FDA4062 - Working with Families

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
show an awareness of and debate aspects of vulnerability which might impact upon children and families’ experiences of oppression and discrimination;
describe effective and ineffective communication and engagement techniques for working with families;
relate their own practice of working with families to the context of local and national policies, procedures and codes of practice;
examine rights, responsibilities and professional accountability when working with other professionals and families with diverse needs;
experiment with team communication skills including use of IT; showing awareness of associated ethical issues.

Content:

This module enables students to develop their understanding of effective practice through exploring and drawing upon their own experiences. Students are expected to deepen their understanding of the theoretical and policy context of modern practice with families. The module aims to raise student awareness that skilful, effective practice is systematic and considered rather than the result of chance or common-sense social processes.

Throughout the module there will be a continuing emphasis on the paramountcy of children’s welfare and development. The module will include a study of:
• media and case study accounts of professional interactions with families;
• national and local policies and procedures that affect working with families;
• values, diversity, discrimination and anti-oppressive practice;
• established theory from existing disciplines of Social Psychology/Sociology/ Social Work.

During the course of the module students will be expected to critically evaluate their own and recommended effective communication and engagement with families. Students will develop their knowledge of the identification and assessment of strengths and vulnerability factors within and around family circumstances. A basic introduction to quantitative and qualitative methodologies and simple interpretation of graphs and tables will underpin study skill development.

Students will develop confidence regarding their own professional accountability and autonomy through the exploration of their own practice within policy and procedural contexts. Students will explore the challenges of setting agendas with families and working reflexively within contested definitions of ‘support’.

Within this module, students will be expected to demonstrate effective communication skills and the ability to reflect on their own practice, forming a personal development plan related to interactions with families. Students will critically appraise mainstream and perhaps ‘taken for granted’ accounts of contemporary family life represented in the media and consider the concept of validity.

Students will tacitly develop their understanding of information sharing, accountability and working together in multi-agency and multidisciplinary contexts by developing a group ‘Wiki’.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Learning and teaching will include a range of methods such as lectures, seminars, e-working, workshops and tutorials, with emphasis on team experience and peer support, large and small group discussions, problem-solving activities and individual and paired working.

Students may be expected to draw on a range of theoretical/academic, personal and work-based resources. Course documentation, support materials and web-based materials will be available on the VLE as appropriate.

Study skills will be developed including collaborative group-work and discussion. During the course of each session there will be opportunities for tutor/student interaction to meet individual needs and help develop skills, confidence, competence, knowledge and understanding relating to the aims and objectives of the module.

Students will maintain their Personal Development Log during this module and on-going self-evaluation will be part of the students’ identification of needs.

Lectures, seminars, learning activities, workshops and tutorials, e-engagement e.g. e-fora, VLE activities
Hours: 25
Intended group size: Cohort

Flexibly delivered assessment support/e-support including tutorials
Hours: 5
Intended group size: 6-10

Work-based tasks
Hours: 25
Intended Group size: 1

Guided independent study
Hours: 145

Further details relating to assessment
Submission of an indicative extract mid-module is a requirement.
Typical portfolio content would be a small group Wiki (e.g. 1,000 word equiv, 20%), a personal SWOT analysis (e.g. 1,000 word equiv, 20%), an essay (e.g. 1000 words, 30%) and a media review (e.g. 1000 words, 30%).
The media review requires students to individually identify a published contemporary mainstream media article featuring a family(s). Students will critically assess the validity and reliability of the article, with reference to alternative academic accounts of modern families. Students will also reflect upon their own initial response to the media article and in light of their subsequent research around the issues.
The small group Wiki requires students to work collaboratively in small teams in order to produce Wiki based information, a topic covered in the module. Students will then submit an individual SWOT analysis of the small group Wiki experience.
The essay requires students to submit an academic essay, exploring communication and engagement with families.

Assessment: