Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE SWP2711

 
TITLE Theoretical Foundations in Helping Skills for Social Work Practice

 
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 deals with the helping process that is created and maintained by the social worker in practice. Topics include the helping process and its various stages and dynamics, the social work interview, the role of the social worker in the helping process, the social worker’s attitudes and types of responses, the nature and purpose of the helping relationship in social work practice, person-centred practice, muticultural practice, responsible practice, working with people in crisis, spirituality in social work practice and the skills and techniques used in the different phases of the helping process.

Study-Unit Aims:

This study-unit aims to:
- help students understand what is involved in professional helping in social work practice;
- study the interviewing process in social work practice;
- explore the use of different skills and techniques used in the interviewing process;
- study the relationship between the social worker and the service-user;
- helps students understand multicultural practice;
- explore the spiritual dimension of social work practice.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- understand that professional helping in social work involves a process;
- describe the key phases of the helping process and the skills and techniques involved in each stage;
- describe the role and tasks of the social worker and the service user in each phase of the helping process;
- distinguish a social work interview from a social conversation;
- understand the importance of developing and sustaining a positive helping relationship;
- describe a positive helping relationship in social work practice;
- explain multicultural and responsible practice;
- explain how a social worker works with people in crisis;
- clarify the importance of the spiritual dimension in social work practice.

2. Skills
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- demonstrate that they are able to distinguish between a social work interview and a social conversation;
- identify the key phases of the helping process and the skills and techniques involved in each stage;
- identify the elements that make practice multicultural and responsible;
- identify the characteristics of a positive relationship;
- identify the roles and tasks of the social worker and service user in different phases of the helping process;
- discuss the importance of the spiritual dimension in social work practice.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Text

- Murphy, B. C., & Dillon, C. (2015). Interviewing in action in a multicultural world. Fifth Revised Edition. London: Brooks/Cole.

Supplementary Readings

- Compton, B., Galaway, B. and Cournoyer, B.R. (2005) Social Work Processes. (7th edn.) - California: Brooks/Cole.
- Corey, G. (2009). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy. International Edition. CA: Brooks/Cole.
- Corey, M. C., & Corey, G. (2010). Becoming a helper. International Edition. New York: Brooks/Cole.
- Corsini, R. J., & Wedding, D. (2010). Current psychotherapies. Illinois: F. E. Peacock Publishers.
- Coulshed, V. and Orme, J. (2012). Social work practice. London: Macmillan Press.
- Dudley, J.R. (2016). Spirituality matters in social work: Connecting spirituality, religion and practice. London: Routledge.
- *Egan, G. (2010). The skilled helper: A problem-management and opportunity-development approach to helping. Ninth Edition. CA: Brooks/Cole.
- Feltham, C. (1999). Understanding the counselling relationship. London: Sage.
- Grant, L., & Kinman, G. (2014). Developing resilience for social work practice. London: Palgrave.
- Hackey, H. L., & Cormier, L. S., (2012). The professional counselor: A process guide to helping. Massachusetts: Allyn & Bacon.
- *Kadushin, A., & Kadushin, G. (2013). The social work interview. Fifth Edition. New York: Columbia University Press.
- Lister, P.G. (2012). Integration social work theory and practice: A practical skills guide. London: Routledge
- Mantell, A. (2013). Skills for social work practice. London: Sage.
- Mearns, D. (1997). Person-centred counselling training. London: Sage.
- Mearns, D., & Thorne, B. (2000). Person-centred therapy today: New frontiers in theory and practice. London: Sage Publications.
- Nelson-Jones, R. (2012). Theory and practice of counselling and psychotherapy. London: Cassell.
- Miller, L. ((2006). Counselling skills for social work. London: Sage.
- Payne, M. ((2011). Humanistic social work: Core principles in practice. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
- Seden, J. (2005). Counselling skills in social work practice. Buckingham: Open University Press.
- Shulman, L. (2009). The skills of helping individuals, families, groups, and communities. Sixth Edition. Illinois: F. E. Peacock Publishers.
- Trevithick, P. (2012). Social work skills: A practice handbook. Buckingham: Open University Press.
- Ying Sue, D., Rasheed, M.N., Matthews Rasheed, J., & Jackson, K.F. (2016). Multicultural social work practice: A competency-based approach to diversity and social justice. Second Revised Edition. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

Those books marked with an * are of particular importance.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Tutorial

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Classwork (1 Hour and 30 Minutes) SEM1 Yes 40%
Examination (2 Hours) SEM1 Yes 60%

 
LECTURER/S Anthea Maria DAmico
Claudia Psaila (Co-ord.)

 

 
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It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

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