SWRK 4120 Learning Outcomes
Mid-Term and Final Term
Learning outcomes refer to what a student is expected to possess and demonstrate during his or her course instruction. Specific learning objectives are identified in the field evaluation completed at mid-term and final term. In order to provide specific measurement outcomes, the following series of tasks have been identified to guide and assess students in their demonstrated learning. These tasks also serve to support the development of essential skills and attributes required for the study of social work in areas of communication, ethical and professional behavior, cognition, critical thinking, as well as assessment, intervention and evaluation. As a result of participating in final field placement, SWRK 4120, a student will be able to respond to the following, in formal supervision with field instructor or in reflective journals:
Professionalism and Ethical Standards / Date of Completion- As you move forward in final field, you are expected to strengthen your knowledge and skills as a beginning professional. Assess your own social work skills and knowledge and describe 3-4 areas in which you have demonstrated growth and development this term.
- Describe the mandate of your placement agency. Identify and describe 3 examples of how you have carried out the agency’s mandate.
- Reflect upon how your documentation skills in practice have evolved from first field to current placement. Describe the methods you have taken to ensure that your documentation is respectful and unbiased.
- Explain the meaning of professional boundaries. Provide an example of how you have purposefully developed and maintained professional boundaries.
- Identify and discuss with your field instructor a practice situation which has presented some ethical challenges. Describe how this relates to your own values and the Code of Ethics. Identify how you resolved this ethical dilemma.
- Explain the meaning of the right to self-determination in social work practice. Are there situations in which the right to self-determination should be limited? Please explain.
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Assessment and Intervention Skills in Practice / Date of Completion- Assess your own interpersonal communication skills. Identify how these skills have further developed from the point of first field placement to current year. Identify the interpersonal communication skills that you would like to improve and strengthen in the future. Identify the steps you plan to take in order to promote and strengthen these skills?
- Identify 2-3 social work skills you have effectively used in working with an involuntary or challenging client.
- Identify 3-4 of the skills you have used in preparing for and conducting interviews with clients and collaterals.
- Describe two examples of how you have intervened with regard to a client’s goals or concerns. Explain the purpose and outcome of this intervention.
- With reference to two different situations, provide examples of how you have integrated theoretical frameworks into practice. Specify how these frameworks have influenced the assessment or intervention plan in each situation.
- Specify the methods you have you used to assist clients in building greater social supports? Identify what has been most effective in your approach. Identify 2-3 challenges you have encountered when working with clients in strengthening their social networks?
- Describe a client situation in which you have had to address a lack of progress toward goals and to modify accordingly. Describe how you prepared for this meeting and what was the outcome?
- Identify the systems and the type of disciplines you have worked with during your final field. Describe what the other systems/disciplines offer in terms of perspective. Identify 2-3 challenges you have faced in working with other systems.
Reflective Capacity and Critical Analysis / Date of Completion
- Consider your own personal history and experiences associated with ethnicity, age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, or abilities. Describe how these experiences impact upon your practice.
- Describe a specific example of how you have applied both the critical and constructive feedback, received from your field instructor, in your social work practice.
- In a final field, it is expected that students assume greater independence in professional judgment and decision-making. Describe how you have demonstrated this in your final field placement.
- Describe an ethical dilemma you have experienced in your current practice. Identify the steps you took to address this with your field instructor and describe the outcome of this situation.
- In the context of your current placement, critically evaluate your own practice. Identify what steps you have taken and/or are prepared to take in order to strengthen specific skills and knowledge.
Fostering and Promoting of Human Rights and Social Justice / Date of Completion
- Identify and explain how issues of inequality impact your clients. Describe the actions you have taken to address these issues and to serve your clients more effectively.
- Identify the strategies you have used to empower clients in your social work practice. Provide an example which details how you have attempted to “empower” others and the outcome of this approach. Identify 3-4 barriers that clients have faced in an attempt to advocate for themselves.
- Social Work is a human rights profession. Explain why you agree or disagree with this statement.
- Define cultural competence in social work practice. What specific measures have you taken to enhance your cultural competence in practice?
- Describe a casework situation and identify the following: (a) steps you have taken to promote a safe environment for a client; and (b) steps you have taken to contribute to a healthy and/or safe work environment in your field agency.
Integration of Policy and Practice / Date of Completion
- Identify the social policies of relevance within your field setting. Describe the following: (a) how this defines the responsibilities of the agency as a whole; and (b) how this impacts the roles and responsibilities of social work within the community.
- Identify one of the most critical social issues impacting the clients you serve. Identify and describe how specific social policies help to support and/or hinder clients’ progress.
- Summarize the research you have been involved in, directly or indirectly, within your field setting. Respond to the following: (a) Provide three reasons why research is an essential tool for creating knowledge and strengthening practice; and (b) Evaluate your own practice with individuals, agencies and/or communities, including future goals for development.
- Identify 3 provincial or federal social welfare programs and describe the strengths and limitations of each. Provide at least one example of the steps you have taken to assist a client to navigate a specific program.
- Identify how information gathered from a community needs assessment or community asset mapping process has been used (or could be used) to impact practice decisions and actions.
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