| CODE | SWP5138 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Social Work as a Regulated Profession | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 10 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Social Policy and Social Work | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Law holds an important role in social work practice. The law governs various organisational contexts, as well as relationships of interest to social work practice. Apart from shaping social policy and acting as an influential force on the lives of social welfare beneficiaries, the law regulates the social work profession and provides an enforceable framework for ethical action and standards of practice. Thus, adequate understanding and knowledge of the law and its judicious application is pivotal for effective social work practice. Social workers鈥� responsibility to other people鈥檚 well-being makes it imperative that they are aware of the law and its provisions. Apart from acting in compliance with the law, better understanding of the legal system should also empower social work practitioners to advocate for greater social justice. This study-unit adopts a multisystem and interdisciplinary approach by highlighting the inter-linkages that exist between law, social policy and social work practice. The study-unit carries both a theoretical and practical dimension with the aim of promoting knowledge and understanding of legal matters but also to impart the necessary skills to critically act within existing legal frameworks. It also aims to impart social work values and principles within the reading, interpretation and application of legislation. This study-unit is aimed at providing students who are aspiring to pursue a career in social work with the necessary knowledge and skills on issues of a legal nature. The intent of the study-unit is therefore that of helping social work students understand better the law in order to become effective practitioners. To this end, the study-unit explores the role of social work within the legal context of existing social policy and social welfare provisions and the wider judicial system. It provides familiarity with existing legal structures and processes, and examines main legal principles and topics relevant to social work practice. The study-unit also examines the legal domestic framework that shapes and regulates social work practice. In view of this, the study-unit deals with a range of legislative instruments, relating to constitutional matters, equality and human rights issues, civil and family matters, criminal justice and delinquency, child welfare and juvenile justice, social security legislation and other social protection provisions in the area of education, employment, health (both physical and mental) and housing, as well as legal provisions relating to the regulation of social work practice. Study-Unit Aims: The study-unit thus aims to: - Introduce students to the legal aspects of social work; - Examine the intersections between law, social policy and social work practice; - Familiarise students with the organisation of the court system; - Familiarise students with the organisation of the social welfare and protection system; - Provide students with a basic understanding of the legal processes and systems as they relate to social work practice; - Guide students in the reading, interpretation and application of the law; - Provide students with an understanding of the existing national legal frameworks within which social workers must operate in the context of constitutional matters, equality and human rights issues, civil and family matters, criminal justice and delinquency, child welfare and juvenile justice, social security legislation and other social protection provisions; - Provide students with an understanding of existing national legal framework regulating the social work profession; - Empower students to engage actively within the context of the legal and justice system; - Pose links between legislative theory, its context and impact on social work practice; - Highlight the role the law plays in the development and reform of social policy; - Highlight the impact of social advocacy on law reform and how this can be addressed to advance greater social justice. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Demonstrate that they are familiar with existing national legal frameworks which deal with constitutional matters, equality and human rights issues, civil and family matters, criminal justice and delinquency, child welfare and juvenile justice, social security legislation and other social protection provisions; - Show that they are familiar with existing national legal frameworks which regulate the social work profession; - Demonstrate knowledge of the organisation of the court system; - Describe the role played by existing social welfare and protection bodies in line with their legal and organisational context; - Recognise the difference between civil and criminal matters and procedures; - Demonstrate understanding of key legal terms and concepts; - Show that they understand legislation and judicial decisions. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Critically apply social work values and principles to issues of a legal nature; - Demonstrate the skills required to present court testimony, including the role of expert witness; - Effectively interpret and apply the law to social work cases on constitutional matters, equality and human rights issues, civil and family matters, criminal justice and delinquency, child welfare and juvenile justice, social security legislation and other social protection provisions; - Appreciate the inter-linkages that exist between law, social work and social policy; - Identify situations and issues having a legal dimension, assess the legal implications involved and take relevant action and social work interventions; - Guide social work beneficiaries in attaining their entitlements and rights and meeting their legal obligations; - Advocate for policy and legislative reform on behalf of social work beneficiaries and promote greater social justice; - List the legal provisions regulating social work practice. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Students will be referred to pertinent legislation that regulates social work practice. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Independent Study | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Marilyn Attard Maria Mangion (Co-ord.) Maria Mercieca John Testa Mary Grace Vella |
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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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