Inherent requirements of the Bachelor of Social Work

These inherent requirements apply to the Bachelor of Social Work

Ethical behaviour

Social work courses inherent requirements - ethical behaviour

Inherent requirements statements

  1. Students undertaking social work studies are governed by practice standards and codes of ethics where students are both accountable and responsible for ensuring professional behaviour in all contexts. Student demonstrates knowledge and engages in ethical behaviour in practice.
  2. Student demonstrates knowledge of, and engages in, ethical behaviour in practice.
  3. Justification of inherent requirement:» Compliance with the standards and codes  facilitates safe, competent interactions and relationships with people to ensure their physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual wellbeing is not placed at risk
    » Compliance with the standards and codes  facilitates safe, competent interactions and relationships with people to ensure the student's physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual wellbeing is not placed at risk
    » Knowledge of, and compliance with the AASW Codes of Ethics  is a requirement of course accreditation and graduate standards as mandated in the AASW Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards June 2012.
  4. Adjustments must not compromise codes and standards or result in unethical behaviour.
  5. Exemplars:
    » Complying with academic and non-academic misconduct policies
    » Demonstrating appropriate behaviour with confidential information in classroom, clinical laboratories, online learning sites, clinical settings and student social media sites.

Behavioural stability

Social work courses inherent requirements - behavioural stability

Inherent requirements statements

  1. Behavioural stability is required to function and adapt effectively and sensitively in a demanding role.
  2. Student demonstrates behavioural stability to work constructively in a diverse and changing academic and clinical environment.
  3. Justification of inherent requirement:» Behavioural stability is required to work in changing and unpredictable environments. Social work students will be exposed to emergency situations and human suffering and will be required to have behavioural stability to manage these events objectively and professionally.
  4. Adjustments must support stable, effective and professional behaviour in both academic and clinical settings.
  5. Exemplars:» Being receptive and responding appropriately to constructive feedback
    » Coping with own emotions and behaviour effectively when dealing with individuals in the field placement setting.

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Social work inherent requirements - legal

Inherent requirements statements

  1. Social work is mandated by specific legislation and professional regulations to enable the delivery of safe and appropriate professional practice in the field placement context.
  2. Student demonstrates knowledge and compliance with Australian Law, professional regulations and scope of practice.
  3. Justification of inherent requirement:» Knowledge, understanding, and compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements are necessary pre-requisites to clinical placements in order to reduce the risk of harm to self and others
    » Compliance with these professional regulations and the Australian Law ensures that students are both responsible and accountable for their practice.
  4. Adjustments must be consistent with legislative and regulatory requirements.
  5. Exemplars:» Complying with the requirement for student registration with the Australian Association of Social Work (AASW)
    » Complying with relevant child protection and safety legislation and reporting any notifiable concerns to your field placement supervisor

Communication

Verbal

Social work inherent requirements - verbal communication

Inherent requirements statements

  1. Effective and efficient verbal communication, in English, is an essential requirement to provide safe delivery of care.
  2. Student demonstrates:
    » The ability to understand and respond to verbal communication accurately, appropriately and in a timely manner
    » The ability to provide clear instructions in the context of the situation
    » Timely clear feedback and reporting.
  3. Justification of inherent requirement:» Communication may be restricted to verbal because of physical limitations of the individual (e.g. injury, disease or congenital conditions)
    » Speed and interactivity of communication may be critical for individual safety and or assessment
    » Timely, accurate and effective delivery of instructions is necessary to provide safe professional care.
  4. Adjustments for impaired verbal communication must address effectiveness, timeliness, clarity and accuracy issues to ensure safety.
  5. Exemplars:» Participating in all learning environments.
    » Responding appropriately in an interview in the field placement setting.

Non-verbal

Social work inherent requirements - non-verbal communication

Inherent requirement statements

  1. Effective non-verbal communication is fundamental to social work and needs to be respectful, clear, attentive, empathetic, honest and non-judgemental.
  2. Student demonstrates:
    » The capacity to recognise, interpret and respond appropriately to behavioural cues
    » Consistent and appropriate awareness of own behaviours
    » Sensitivity to individual differences.
  3. Justification of inherent requirement:» The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues assists with building rapport with people and gaining their trust and respect in academic, work and professional relationships
    » Displaying consistent and appropriate facial expressions, eye contact, being mindful of space, time boundaries and body movements and gestures promotes trust in academic, work and professional relationships
    » Communication may be restricted to non-verbal behaviours. Being sensitive to individual differences displays respect and empathy to others and develops trusting relationships that are essential for effective professional care
    » The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues is essential for effective observation of client reactions to facilitate assessment and to provide professional care.
  4. Adjustments must enable the recognition, appropriate response or initiation of effective non-verbal communication in a timely and an appropriate manner.
  5. Exemplars:» Recognising and responding appropriately in all learning environments
    » Recognising and responding appropriately to cues in the field placement environment.

