Advanced Professional Practice

Unit code: ASW4002 | Study level: Undergraduate
Credit points
48
(Generally, 1 credit = 10 hours of classes and independent study.)
Location
Footscray Park
Prerequisites
288 credit points of core ABSW Bachelor of Social Work (first, second and third year units).
(Or equivalent to be determined by unit coordinator)
Overview
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Overview

This unit builds directly upon the work based learning gained in ASW3002 Professional Practice. Your final placement experience is enhanced by participation in University based seminars. Upon successful completion you will demonstrate your ability to work ethically, critically, professionally and inclusively. This unit helps to prepare you as an emerging graduate for entry into the social work profession, and informs the work you will complete in your second semester capstone units: ASW4003 Social Work Advocacy: Scope, Research, Design and ASW4004 Social Work Advocacy: Social Change in Action.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. Negotiate and validate a plan for professional learning consistent with the placement context of practice and aligned to AASW Graduate Practice Standards and Attributes (2019);
  2. Practice according to social work values, ethics and knowledge in alignment with the AASW Code of Ethics (2010) and AASW Graduate Practice Standards and Attributes (2019);
  3. Exemplify cultural responsiveness, sensitivity and inclusive practice and promote the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their cultures;
  4. Use a broad range of professional communication skills to build and foster collaborative, inclusive and respectful relationships with a diverse range of individuals, groups, colleagues and communities;
  5. Demonstrate intellectual independence through the application of critical thought and judgement in social work practice;
  6. Identify and effectively engage with ethical dilemmas and issues arising in practice; and
  7. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of research and evaluation in generating new knowledge for practice.

Assessment

For Melbourne campuses

Assessment of this unit aligns with the Practice Standards outlined in the Australian Association of Social Workers Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS, 2019). Performance on field placement is assessed in relation to your individual professional learning plan, as detailed in the Social Work Field Education Manual.

Assessment type: Exercise
|
Grade: Pass/Fail
Plan for professional learning
Assessment type: Practicum
|
Grade: Pass/Fail
Mid-placement assessment
Assessment type: Practicum
|
Grade: Pass/Fail
Final placement assessment

Students are required to attend a minimum of 500 hours of supervised field education, which includes 12 hours of attendance and participation in theory-practice integration seminars. In addition, 5 hours of attendance in a pre-placement one-day intensive is required. This requirement is in accordance with the Australian Social Work Education Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS 2019) and the Victoria University Assessment for Learning- Standards for Assessment Procedure.

In the event of illness, students are required to make up missed placement hours. Where circumstances exist so that a student cannot attend the pre-placement intensive and integration seminars in person (e.g. rural/regional/international placement), engagement in the seminars will be by negotiation with the Unit Convenor.

Required reading

The following texts are Recommended Reading only: Cleak, H., & Wilson, J. (2018). Making the most of field placement (4th ed). Cengage Learning. (ebook). Gardner, F. (2014) Being critically reflective: Engaging in holistic practice. Palgrave MacMillan. Gardner, F., Theobald, J., Long, N. & Hickson, H. (2018) Field education: Creating successful placements. Oxford University Press.

As part of a course

This unit is studied as part of the following course(s):

Bachelor of Social Work
ABSW | Bachelor degree | Duration: 4 years

Refer to the course page for information on how to apply for the course. VU takes care to ensure the accuracy of this unit information, but reserves the right to change or withdraw courses offered at any time. Please check that unit information is current with the Student Contact Centre.

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