| CODE | SWP1320 | ||||||||
| TITLE | The Regulatory Context of Social Welfare | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Social Policy and Social Work | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The practice of social work and social policy takes place within a legal and regulatory infrastructure. Law and regulation shape the design and delivery of social policy and social work services, and also shape the options and activities of social workers and service users. Understanding the impact of the law and the broader statutory framework upon social welfare provision will help social professionals to function more effectively and ethically, and to empower their service users to be active co-producers in the services provided to them. The study-unit introduces students to the meaning and nature of law, to the Maltese legal system, and to the main influences that have moulded it. It does so from the perspective of the social sector that has been shaped, and in turn has shaped, the statutory framework within which it operates. Students are introduced to the Constitution of Malta and to the way in which laws are made, distinguishing between primary and subsidiary legislation and between civil and criminal law. The roles of the various parties involved in drafting, interpreting and enforcing the law are explained. Focus is placed upon regulatory provisions particularly relevant to social welfare, including education, employment, social security, health and housing, and particularly upon the law regulating the social work profession. Students will also be introduced to instruments other than law, such as policy circulars, eligibility provisions, and administrative decisions. Study-unit Aims: This study-unit aims to familiarise social work and social policy students with the Maltese legal system, the main social statutory framework, and the more complex regulatory provisions that govern social work and social policy in Malta. It also aims to familiarise students with the way laws, regulations, other statute and administrative decisions that have a major bearing on professional practice, are made and upheld, introducing students to the organisation of the justice system and the social welfare and protection systems. It aims to encourage students to think critically about the relationship between the law, the regulatory framework, its context and its impact on social welfare, and to equip them with the skills to represent service users in the statutory provisions that impact them. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Describe an outline of the Maltese legal framework, and of the organisation of the justice system; - Describe the scope and key provisions of the regulatory framework governing education, employment, health, housing, social security and social work; - Describe the roles and responsibilities of existing social welfare and protection bodies in line with their statutory and organisational context; - Appraise the strengths and limitations of the current regulatory framework in relation to its ability to meet the needs of diverse service user groups; - Identify potential changes in the regulatory framework that governs social work and social policy practice that may contribute to better service provision. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Critically apply social welfare values and principles to issues of a legal nature; - Describe the skills required to present court testimony, including the role of expert witness; - Identify social situations and issues having a legal dimension and identify the legal implications involved; - Describe how diverse social welfare beneficiaries may attain their entitlements and rights, and also describe their legal obligations; - Advocate for policy and legislative reform on behalf of social welfare beneficiaries and promote greater social justice. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts - Attard, D. J. (2015). The Maltese Legal System, Volume 1. Malta University Press. - Hage, J., Waltermann, A. & Akkermans, B. (2014). Introduction to law. Springer. Supplementary Readings - Albert, R. (2000). Law and Social Work Practice. Springer. - Johns, R. (2020). Using the law in social work (8th ed.) Sage. - Slater, L.K. & Finck, K.R. (2012). Social Work Practice and the Law : Becoming a Collaborative and Critically Competent Practitioner. Springer. Legislation: - The Constitution of Malta. https://legislation.mt/eli/const/eng/pdf - Criminal Code (Chapter 9) - Other laws as directed during lectures; accessible from www.justiceservices.gov.mt |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Independent Study | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Lara Maria Dimitrijevic Maria Mangion (Co-ord.) |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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