| CODE | SWP2652 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Governance and Administration in Social Welfare | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Social Policy and Social Work | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit will introduce students to the principles of good governance in social organisations in the public, private and non-statutory sectors. Particular focus is placed on the twin concepts of integrity and accountability. The study-unit will introduce, and differentiate between, leadership, management and administration. It will also introduce organisational theory, particularly organisational design, learning and motivation, and will introduce students to the functions of managing finances, risk, change and stakeholder relations. Study-unit Aims: This study-unit is intended to equip students with the core principles and concepts that are essential to understanding good governance in the social field. This first study-unit lays a broad conceptual foundation of governance in social organisations as a foundation for the second study unit, during which students are introduced to specific leadership and management skills required in any professional organisation today. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Demonstrate a critical understanding, through assessment, of concepts and practices in the governance of public, private and non-statutory organisations in the social welfare sector; - Gain an in-depth understanding through lectures and structured discussion of the mixed economy of welfare in Malta, and the different roles of the various sectors; - Demonstrate an understanding of the roles, responsabilitiesand functions of governing Boards; - Develop the ability to understand an organisation鈥檚 mission, values and strategic priorities and how these serve as a guide to decision-making; - Demonstrate understanding of organisations as healthy human systems, through case studies; - Demonstrate a basic understanding of the need for, and process to, manage risk and change in organisations; - Identify basic financial statements and their purposes; - Explain the need for healthy stakeholder relationships and how these may be cultivated. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will, through case studies and examination, be able to: - Identify the design features of a governance system that fosters the principles of integrity and accountability; - Identify example of poor governance in the social field, in respect of the organisation and its service users, and how these may be remedied; - Differentiate between the key skills and attributes of leaders, managers and administrators respectively; - Analyse the factors that influence motivation at work in a social welfare organisation; - Perform a basic reading of an organisation鈥檚 financial statements; - Design a stakeholder consultation plan. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main texts: - Hughes, Owen E. (2012). Public Management and Administration: An Introduction (4th ed.) UK, Palgrave Macmillan. - Woodside, M. and McClam, T. (2006). An introduction to human services. US, Thomson Brooks/Cole. Supplementary texts: Journal Articles - Ackerman, S.R. (2017). What Does 鈥淕overnance鈥� Mean? Governance 30(1), p.23-27. - Lee, Y.J. (2016). What Encourages Nonprofits' Adoption of Good Governance Policies? Nonprofit management & leadership 27(1), p.95-112. - Rotberg, R.I. (2014). Good Governance Means Performance and Results. Governance 27(3), p.511-518. - Marshall, R. & Hughes, R. (2009). An introduction to risk management in residential care. Nursing & residential care 11(7), p.356-358. - Lauer, T. (2023). Change Management: A Brief Introduction. In Quick Guide Change Management for all Cases. Springer Gabler. Textbooks: - Hughes, M. & Wearing, M. (2007). Organisations and Management in Social Work. Sage. - Zelman, W., Glick, N., & McCue, M. (2009). Financial Management of Health Care Organizations (4th ed.). Jossey-Bass. - Wilbur, R.H. (ed.) (2000). The complete guide to nonprofit management. US, Wiley. - Pettinger, R. (2007). Introduction to management. US, Palgrave Macmillan. - Sims, D., Fineman, St., and Gabriel, Y. (1993). Organising and organisations. UK, Sage. - Peters, B. Guy (2009). The Politics of Bureaucracy: An Introduction to Comparative Public Administration, 6th Edition. UK, Routledge. - Bovaird, Tony and Loffler Elke (eds) (2009). Public Management and Governance. UK, Routledge. - Lohmann Roger A. and Lohmann Nancy (2002). Social administration. US, Columbia University Press. - Powell, Martin (ed.) (2007). Understanding the mixed economy of welfare. UK, Policy Press. - Glennerster, Howard (2009). Understanding the finance of welfare (2nd ed.). UK, Policy Press. - Menzel, Donald, C. (2012). Ethics Management for Public Administrators: Leading and Building Organizations of Integrity. USA, M.E. Sharpe. - Banks, Sarah and Gallagher, Ann (2008). Ethics in Professional Life: Virtues for Health and Social Care: Character, Conduct and Caring. UK, Palgrave Macmillan. - Taylor, S. and Woodhams C. (2012). Managing People and Organisations. US, McGraw Hill. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Independent Study | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Keith Mercieca Bryan Pace Sue Vella (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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