Unit rationale, description and aim
Social Workers are regularly faced with complex situations. Knowledge of theories and ethics can assist them to better understand these issues and provide a framework for responding to their clients. This unit provides students with an understanding of the ethical theories, and social work theories for practice. It introduces critical theory, structural, feminist, systems and ecological perspectives relevant for contemporary social work practice. The theoretical frameworks considered are those relevant for social work intervention in various fields and modes of practice. Emphasis will be given to the value and ethical foundations for social work, including a consideration of the philosophical and religious sources of ethics. An essential element of study in this unit is the influence of the personal and professional self, and the development of the skills of critical reflection and critical analysis. The overarching aim of this unit is for students to understand multiple social work and ethical theories and be able to apply those to case scenarios.
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Identify how a range of social work theories infor...
Learning Outcome 01
Articulate and critique the purpose, values, and e...
Learning Outcome 02
Articulate a critical understanding of the relatio...
Learning Outcome 03
Articulate a range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait...
Learning Outcome 04
Conceptualise and critique ethical issues and dile...
Learning Outcome 05
Apply ethical and social work practice theories to...
Learning Outcome 06
Topics will include:
Contemporary social work theories and perspectives
• Critical theory
• Indigenous knowledges
• Structural and post-structural-theories
• Feminist theories
• Systems and ecological perspectives
• Psychodynamic perspectives
Ethical and values perspectives in social work
• Deontological theories
• Utilitarianism\Teleological theories
• Virtue ethics
• Ethics of care
• The capability approach
Social work ethics and values in practice
• AASW Code of ethics
• Social work ethical principles and values
• Ethical reasoning and ethical dilemmas
• Ethical decision making models
• Influences of personal, professional and societal values on practice
The relationships between social work theories and practice
• Reflective practice
• Models of integrating theory
Assessment strategy and rationale
This unit takes an authentic assessment approach allowing students to demonstrate their learning and competency in application of theories to social work practice. The first assessment is a quiz designed to ensure students are familiar with and understand the content of the AASW Code of Ethics (LO2, 5). The Code of Ethics is an essential document for guiding and ensuring ethical social work practice. In the second assessment students are required to show comprehensive understanding of two social work theories and outline how these theories would inform and guide their practice with a particular client (LO1,2,3,4,6). The third assessment is an essay which requires students to show informed ethical decision making by applying ethical theories and decision- making frameworks to challenges that can arise in practice with various client groups (LO1,2,3,5,6). Together these assessments ensure students are prepared for ethical social work practice, and are informed by social work theories when engaging with clients. Students who pass the unit will have demonstrated sufficient ethical and theoretical knowledge to be ready for their first placement.
Overview of assessments
Short answer quiz: Enables students to demonstrat...
Short answer quiz: Enables students to demonstrate their understanding of and familiarity with the AASW Code of Ethics (2020).
Essay: The purpose of the essay is to facilitate ...
Essay: The purpose of the essay is to facilitate learning about the role of particular ethical theories. The essay focuses the students’ learning on the process of ethical decision making.
Essay: To encourage student’s understanding of a ...
Essay: To encourage student’s understanding of a range of social work theories and application of theories to practice.
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
Teaching and learning strategies for this unit will include lectures, small group discussions, and skill development workshops. Students will be expected to take responsibility for their learning and to participate actively in class discussions.
This unit involves 150 hours of learning with 36 hours of face-to-face lectures, and tutorials. Lectures will provide detailed content about ethical theories and social work theories and how to professionally work through ethical dilemmas. Tutorials will incorporate case scenarios for the students to practice their application of theory to practice. The assessment for this unit ensures students are familiar with the AASW Code of Ethics, can conduct informed ethical decision making, and apply social work theories to case scenarios. The approach adopted in this unit ensures that students integrate ethical theories and social work practice theories in practice, preparing students for successful professional practice.
In order to pass this unit, you are required to undertake the following assessment tasks, achieve a grade of at least 50% and meet the 80% attendance requirements. Attendance is required in tutorials for students to have opportunities to practise and demonstrate their ability to apply theory and ethical frameworks to complex and varied case examples, across diverse fields of practice. This is essential preparation for the first Field Education experience. The assessment tasks for this unit are designed for you to demonstrate your achievement of each learning outcome.
AASW GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES
On successful completion of this unit, students should have developed their ability to:
AASW Practice Standards
This Unit has been mapped to the AASW Practice Standards. The following table sets out the broad relationship between the Learning Outcomes, ACU Graduate Attributes and the AASW Practice Standards