Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (12/07/2024 - 15/11/2024)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 6
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Nursing, Midwifery & Social Wk
Second supervised practice experience in a social welfare agency. Placement of 500 hours duration in a social welfare agency, focusing on integration of practice experience with course material and companion courses. The placement runs for approximately four days a week for 18 weeks commencing two weeks prior to the beginning of the semester.
You have reached the final stage of your program and stand at the threshold of professional practice. The skills and interests you have been developing, the work you have done, and the sacrifices you have made to get this far will come into their own over the next few months.
Make the most of this final placement!
The more clear you are about your own goals for the placement, and how they link with the Learning Objectives of the course overall, the more likely it is that you will have a positive and constructive experience.
The School and the Practice Education Team are committed to supporting you through this challenging, exciting time.
Course requirements
Assumed background
The prerequisite for SWSP4266 is the successful completion of Years 1, 2, 3 and semester 1 of year 4 of the BSocWk(Hons) program including Professional Practiceﾠ courses.
During placement it is expected that students review the content ﾠof all previous year's courses in order to facilitate linking between academic and practice learning.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
SWSP3155. Students undertake SWSP4266 in their final semester of study.
Companion or co-requisite courses
You'll need to complete the following courses at the same time:
SWSP4100
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
SWSP7088, SWSP7266, SWSP4088, SWSP7288, SWSP7366
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
In order to successfully complete this placement you must do at least 500 hours. No credit is available for travel time to and from placement, sick-days or public holidays.
The Integration Workshops are mandated by the AASW as an essential part of your professional training. As such, we consider participation inﾠ them to be a fundamental ﾠaspect of all social work programs. They offer you an opportunity to reflect on your field experiences and to interact with highly skilled social workers (as well as your student colleagues) in a supportive environment. The Integration Workshops are where you consolidate your learning.
Only those students who attend for the entirety of the session (or who are on placement in a regional area and access the recording as a result) are able to credit the two hours toward their placement.
Your attendance is strongly encouraged.
All Integration Workshops are conducted via Zoom. The sessions are NOT recorded. The Zoom link will be made available via the course Blackboard site.
Integration Workshop 1 on Friday, 2 August, 2:00pm to 3:50pm.
Students who attend the session may count two-hours of this session towards placement.
Integration Workshop 2 on Friday, 4 October, 2:00pm to 3:50pm.
Students who attend the session may countﾠ two-hours of this session towards placement.
For all information regarding placement attendance, see the Social Work Practice Education Guide 2024, pp. 9-18.
Aims and outcomes
SWSP4266 aims to afford students ﾠthe opportunity to develop and demonstrate the skills and knowledge appropriate to Australian social work practice at a new-graduate level within the context of an existing social work service.
Upon successfully completing SWSP4266, students will be able to demonstrate they are 'competent, effective, skilled, knowledge-based, ethicalﾠ and confident practitioners'.ﾠ
As per the AASW accreditation guidelines, students will 'have a commitment to social justice and social change in the interests of the citizens of their society, recognising that there are competing views of desirable approaches to the organisation of society and the provision of social services. They will have the ability to think critically and reflectively about their practice, and a commitment to intervene in the interests of the client groups they serve.'
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate the consistent application of the AASW Code of Ethics (2020) to all aspects of practice in the placement agency. (Values and ethics)
LO2.
Articulate professional purpose taking account of context, client needs and capacities, social work knowledge, theory, skills and values and the power and authority inherent in the social workers role. (Professionalism)
LO3.
Recognise and manage the impact of institutionalised racism on how social work may be perceived by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients and other culturally and linguistically diverse service users. (Culturally responsive and inclusive practice)
LO4.
Articulate a coherent practice framework incorporating critical reflection, theoretical positions and a reflexive examination of your skills and knowledge. (Knowledge for practice)
LO5.
In collaboration with clients, assess needs and appropriate interventions using evidence-informed independent critical thought and judgement. (Applying knowledge to practice)
LO6.
Establish and maintain respectful and accountable relationships with a diverse range of clients, engaging in effective rapport-building and professional dialogue, taking into account their varying communication capacities and needs. (Communication and interpersonal skills)
LO7.
Maintain accurate, comprehensive records, including the documentation of all interventions and assessments in accordance with ethical principles and relevant legislation, using agency templates and storage facilities. Develop templates where necessary. (Information recording and sharing)
LO8.