Written

Social work inherent requirements - written communication

Inherent requirement statements

  1. Effective written communication, in English, is a fundamental social work student responsibility with professional and legal ramifications.
  2. Student demonstrates capacity to construct coherent written communication appropriate to the circumstances.
  3. Justification of inherent requirement:» Construction of multiple essays/assignments to academic standards is required in order to convey knowledge and understanding of relevant subject matter, procedures and professional practice standards
    » Accurate written communication, including record keeping, client instructions and case notes is vital to provide consistent and accurate assessments and professional care in the field placement context.
  4. Adjustments must meet necessary standards of clarity, accuracy and accessibility to ensure effective recording and transmission of information in both academic and field placement settings.
  5. Exemplars:» Constructing a range of written assignments to academic standards
    » Constructing a social worker's report in a timely manner that meets professional standards

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Cognition

This course requires knowledge of theory and the skills of cognition and literacy.

Knowledge and cognitive skills

Social work inherent requirements - knowledge and cognitive skills

Inherent requirement statements

  1. Consistent and effective knowledge and cognitive skills must be demonstrated to provide professional and competent social work practice.
  2. Student demonstrates:
    » Capacity to locate appropriate and relevant information
    » Ability to process information relevant to practice
    » Ability to integrate and implement knowledge in practice.
  3. Justification of inherent requirement:» Safe and effective social work practice is based on knowledge that must be sourced, understood and applied appropriately
    » A demonstrated defined range of knowledge and cognitive skills is a requirement for course accreditation, field placements and professional registration by the AASW.
  4. Adjustments must ensure that a clear demonstration of knowledge and cognitive skills is not compromised or impeded.
  5. Exemplars:» Ability to conceptualise and use appropriate knowledge in response to academic assessment items
    » Appropriately applying knowledge of policy and procedures in the field placement setting.

Literacy (language)

Social work inherent requirements - literacy (language)

Inherent requirement statements

  1. Competent literacy skills are essential to provide safe and effective professional care.
  2. Student demonstrates:
    » The ability to accurately acquire information and convey appropriate, effective messages
    » Ability to read and comprehend a range of literature and information
    » The capacity to understand and implement academic and practice conventions to construct written text in an appropriate manner for the intended audience.
  3. Justification of inherent requirement:» The ability to acquire information and to accurately convey messages is fundamental to ensure safe and effective assessment, treatment and professional care
    » The ability to read, decode, interpret and comprehend multiple sources of information is fundamental for safe and effective professional care in the field placement context.
  4. Adjustments to address literacy issues must demonstrate a capacity to effectively acquire, comprehend, apply and communicate accurate information.
  5. Exemplars:» Conveying a spoken message accurately and effectively in a field placement setting
    » Paraphrasing, summarising and referencing in accordance with appropriate academic and/or professional practice conventions
    » Producing accurate, concise and clear case notes which meets legal and professional practice requirements.

Sensory ability

Visual

Social work inherent requirements - visual sensory ability

Inherent requirement statements

  1. Adequate visual acuity is required to assist in the assessment of environments and non-verbal cues.
  2. Student demonstrates sufficient visual acuity to perform the required range of tasks.
  3. Justification of inherent requirement:» Sufficient visual acuity is necessary to demonstrate the required range of skills, tasks and assessments to maintain consistent, accurate and safe professional care of self and others
    » Visual observations , examination and assessment are fundamental to safe, professional and effective social work practice in the field placement context.
  4. Adjustments must address the need to perform the full range of tasks involved in practice. Any strategies to address the effects of the vision impairment must be effective, consistent and not compromise assessment or safety.
  5. Exemplars:» Observing non-verbal behaviour
    » Observing injuries in cases of violence

Sustainable performance

Social work inherent requirements - sustainable performance

Inherent requirement statements

  1. Social work practice in the field placement context requires both physical and mental performance at a consistent and sustained level to meet individual needs over time.
  2. Student demonstrates:
    » Consistent and sustained level of physical energy to complete a specific task in a timely manner and over time
    » The capacity to maintain consistency and quality of performance throughout the designated period of duty.
  3. Justification of inherent requirement:» Sufficient physical and mental resilience is an essential requirement needed to perform tasks in an assigned period to provide effective, safe and professional care in the field placement context.
  4. Adjustments must ensure that performance is consistent and sustained over a given period.
  5. Exemplars:» Participating in tutorials, lectures, skills development sessions throughout the day
    » Providing consistent field placement practice over a negotiated time frame.

© School of Social Sciences and Psychology, UWS 2012
Adapted and used with permission

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