, intervention, evaluation, brokerage, mediation, and advocacy.

Learning Outcomes

• critically reflect on and examine the various frameworks/ discourses that influence the Australian welfare sector and articulate the impact, tensions and demands created by these frameworks for social work service users and workers
• identify and assess interpersonal skills and professional confidence for socially just rights- based practice
• engage in and apply core processes of social work practice
• formulate strategies to assist in the development of personal resilience in a changing and challenging work context

Subject Assessment

• Written > Test/Quiz 1 - (10%) - Individual
• Oral > Presentation 1 - (50%) - Individual
• Written > Reflection/reflective task 1 - (40%) - Individual

Note that minor variations might occur due to the continuous subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.

Assumed Knowledge:  To undertake this subject, students must have successfully completed 12 credit points (four subjects) of level 1 study at tertiary level

Inadmissible Subject Combinations:  WS3512 WS3516

Availabilities