Monitor and manage your professional development needs, attitudes and behaviour to promote and advance social work practice by actively engaging with supervision, research, academic literature and professional learning opportunities. (Professional development and supervision)
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reflection | Practice Reflection 1 | Pass/Fail |
By 1pm Monday 7th week of Placement. |
| Reflection | Mid-point Evaluation | Pass/Fail |
Approximately 8th week of Placement. |
| Reflection | Practice Reflection 2 | Pass/Fail |
By 1pm Monday 11th week of Placement. |
| Reflection | Final Placement Evaluation | Pass / Fail |
Must be completed prior to end of Placement. |
Assessment details
Practice Reflection 1
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Reflection
- Weight
- Pass/Fail
- Due date
By 1pm Monday 7th week of Placement.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08
Task description
Practice Reflection 1 (500 words).
See the 2024 Practice Education Guide (sec. 4.3) for detailed information regarding this task.
Submission guidelines
Submitted via Turnitin on course Blackboard site.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Contact your UQ Liaison person if you experience any problems completing on time.
Late submission
Contact your UQ Liaison person if you experience any problems completing on time.
Mid-point Evaluation
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Reflection
- Weight
- Pass/Fail
- Due date
Approximately 8th week of Placement.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08
Task description
At the approximate mid-point of the placement, the supervisor is asked to complete, and submit to the University, a mid-placement review. This will fall around week 8 of your placement. Note that this is an approximate date only: individual placement circumstances will vary. Dates and times should be negotiated with your Supervisor. This is the student's responsibility.
This provides a basis for identifying the extent of your progress and any specific learning tasks that need to be completed in the remaining portion of the placement to assist you to pass the placement.
The review evaluates your performance against the Learning Curriculum and the course Learning Objectives.
A template to be used in the review is available in Learning Resources on the course Blackboard site.
A PDF of the evaluation report, signed and dated by the Supervisor and co-signed/dated by the Student, must be uploaded to Turnitin by the student.
Submission guidelines
This assessment requires students to submit an electronic version of their assignment via Blackboard.
The anti-plagiarism software Turnitin is being used at UQ. The electronic version of your assignment will be submitted via Blackboard, using the Turnitin software. Work submitted will be subjected to a plagiarism detection process.
Please refer to ITS help if you experience difficulties in submitting your assessment in Blackboard or using Turnitin.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Urgently contact your UQ Liaison person if you experience any problems completing on time.
Late submission
Urgently contact your UQ Liaison person if you experience any problems completing on time.
Practice Reflection 2
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Reflection
- Weight
- Pass/Fail
- Due date
By 1pm Monday 11th week of Placement.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08
Task description
Practice Reflection 2 (500 words).
See the 2024 Practice Education Guide (sec. 4.3) for detailed information regarding this task.
Submission guidelines
Submitted via Turnitin on course Blackboard site.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Contact your UQ Liaison person if you experience any problems completing on time.
Late submission
Contact your UQ Liaison person if you experience any problems completing on time.
Final Placement Evaluation
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Reflection
- Weight
- Pass / Fail
- Due date
Must be completed prior to end of Placement.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08
Task description
At a point no later than the final week of the placement, the Supervisor is asked to complete a Final Placement Evaluation, using the template available in Learning Resources on the course Blackboard site. This will fall around week 18 of your placement.
Note that this is an approximate date only: individual placement circumstances will vary. Dates and times should be negotiated with your Supervisor. This is your responsibility.
The review evaluates your performance against the Learning Curriculum and the course Learning Objectives.
The review should be a discussion between Student and Supervisor, in which the student's performance and development across the entirety of the placement are reflected upon and evaluated as either Pass or Fail.
A PDF of the evaluation report, signed and dated by the Supervisor and the Student, will be uploaded to Turnitin by the student.
Submission guidelines
This assessment requires students to submit an electronic version of their assignment via Blackboard.
The anti-plagiarism software Turnitin is being used at UQ. The electronic version of your assignment will be submitted via Blackboard, using the Turnitin software. Work submitted will be subjected to a plagiarism detection process.
Please refer to ITS help if you experience difficulties in submitting your assessment in Blackboard or using Turnitin.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Urgently contact your UQ Liaison person if you experience any problems completing on time.
Late submission
Urgently contact your UQ Liaison person if you experience any problems completing on time.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Pass/Fails | Description |
|---|---|
| P |
Course grade description: Students should consult their manual for detailed instructions. There are two evaluation events - the first at mid-placement is designed to provide feedback on progress to date, with the second and final evaluation scored to indicate whether each specific aspect of the module has been achieved at a passing level. To pass this course students must complete the required number of placement hours and must pass in all aspects of each module, as detailed in the final evaluation form. |
| F |
Course grade description: Not withstanding achieving passing rankings as outlined above, a student may fail a placement if their behaviour in an instance is deemed to be unprofessional or unethical, malicious or dangerous by the Field educator and/or Field tutor. In such a circumstance a student may have their placement terminated and they may be assigned a failing grade. Students will fail a placement if they do not complete the hours or do not achieve a pass in each element of each module, as detailed on the final evaluation. |
Additional course grading information
In order to pass this course you must successfully complete 500 hours of placement in your assigned agency. It is an AASW requirement that all absences (including public holidays and days off due to illness or other circumstances) must be made up.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is not available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Information in this section relates to applications for an extension to the placement itself, i.e. an extension to enable students to complete the requisite number of hours at their agency.
