SPOL41000 Prep forProfessional Practice2

Academic Year 2023/2024

Preparation for Professional Practice 2 is an intensive, focused module designed to ensure that students have a high level of knowledge and skills in the core elements of professional practice. The module builds on the strong foundation which students receive in Preparation for Practice 1 Module. Students will be enabled to further expand their knowledge of key components of practice learning, the role and purpose of supervision, and also provide them with input on topics such as Assisted Decision-Making in Practice, Court Report Writing, Direct Work with Children, Risk and Quality Improvement, Collaborative Working in Adult Safeguarding, self-care and Leadership and Management. The module is underpinned by the values and ethics of professional social work. Preparation for Practice 2 module will also equip students with vital skills for embarking on their professional careers such as C.V. preparation, looking after their health and wellbeing and a working knowledge and understanding of CORU professional registration and Continuing Professional Development requirements.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this module students should be able to:
-Practice within the ethical boundaries of their profession
-Draw upon appropriate knowledge and skills for professional judgements and decision-making
- Know and understand the essential knowledge areas relevant for social work
-Be competent in core skills such as professional writing,court report writing,direct work with children and adult safeguarding
-Know and understand the requirements of CORU professional registration and continuing professional development requirements for social workers

Students should be able to meet the following Social Workers Registration Board (CORU) standards of proficiency appropriate to Year 2 development:
Domain 1: Professional autonomy and accountability
1.1 Be able to practise safely and effectively within the legal and ethical boundaries of their profession
1.2 Be able to identify the limits of their practice and know when to seek advice and additional expertise and refer to another professional
1.3 Be able to act in the best interest of service users at all times with due regard to their will and preference
1.4 Be aware of current guidelines and legislation related to candour and disclosure.
1.5 Respect and uphold the rights, dignity and autonomu of every service user including their role in the diagnostic, therapeutic and social care process.
1.6 Be able to exercise a professional duty of care.
1.7 Understand the importance of maintaining accurate up to date documentation.
1.8. Understand what is required of them by the Registration Board and be familiar with the provisions of the current Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for the profession issued by the Registration Board
1.9 Recognise the importance of practising in a non-discriminatory, culturally sensitive way and acknowledge and respect the differences in beliefs and cultural practices of individuals or groups
1.10 Understand the role of policies and systems to protect the health, safety, welfare, equality and dignity of service users, staff and volunteers
1.11 Understand the respect the confidentiality of service users and use information only for the purpose for which it was given
1.12 Understand the limits of confidentiality in the context of a variety of team settings
1.13 Understand and be able to apply the limits of the concept of confidentiality particularly in relation to child protection, vulnerable adults and elder abuse
1.14 Be aware of current data protection, freedom of information and other legislation relevant to the profession and be able to access new and emerging legislation
1.16 Be able to gain informed consent to carry out assessments or provide treatment/interventions and document evidence that consent has been obtained
1.17 Be aware of current legislation and guidelines related to informed consent, for individuals with lack of capacity
1.18 Recognise personal responsibility and professional accountability for one's actions and be able to justify professional decisions made
1.19 Be able to take responsibility for managing one's own workload
1.20 Understand the principles of professional decison-making and be able to make infomred decisions within the context of competing demands including those related to ethical conflicts and available resources
2.21 Be aware of and be able to take responsibility for managing one's own health and wellbeing
Domain 2: Communication, Collaborative Practice and Teamworking
2.1 be able to communicate diagnose/assessment and/or treatment/management options in a way that can be understood by the service user including non-voluntary service users
2.2 Be able to modify and adapt communication methods and styles, including verbal and nonverbal methods to suit the individual service users considering issues of language, culture, beliefs and health and/or social care needs
2.3 Recognise service users as active participants in their health and social care and be able to support service users in communicating their health and/or social care needs, choices and concerns
2.9 Be able to express professional, informed and considered opinions to service users, health professionals and others e.g. carers, relatives in varied practice settings and contexts and within the boundaries of confidentiality
2.10 Understand and be able to recognise the impact and importance of effective leadership and management on practice
2.11 Understand and be able to discuss the importance of effective conflict management
2.12 Understand the need to work in partnership with service users, their relatives/carers, guardians and other professionls in planning and evaluating goals, treatments and interventions and be aware of the concepts of power and authority in relationships with service users
