SOWK722 Foundations Of Social Work Practice

University of South Carolina

COLLEGE OF SOCIAL WORK

SOWK 722-0P1: FOUNDATIONS OF SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE WITH INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND SMALL GROUPS (3 Credits)

Instructor: Patrice Penney, MSW, LISW-CP, Approved Supervisor

BULLETIN DESCRIPTION

Methods of social work intervention with individuals, families, and groups within the social environment.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course serves as an introduction to social work concepts and basic skills of social work practice with individuals, families, and small groups. The course prepares students to apply a generalist practice perspective to diverse populations and multi-level systems. Essential values, concepts, and ethical considerations as they pertain to generalist social work practice are explored. Students will develop basic knowledge, values, skills, and techniques relevant to generalist practice at the interpersonal level to enhance well-being and improve the social functioning of individuals, families, and small groups. Practice skills include the following: developing professional relationships; collecting and assessing data; defining problems; goalsetting; planning and contracting; selecting and implementing appropriate courses of action; including intervention at the appropriate systems level. Emphasis is given to facilitative and constraining effects of the social context surrounding practice.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

1. Identify and analyze value and ethical concerns that may face the generalist social worker in practice with individuals, families, and small groups and suggest responses that are consistent with social work values and the NASW Code of Ethics. (2.1.2; 2.1.3; 2.1.4)

2. Differentially select and use basic interviewing and helping skills, in a way that reflects recognition of the effects of social and economic injustice and respect for social and cultural diversity. (2.1.2; 2.1.4; 2.1.5; 2.1.6; 2.1.7; 2.1.10)

3. Discuss boundaries, roles, and behaviors in the context of developing an appropriate client-worker relationship, including issues of worker safety and self-care. (2.1.1; 2.1.2; 2.1.4; 2.1.10)

4. Describe several evidence-based strategies that guide generalist social work practice with individuals, families, and small groups including historical development, criteria for selection, and their implications for assessment, planning, contracting, intervention, referral, termination, and evaluation of practice effectiveness. (2.1.5; 2.1.7; 2.1.10)

5. Conduct and write a psychosocial assessment, which reflects understanding of the multiple systems in which an individual and/or family is involved (i.e., the reciprocal interaction of systems), and of the life experience and current situation that motivate the client to seek assistance. (2.1.3; 2.1.6; 2.1.10)

6. Discuss how consultation and supervision is used in a social work setting. (2.1.1)

7. Describe his/her beliefs and values as a social worker, and identify his/her own strengths, in terms of practice knowledge and skill, as well as areas in which further reflection and development are needed. (2.1.1; 2.1.2; 2.1.3; 2.1.10)