Information regarding extensions to submissable work related to placement may be found under each assessment item.
- Students must completeﾠ all of the placement assessment requirements and placement hours (including workshops) ﾠto a satisfactory standard and within the required timeframeﾠ to pass the course. Students who do not complete all placement assessment requirements and placement hours ﾠwill receive a failing grade with no option for formal ﾠsupplementary assessment.
- Students requiring a ﾠformal extension to placement within the semesterﾠ due to absences of 4 consecutive days or more (not single days due to illness etc.)ﾠ mustﾠ submit a formal application to the Program Lead, Bachelor of Social Work (Honours), with a CC to the their Principal Practice Educator (PPE) in the ﾠPractice Education Team.
- Application must be made using the ﾠApplication for Extension to Field Placementﾠ form available on Blackboard ﾠfor the relevant placement course.
- The application ﾠmust be substantiated with supporting evidence ﾠsuch as a medical certificate or ﾠStatutory Declaration.
- Approval for extension rests with the Program Lead, who will consult with the PPE when making the decision. Approval ﾠwill only be granted in exceptional circumstances, on a case by case basis.
Note also that:
- Students who commence ﾠplacement and are unable to complete ﾠthe semester ﾠare encouraged toﾠ apply to the University to ﾠwithdraw fromﾠ the course ﾠﾠwithout academic penalty. Further information on how to apply to withdraw without academic penalty can be accessed through ﾠonline. Please note that students who withdraw from placement at any stage of the semester ﾠwill need to repeat the entire placement in a future semester. It is not possible to "carry over" completed placement hours or assessment items.
- Students who do not meet the academic field standards required during the latter part of the placement, ﾠbut ﾠare considered by their Field Educator and PPE to be ﾠlikely to reach the required standards for the placement in the same enrolment with more time and remedial intervention, may be permitted a short extension of time to reach the ﾠminimum standard. This is determined by the Program Lead, Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) following consultation with the PPE and receipt of a ﾠstatement of ﾠlearningﾠ fromﾠ the student. The extension of time and remedial intervention is expected to take place in the same agency, or another agency, as per the ASWEAS (2012) Accreditation Field Education Guidelines.
- For details in relation to difficulties occurring on placement, please refer to the ﾠ2024 Social Work Practice Education Guide, Chapter 5.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Each student is assigned a UQﾠLiaison - an experienced social worker who will undertake two liaison visits across the course of the placement. During this visit, the Liaison will meet with the student and Supervisor individually and together in the first part of placement and again in the second half of placement.
You'll be advised by email when your Liaisonﾠ is assigned.
If you have any concerns while on placement which your Supervisor is unable to address, don't hesitate to contact your assigned Liaisonﾠ for advice.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (01 Jul - 07 Jul) |
Workshop |
Pre-placement Workshop This compulsory workshop focuses on practical arrangements for placement and your responsibilities. This will be conducted over Zoom. A link will be circulated prior to the session via the placement Blackboard site. Please be advised that week 1 of this course commences on 1st July to coincide with most students placement allocation. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Week 5 (29 Jul - 04 Aug) |
Workshop |
Integration Workshop 1 Designed to facilitate your ability to link academic learning with practice. At the core of each session will be your experiences on placement. The workshops are a place to critically reflect and to support each other through the rewards and challenges of the field. This workshop focuses on practical arrangements for placement and your responsibilities. To be conducted over Zoom. A link will be circulated prior to the session via the placement Blackboard site. Please be advised that week 4 of this course commences on 22nd July to coincide with most students placement allocation. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Week 13 (30 Sep - 06 Oct) |
Workshop |
Integration Workshop 2 Designed to facilitate your ability to link academic learning with practice. At the core of each session will be your experiences on placement. The workshops are a place to critically reflect and to support each other through the rewards and challenges of the field. This workshop focuses on practical arrangements for placement and your responsibilities. To be conducted over Zoom. A link will be circulated prior to the session via the placement Blackboard site. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Additional learning activity information
The essence of this course is the field placement component: 500 hours spent in a social welfare agency, gaining direct experience.
The workshops listed above are highly recommended but not compulsory. They are held via zoom to make attendance as simple as possible.
Students who attend a workshop and participate (engage in discussions, have their camera turned on) for the whole 2-hours are able to credit the time to their placement.
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
You'll also need to be aware of the following policies and procedures while completing this course:
- Placement
- Working with Children
- Fitness to Practise
- Immunisation