SWM5103 - Supervised professional practice 1 - 2018

Supervised Professional Practice 1 enables students to observe, practice and critically reflect on the role of social work in a health or human services context and to develop an emerging professional social work identity.

The unit comprises a minimum of 500 hours of supervised field education. Students are allocated to a suitable placement provider, which may focus on direct practice; community development; or social research, policy or project work.

Students are supported to integrate theoretical knowledge with practice skills and are supervised in the field by a qualified and experienced social work Field Educator and an allocated University Liaison Person.

Upon successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

1. Apply the AASW Code of Ethics to the practice context.
2. Identify the placement provider's legal and political context within the health and human services field.
3. Explain the legislation and social policies that influence the field of practice.
4. Articulate the theories and methods relevant to the placement context and critically reflect on their use and application.
5. Apply effective communication skills within the placement context.
6. Assume responsibility for self-learning and professional development while on placement.
7. Critically apply knowledge of assessment, intervention and referral skills to the field of practice.
8. Critically analyse different types of social research and their application to social work in the context of the placement setting.
9. Interpret and adapt knowledge of cultural diversity in order to work in a culturally responsive and inclusive manner in a social work context.

   Students must also provide evidence of completion of at least 500 hours of field placement.

The AASW set down the workload requirements for a Field Placement: 500 hours

• 14 x Weekly structured critical reflection (200 words each)
• 14 Completed records of supervision (100 words each)
• Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Checklist (100 words)
• Self-care plan (1,000 words)
• Brief literature review (500 words)
• Observed demonstration of communication skills (Part A) (20 minutes)
• Mid-placement review report (500 words)
• Observed demonstration of communication skills (Part B - critical reflection) (10 minutes)
• Personal professional practice framework (2,500 words)
• Final placement review report (500 words)
• Completed placement timesheet

Mid-way through the placement, the allocated social work Field Educator and the student should review and assess the student's progress and performance against each of the nine key Learning Areas, using the rating guide provided in the Placement Workbook. This forms the basis for the Mid-placement Report, which provides the student with formative feedback for the remainder of the placement.

Towards the end of the placement, the allocated social work Field Educator and the student should review and assess the student's progress and performance against each of the nine key Learning Areas, using the rating guide provided in the Placement Workbook. This forms the basis for the Final Placement Report, which provides the student with summative feedback about their placement performance and a recommendation to the University for a pass or fail grade.

To meet AASW accreditation requirements and pass the unit, the student must reach a level of 'beginning capability' (2) for all nine Learning Areas by the end of the placement. This means the student is capable of practicing under close guidance and supervision.

The unit is pass grade only (PGO).

The AASW set down the workload requirements for a Field Placement.

Please note: The teaching dates for this unit vary from the standard teaching datesstandard teaching dates (http://www.monash.edu/enrolments/dates/census) for this teaching period.

Unit discontinuation and penalty dates for these units are different to other units taught in the same teaching period.

Please refer to the information available on the Faculty's non-standard teaching datesFaculty's non-standard teaching dates (http://www.med.monash.edu.au/enrolments/non-standard-dates.html) page to avoid academic and financial penaltiesacademic and financial penalties (http://www.monash.edu/enrolments/processes/change/add-or-discontinue-units#penalties).

See also Unit timetable information

Social work

http://www.med.monash.edu.au/socialwork/