Becoming a Critical Social Work Practitioner

Introduction

The course explores what it means to become a critical social work practitioner by using a series of activities and readings to guide you through some new and important concepts. An understanding of ‘critical perspectives’ will help you make a positive and constructive approach to the challenging problems that arise in social work practice. You will be introduced to a critical understanding of the nature and boundaries of personal and professional discretion and judgment in the delivery of social work services; recognizing the complex tensions between the personal and the social processes in people's lives. The course also explores the relationship between justice and care and control, and the practical and ethical dilemmas in this relationship. An understanding of 'critical perspectives' will help you make a positive and constructive approach to problems that arise in social work practice. Course learning outcomes After studying this course, you should be able to:

• Demonstrate a critical understanding of the nature and boundaries of personal and professional discretion and judgment in the delivery of social work services; recognizing the complex tensions between personal and social processes in people's lives
• Demonstrate an understanding of the complex relationship between justice, care and control and the practical and ethical effects of this relationship.