Structure of the course critical social work

Introduction

In this course the main objective is to create awareness about the necessity for social workers to have a broad perspective on the situations/problems they work with, taking into account the whole context. But we also want them to discover methods and practices to help them to take action on an meso (organization) and macro (community, society, policymakers) level. Students can construct their own knowledge and methods by reading literature, doing an interview with a social worker in their own country and exchanging ideas with students of other countries. By reflecting on this material, they can integrate it into an own way of working.

Week 1

First students have to get used to the its learning platform and the tools we want to use. Because exchanging ideas and reflection take a central place in this course we want to be sure they can make a presentation of themselves in their e-portfolio, start a theme discussion, make a blog and be a follower in the blog of fellow students. For all this tools we will make little exercises. For example I will ask them to start a theme discussion on a actual subject related to social work in their country. Other students can reply on this.

Week 2

Before I give readings or a screen lecture, I want to challenge students to reflect on their ideas and attitude on critical social work. I want to use two means. The international definition on social work and a trigger on human rights. After the course, they can look back to this start and point out where they have made any change. Besides this reflection on own ideas and attitudes, students reflect upon the way critical social work has a place in their own country – in social work practice and social work education. This exchange of ideas and practices can open a new horizon for the students.

Week 3 an 4

What is critical social work?
In this week I want to give some theoretical input. The reading of chapter 1 form Jan Fooks book and the article ‘social work as a moral and political practice’ can give input. Students can make a reflection in their blog about what they read and what they learn about this. Students give comment to each other in week 4. At the end they must have three good questions to talk about with a social worker in their country. This questions each have a different point of view.

Week 5

We show a case of a youngster that has problems in his family and needs help. The social worker thinks he needs a specific treatment, but the boy has to wait for six months before he can have this treatment. Meanwhile, there are a lot of problems with his family and school. There are also problems with neighbors.
This is not the first time the social worker has a situation that needs help and no help is available. Students start a discussion about this case.

Week 6

Critical reflection as a base for critical social work. Students read the specific chapters in Jan Fooks book and make and exercise. This exercise is about a situation that happened in the past week. In their blog, students give their experiences with this exercise. They also make clear how critical reflection is related to critical social work.

Week 7

Critical social work in practice? In this week, students contact a social worker and do an interview with the three questions they have made the week before. They give a short summary of the interview (headlines) and reflect on what they have learned.

Week 8

In this week we take the point of view from the clients/target groups of social work. There are readings about participation and empowerment.

Week 9

Students have to find an article, situation, issue that relates to a problem social workers can be involved in. For example: increasing poverty, increasing drug abuse, migration, not enough services available, accessibility of services, a social work service that doesn’t reach the people they should reach …).
There is in this week a screen lecture : how to create awareness on a social or organizational problem. It is a model that gives the different steps you have to consider when you want to create awareness in your organization our with policymakers. It is way to work on change. It can be used for small action, like putting up a discussion in the team up to a real social action.

Week 10 and 11

Students work out a paper on their chosen theme of week 8, using the model they got in the screen lecture.

In week 10 students give feedback to each othter.

Week “12

Students work on their final assignment and give a presentation and have a discussion on their theme.