Social Work & Community Development

Social Work Assessment

Required. Social work assessment is the foundational professional skill — all direct work and risk assessment depends on having conducted a proper assessment first using a recognised framework (Signs of Safety, Assessment Triangle, Care Act assessment, or equivalent statutory model). Qualified social worker or practice educator (HCPC/AASW/NASW or equivalent registration) supervision and written sign-off required. Peer verification NOT accepted. DBS clearance + safeguarding training required. Genuine prerequisite for direct work (seq 20) — meaningful direct work sessions require the assessment context.

3 milestones

1. 1Study key social work assessment frameworks
2. 2Complete a supervised social work assessment
3. 3Receive formal assessment competence evaluation

Direct Work with Service Users

Required. Direct work follows from assessment — the social work approach, purpose, and what is communicated in the session are informed by the assessment findings documented in seq 10. Anonymised case record required (reference code only — no name, DOB, address). Practice educator written attestation of professional conduct and skills required. Peer verification NOT accepted. DBS clearance + safeguarding training required. Genuine dependency on social work assessment (seq 10).

3 milestones

1. 1Complete pre-placement safeguarding preparation
2. 2Conduct supervised direct work sessions
3. 3Complete practice educator's direct work assessment

Risk Assessment & Safeguarding

Elective. Safeguarding risk assessment using a recognised statutory tool (Signs of Safety, DASH, MARAC referral criteria, or equivalent). Fully anonymised. Practice educator attestation that this was conducted under qualified supervision. Peer verification NOT accepted. DBS clearance + safeguarding training required.

3 milestones

1. 1Study statutory safeguarding frameworks
2. 2Conduct a supervised safeguarding assessment
3. 3Receive formal safeguarding assessment evaluation

Multi-Agency Working in Social Work

Elective. Participation in a multi-agency meeting, case conference, or professional network meeting. Anonymised case summary — no service user identifying information. Practice educator or supervising social worker written confirmation of participation. Peer verification NOT accepted. DBS clearance + safeguarding training required.

3 milestones

1. 1Map the multi-agency context of a placement case
2. 2Attend and contribute to a multi-agency meeting
3. 3Lead a piece of multi-agency coordination

Social Work Reflective Practice Portfolio

Elective. Structured reflective portfolio covering at least 4 supervised social work practice experiences. Each entry: social work theory applied + observed effect, professional value/ethical tension navigated, development need identified. Practice educator sign-off with written assessment. Fully anonymised. DBS clearance required.

3 milestones

1. 1Establish a regular reflective practice log
2. 2Produce critical reflections on challenging practice situations
3. 3Complete and submit the full reflective portfolio

Qualitative Research and Fieldwork

Elective. Social work research methodology is qualitative research methodology — this outcome from the Social Sciences cluster (UGPG-04B) applies without modification. Original research design, data collection from real participants (informed consent documented), and analysis using a named qualitative methodology. Research ethics approval or supervisor sign-off required. Proof demonstrates research competency as a complement to direct practice skills.

3 milestones

1. 1Develop Research Design and Ethics Protocol
2. 2Conduct Fieldwork and Produce Primary Qualitative Data
3. 3Analyse Data and Defend Methodology to a Social Science Peer