10016 (v.5) SW 231- Statutory Work

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Area:	Department of Social Work and Social Policy
Credits:	25.0
Contact Hours:	3.0
Lecture:	1 x 2 Hours Weekly
Tutorial:	1 x 1 Hours Weekly
Prerequisite(s):	1636 (v.6) SW 122 - Practice Models 1 or any previous version
Syllabus:	Historical discourses of statutory practice, legislative and administrative foundations, tensions between professional practice and statutory obligations including power and authority, self determination, child protection, criminal justice and mental health systems. Working with involuntary clients, interagency collaboration, ethics, confidentiality, procedures such as risk assessments, case conferences, reports. Promotion of emancipatory practice.
Unit Outcomes:	On successful completion of this unit, students will have- Prepared for field work placements and employment in a range of government agencies. Prepared to work within the legal (statutory) frameworks of government agencies with clients who may be involuntary and hostile. Been provided with the basis for students to acquire an understanding of: the history and ideology of some statutory agencies, the impact of the statutory role on traditional social work practice principles and beliefs (eg. confidentiality, the role of relationship in achieving change, the primacy of the individual client and their 'right' to self-determination), potential dilemmas- personal and professional- surrounding power and authority, legal implications of statutory work, the possibility of having to give evidence, be cross-examined, differing perceptions of lawyers and social workers. Made informed decisions about whether to enter statutory work. Developed specialist skills to practice in this area. Understood how statutory organisations work with non-government agencies in the welfare community.
Text and references listed above are for your information only and current as of September 30, 2003. Please check with the unit coordinator for up-to-date information.
Unit References:	AASW Code of Ethics Parton, N., (1997), Child Protection and Family Support - Tensions, Contradictions and Possibilities, London, Routledge. Pease, B., and Camilleri, P., (Eds.), (2001), Working with Men in the Human Services, Crows Nest, Allen and Unwin. White, R. and Perrone, S., (1997), Crime and Social Control - An Introduction, South Melbourne, Oxford University Press.
Unit Texts:	Trotter, C., (1999), Working With Involuntary Clients, St Leonards, Allen and Unwin. Swain, P., (2002), In the Shadow of the Law - The Legal Context of Social Work Practice, 2nd edition, Annandale, Federation Press.
Unit Assessment Breakdown:	Case conference report 20%, Journal 40%, Major Essay 40%. This is by grade/mark assessment.
Year Location Period Internal Area External Central External 2004 Bentley Campus Semester 1 Y