The Case Study (CS) is a 3,500 word account of a piece of direct social work practice carried out during the first practice placement
The focus is on thinking, practice and personal reflections in relation to work undertaken with an individual, family or group, which has some complexity and/or is sustained over a period of time
The focus of the work and the outcomes should be made clear.
The CS should demonstrate:
a commitment to reflective and ethical practice
an ability to understand the relevance and application of a range of theories, methods and models
an awareness of the importance of evidence-based practice
CS should be reflective and analytical rather than descriptive
based on notes and records made at each stage of the work and written in the first person. A formal academic style of presentation should be sustained.
Detailed references are essential. It must be apparent how these have informed your practice.
Things to include to meet Learning Outcomes
A brief vignette/ summary of the case (up to 250 words) OR the background to the group (up to 250 words) What key information do we need about the family/group to make sense of what you did and why? Why were you there and what was your purpose?
If relevant a genogram (submitted as an appendix), at the point of initial involvement. Who is in the family when you meet them and what are the relationships?
Reasons for selecting the subject matter and how this relates to the student’s personal learning needs and acquisition of practice standards. Why did you chose this case? How does it relate to your learning and the development of your skills/knowledge
Things to include – 2
Clarity about the process of assessment, planning, intervention, review and evaluation and the student’s role in this. How did you use the social work process in this case and what was your role in this? What are your reflections on this now?
Demonstration of competence in anti-oppressive practice, encompassing reflection on self, others, institutions and society. Were there ethical issues and any AOP opportunities/challenges? How were your values involved, those of others and of the organisation? Were there shared goals and/or tensions?
Explanation of how theory and research findings have informed the student’s practice at each stage of the intervention. What theories were you using, at different stages, to help you think and act? Why did you go to these? Were they helpful?
Things to include – 3
Identification of risk factors and demonstration of how the student has been accountable for his/her practice How was ‘risk’ being thought about in this case – by you, SU and others? What actions (if any) were taken and what are your reflections on this?
Demonstration of how legislation, social policies and agency mandate and policies and procedures inform and constrain the student’s practice and professional role How did the law and organisational policy and process affect what you did/could do? How did you use your power and authority? How did you feel about that?
Things to include – 4
Demonstration of how the student learnt through his/her Practice Educator and others to develop his/her practice. How did you use supervision and what part did that play? How did your learning develop?
Exploration of how practice is monitored and evaluated, both in respect of self-evaluation, but also service user / carer, agency and public. What did effective practice mean in this case, and how was that measured? Were your intended outcomes achieved? Was there agreement about what the goals were? Do you think you focussed on the ‘right’ thing?
Things to include
Last Completed Projects
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