2.13 Understand the need to build and sustain professional relationships as both an independent practitioner and collaboratively as a member of a team
2.14 Understand the role and impact of effective interdisciplinary team working in meeting service user needs and be able to effectively contribute to decision-making within a team setting
2.15 Understand the role of relationships with professional colleagues and other workers in service delivery and the need to create professional relationships based on mutual respect and trust
Domain 3:Safety and trust
3.1 Be able to gather all appropriate background information relevant to the service user's health and social care needs
3.2 Be able to justify the selection of and implement appropriate assessment techniques and be able to undertake and record a thorough, sensitive and detailed assessment
3.4 be able to analyse and critically evaluate the information collected in the assessment process
3.5 be able to demonstrate sound logical reasoning and problem solving skills to determine problem lists, action plans and goals
3.6 Be able to demonstrate an evidence-informed approach to professional decision-making , adapting practice to the needs of the service user and draw on appropriate knowledge and skills in order to make professional judgments
3.7 Be able to prioritise and maintain the safety of both service users and those involved in their care
3.8 Be able to evaluate intervention plans using appropriate tools and recognised performance/outcome measures along with service users responses to the interventions. revise the plans as necessary and where appropriate, in conjunction with the service user
3.9 Understand the need to monitor, evaluate and/or audit the quality of practice and be able to critically evaluate one's own practice against evidence-based standards and implement improovements based on the findings of these audits and reviews
3.10 Be able to recognise important risk factors and implement risk management strategies; be able to make reasoned decisions and/or provide guidance to others to initiate, continue, modify or cease interventions, techniques or courses of action and record decisions and concerns
3.13 be able to have knowledge of critical engagement with relevant and current health and safety legislation and guidelines
Domain 4 Professional Development
3.14 Be able to establish safe environments for practice which minimises risks to service users, those treating them and others
Domain 4. Professional Development
4.1 Be able to engage in and take responsibility for professional development
4.2 Understand the need to demonstrate evidence of ongoing continuing professional development and education, be aware of professional regulation requirements and understand the benefits of continuing professional development to professional practice
4.3 Be able to evaluate and reflect critically on own professional practice to identify learning an development needs; be able to select appropriate learning activities to achieve professional development goals and be able to integrate new knowledge and skills into professional practice.
Domain 5. Professional Knowledge and Skills
5.1 Know, understand and apply key concepts of the domains of knowledge which are relevant to the profession for individuals, groups and communities
5.2 Demonstrate a critical understanding of social work theory, methods and skills, social policy and social research, including consideration in a global context
5.5 critically understand and be able to apply principles of social justice in one's work including being able to appropriately challenge negative discrimination and unjust policies and practices
5.6 Demonstrate a critical understanding of cultural competence; and work towards social inclusion
5.7 Critically understand and apply a human rights based approach
5.8 Critically understand the legislative basis of actions within a service
5.9 Demonstrate an awareness and critical understanding of how social work practice is influenced by regulations, national guidelines and standards, findings of inquiries, investigations, associated reports; issues and trends in public and policy development; and be able to access new and emerging information which affects social work practice
5.10 critically understand the role and purpose of relationship based practice, including the importance of planning the withdrawal of services
5.11 Be able to maintain professional boundaries with service users within a variety of social work settings and be able to identify and manage any associated challenges
5.13 Be able to evaluate the effect of their own characteristics, values and practice on interactions with service users and be able to critically reflect on this to improve practice
5.15 Recognise the role of advocacy in promoting the needs and interests of service users; be able to advocate on the behalf of service users
5.16 Critically understand the capacity of system-level change to improve outcomes, access to care, and delivery of services, particularly for marginalised groups
5.17 Recognise that service users have the right to self-determination including to take risks
5.20 Be able to write concise, accurate reports which articulate and justify professional decisions made
5.21 Know and critically understand the principles, ethics and applications of scientific enquiry, including the evaluation of treatment/intervention efficacy, the research process and evidence-informed practice
5.22 Demonstrate skills in evidence-informed practice, including translation of theory, concepts and methods to professional practice
5.23 Demonstrate safe and effective implementation of practical, technical and clinical skills
5.24 Be able to identify and critically understand the impact of organisational, governmental, community and societal structures, systems and culture on health and social care