SWTP219 - Law and Social Work

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

Teaching organisation

Unit rationale, description and aim

Social workers are often required to understand relevant legislation governing practice in diverse areas and to understand and deal with the impact of the legal system on people. This unit will introduce students to key laws relevant to social work practice and explore ways in which the legal system influences and interacts with social work practice. The aim of this unit is for students to develop an understanding of the relevant knowledge and skills required for working in a legal context, and explore the impact of the legal system on a range of population groups. The social justice and human rights focus of ethical social work practice in legal and statutory contexts will be examined. This unit enables students to develop awareness of legal and ethical knowledge to inform practice and to demonstrate effective recording and communication skills and ethical practice as important components in social work practice.