Structure

The Social and Political Context of Social Work with Children and Families

Principles of Social Work with Children and Families

The Process of Social Work with Children and Families

Direct Work with Children and Young People in the Family

Working with Adults in the Family

Working with the Family as a Group

Working with Children being Looked after by the Local Authority

Empowerment and Partnership in Work with Children and Families

Learning Outcomes

Module 1 – The Social and Political Context of Social Work with Children and Families.
On successful completion of this module the candidate will be able to:

Analyse the concept of the family with reference to historical, sociological and political perspectives.

Explore your own attitudes to the family as an institution.

Module 2 – Principles of Social Work with Children and Families.
On successful completion of this module the candidate will be able to:

Explain the importance of key principles in social work with children and families.

Explain the tensions involved in practice with a principles perspective.

Provide a personal statement of principles.

Explain the process of social work in terms of assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation.

Relate these processes to social work with children and families.

Demonstrate the links between process and good practice.

Module 4 – Direct Work with Children and Young People in the Family.
On successful completion of this module the candidate will be able to:

Identify values and knowledge required for direct work with children and young people.

Identify and critically evaluate particular skills for direct work with children and young people.

Module 5 – Working with Adults in the Family.
On successful completion of this module the candidate will be able to:

Explain the needs of adults in the family.

Give examples of particular needs and how these might be met with social work support.

Module 6 – Working with the Family as a Group.
On successful completion of this module the candidate will be able to:

Identify ways in which social workers can work with the family as a group.

Identify some of the skills for working with the family as a group.

Module 7 – Immediate Protection of the Child.
On successful completion of this module the candidate will be able to:

Suggest some working definitions of child abuse.

Identify some of the problems in defining child abuse.

Suggest some of the main reasons why child abuse occurs.

Explain the key factors you need to take into account in carrying out an assessment of a child thought to be at risk.

Outline how the investigation of suspected child abuse can be carried out.

Explain the main issues involved in working with child protection committees.

Module 8 – Protecting Children 2: Ensuring the Child’s Future Welfare.
On successful completion of this module the candidate will be able to:

Appreciate what is involved in planning, carrying out and following up work with a child who has been harmed.

Work with other family members when a child has been harmed.

Encourage adults and children to participate in planning, carrying out and reviewing the work.

Module 9 – Working with Children being Looked after by the Local Authority.
On successful completion of this module the candidate will be able to:

Define what ‘being looked after in local authority accommodation’ means.

Specify how some children come to be looked after by the local authority.

Identify the legal basis for the local authority looking after children.

Evaluate the risks to children being looked after by the local authority.

Describe the key features of social work with children being looked after by the local authority.

Specify how work to place children with foster carers should be carried out.

Module 10 – Social Work with Families through Transitions, Loss and Gain.
On successful completion of this module the candidate will be able to:

Describe some transitions family members need to negotiate and explain the impact they have on family members.

Explain the impact of some losses and gains on family members.

Identify ways in which social workers may work with the family at times of transition.

Module 11 – Children and Families and Special Needs.
On successful completion of this module the candidate will be able to:

Identify the use and value of appropriate language in relation to children with special needs.

Describe the legal framework for children with special needs in England and Wales.

Evaluate the relationship between needs and services for children with special needs and their families.

Inform your social work practice with an understanding of anti-oppressive issues.

Module 12 – Empowerment and Partnership in Work with Children and Families.
On successful completion of this module the candidate will be able to:

Summarise the concepts of empowerment and Partnership.

Apply the concepts of empowerment and partnership in your work with children and families.