Social work training or social work education? An approach to curriculum design

Population ageing, economic circumstances, and human behaviour are placing social welfare systems under great strain. In England extensive reform of the social work profession is taking place. Training curricula are being redesigned in the context of new standards of competence for social workers – the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF). Students must be equipped on qualifying to address an extensive range of human problems, presenting major challenges to educators. Critical theory suggests an approach to tackle one such challenge – selecting the essential content required for areas of particular practice. Teaching on social work with older people is used to illustrate this. Habermas’ theory of cognitive interests highlights the different professional roles served by the social work knowledge base - instrumental, interpretive, and emancipatory. Howe’s application of sociological theory distinguished four social work roles corresponding to these. It is suggested that curriculum design decisions must enable practitioners to operate in each. When preparing students to work with older people, educators therefore need to include interpretive and emancipatory perspectives, and not construct social work purely as an instrumental response to problems older people present. This approach provides one useful rationale for curriculum design decisions, which is applicable to other areas of practice, and to contexts outside England

UA61/5 Social Work Newsletter

Newsletter created by and about the department of Social Work

UA66/4/2 Highlights, Vol. 1, No. 1

Newsletter created by and about the WKU Social Work department. Articles: Social Work Program Welcomes New Faculty Congratulations to Social Work Scholarship Students Put It On Your Calendar – Field Placements Renovation of Restrooms Potpourri – Joyce Armer, Amy Carter News from Association of Student Social Workers National Honor Society for Social Work Student

UA66/4/2 Highlights, Vol. 1, No. 2

Newsletter created by and about the WKU Social Work department. Articles: New University Policy Westover, Lynn. Change is a Necessity of Life – Poem AIDS Education News from Association of Student Social Workers Association of Student Social Workers Potluck Phi Alpha News Field Student Spotlight – Ethan Browning & Amy Watso

UA61/5 Social Work Newsletter

Social Work newsletter includes articles: Rural Crossroads Note from the Department Head Time to Celebrate – Accreditation Meet Our New Faculty & Staff – Emily Gouvas, Amy Cappiccie, Mimi Sodhi, Eileen Arnold, Carol Robey Focus on Field: Field Supervisor Patty Alfor

UA61/5 Social Work Newsletter

Social Work newsletter contains articles: MSW Program Planned for Fall 2003 Licensure Fcts May, Dean. A Note from the Department Head Public Child Welfare Certification Program Kentucky Coop Intern Program Health Enhancement of the Rural Elderly (HERE) Kentucky Foster Care Census Mobile Health & Wellness Unit Learning Mixed with Fun – Diversity Potlucks Meet Our New Faculty & Staff – Suzie Cashwell, Michelle Acree, Conrad Davie

UA61/5 Social Work Newsletter

Social Work newsletter includes articles: BSW Scholarship: Engaging Students for Success in a Global Society Note from the Department Head Graduate Student Organization Meet Our New Faculty & Staff – Melanie Randolph Departmental Faculty: Scholarly Activities – Suzie Cashwell, Muh-Bi Lin, Cindy Snyder, Saundra Starks Phi Alpha Honor Society Inducts New Members Save the Date! – National Institute on Social Work & Human Services in Rural Areas Thank You . . . & Best Wishes – Serena Britt Focus on Field: Field Supervisor, Todd Haze