SCK1501 Summaries

Study unit 1: Thinking critically about this module and understanding how it was written. 1.1 The purpose and need for this module To provide learners with graduate level knowledge, specific skills and attitudes and applied competence in the welfare in social services that provide opportunities for continued professional and personal competence, gainful economic activity and valuable contributions to the fields of health science’s and social services. Core purposes of social work : The social work profession promotes social change, or problemsolving in human relations and empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being, utilising theories of human behaviour and social systems, social work intervenes at the points were people interact with their environments. Principles on human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work South Africa and the department of social work at Unisa have adopted the social development paradigm of welfare - people centred approach to social and economic development. Social workers play a role in: • Addressing the needs of individuals, families, groups and community's. • Act as advocates for the poorest and most marginalised members of our society. • To help people identify the impact of social and economic oppression and exclusion. • To engage people in processes of social action to change social economic structures and to empower them to improve their lives circumstances. Purpose of this module : Through the study of theoretical concepts will it be enabled to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to appropriately gain a basic understanding of social welfare, social welfare policy, the developmental approach to welfare in South Africa, and the ethical code in social work. According to Colby social workers should have two types of policy related knowledge: 1) From a practice perspectiv e, should possess a general knowledge of the suitability of welfare programmes, the different forms of services available for clients, the levels of assistance provided by the government and organisations. All welfare programmes, welfare services and assistance that are provided for clients are the result of actions followed from policies. 2) From a policy perspective , social workers should have awareness and knowledge of the issues directly impacting the quality and extend of services while working toward improvements of social welfare programmes and practices