Unit information: Unit 3, Assessment and the Legal Context (Professional Practice with Children and Young People) in 2011/12

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Unit name Unit 3, Assessment and the Legal Context (Professional Practice with Children and Young People)
Unit code SPOL33336
Credit points 20
Level of study H/6
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director Dr. Dugdale
Open unit status Not open
Pre-requisites

Professional skills in practice
Co-requisites

None
School/department School for Policy Studies
Faculty Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

This unit will examine professional practice with children and young people in the areas of assessment and the legal context. It will give particular attention to risk assessment; the role of the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families (DoH, 2000) and subsequent guidance; child welfare law, young people involved in the youth justice system, and provisions for accompanied and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. This unit will enable students to:

1) Examine the application of current research and theoretical developments related to the assessment of children and families;

2) Consolidate skills in risk assessment and in the assessment of children and families with a range of complex needs;

3) Update themselves on current legal provisions relevant to child welfare, including an introduction to youth justice and to the legal framework for immigration and asylum-seeking.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On completion of the Unit, students will be able to:

1) Understand, critically analyse and apply current legal provisions in relation to child care and child welfare;

2) Understand and examine critically current tools and frameworks for the social work assessment of children and their families, and apply this understanding and analysis in the practice context;

3) Demonstrate critical appreciation of the legal context affecting young offenders, and accompanied or unaccompanied asylumseeking children or other groups of children who may come into contact with social work services;

4) Demonstrate critical understanding and application of core social work values, including anti-oppressive practice, child-centred practice and service user perspectives (see the professional Codes of Practice, GSCC, 2002);

Teaching Information

Lectures, seminars, tutorials

Assessment Information

Open book examination (2 1/2 hrs) involving the legal analysis of a set case study.

Reading and References

  • Allen, N. (2005) Making sense of the Children Act, London, John Wiley (4th ed).
  • Bateman T. and Pitts J. (eds), The RHP Companion to Youth Justice. Russell House Publishing.
  • Brayne H. and Carr H. (2005), Law for Social Workers. Oxford, Oxford University Press (9th ed.).
  • Calder M. and Hackett S. (2003) (eds), Assessment in Childcare: Using and developing frameworks for practice. Lyme Regis: Russell House Publishing.
  • Coker J., Finch N. and Stanley A. (2002), Putting Children First: A guide for immigration practitioners.
  • Department of Health (2000), Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families. The Stationery Office, London.

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