Bachelor of Social Work
Health Sciences and Social Services - Promotive Health and Developmental Services
Purpose and Rationale
Purpose:
The purpose of the Bachelor of Social Work is to provide an academically rigorous professional education that prepares social work learners with the flexibility to apply their social work knowledge and skills to engage with a range of people from micro- to macro-levels of social work, within a dynamic socio-political and economic context. Such learners will be able to engage people in problem-solving, promote social change and development, social cohesion and the empowerment and liberation of people. Underscored by principles of respect for human dignity and diversities, social justice, balancing human rights and its corollary duties and collective responsibilities, the design of the qualification is underpinned by theories of social work, social and human sciences. This qualification focuses on the development of:
- Theoretical/Intellectual/academic competence expressed in a robust academic knowledge base;
- Operational/applied competence expressed in the building of contextually relevant and practical skills; and
- Reflexive competence expressed in the focus on a deepened self-understanding concerning others and the importance of people within a broader system.
The qualification contributes towards the intended outcomes by scaffolding competence building throughout the qualification to ensure incremental growth and development that covers the level, breadth and depth of theoretical/Intellectual/academic competence; Operational/applied competence; and reflexive competence required at each particular NQF level.
Rationale:
There is a national need to train more social workers in a broad range of South African settings. The National List of Occupations in High Demand (Government Gazette Staatskoerant, Republic of South Africa, 22 June 2018) indicates that "Social Worker" is considered an occupation with higher levels of demand. Furthermore, the relevance and importance of social work in South Africa, against a background of immense psycho-social and economic disadvantages currently experienced by under-served communities is critical. This qualification is aligned to the National Skills Development Strategy III (2011) and will train learners to be a skilled and capable workforce who can lead, share in, and contribute to addressing life challenges and enhancing the well-being of South Africa's people as well as promoting social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people. Furthermore, the "National Development Plan - Our future - Make it work" speaks specifically to developing the 'Next Generation of Academics for South African Higher Education'. This qualification will increase access to innovative training that unlocks the enormous untapped potential that is latent in South Africa and will have built-in support mechanisms that increase student participation in their training and enhance throughput rates contributing to the Department of Social Development's strategic plan to train more social workers to build a more equal and more caring society in which all South Africans can realize their full potential (Department of Social Development, 2015) and in so doing accelerate access to a comprehensive and responsive social protection system. The social work qualification is also designed to enable learners to pursue further personal and professional development and to promote life-long learning. This qualification is a professionally-oriented Bachelor's Degrees with a minimum of 480-credits designed in consultation with the South African Council of Social Service Professions (SACSSP) and allows for graduate registration with the SACSSP and practice as a Social Worker. Learners entering the qualification will largely be school leavers with a passion and commitment to render preventative, protective, developmental and other social work interventions with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities after graduation.
Occupations, Jobs, or Areas of Activity of Graduates:
Qualifying learners may be employed in the following fields:
- Traditional Social Work
- Community and social development and health and welfare agencies
- Education, training and development
- Child and youth care work
- Social policy research and development
- Advocacy agencies
- Psychosocial intervention programs
- Human resources and employee wellness
- Services for disability and aging
- Counseling and Mental health services
- Juvenile justice, immigration and refugee support services
- Program management, project management, and implementation
Benefits:
The qualification will provide benefits to the learner, society, and the economy. Qualifying learners will gain academic and practical skills needed to be effective agents of societal transformation which will benefit the learner. Learners will be well equipped to take up a significant community role in addressing the plethora of social welfare realities currently faced by many South Africans, positively benefiting society and the economy.
Outcomes
- Present a sense of professional identity as a social worker within the context of professional practice.
- Demonstrate accountability management in relationship to all professional roles, functions, responsibilities and characteristics of management and administration within social service delivery including developing and maintaining professional inter-sectoral social work collaborations.
- Demonstrate knowledge of core values, principles, theories and methodologies of social work/social development and cognate theories, processes and social phenomena and the ability to apply such knowledge.
- Consider the impact on the welfare of individuals, families and groups when planning social work methods, techniques and processes.
- Identify, select and implement primary and secondary social work techniques, methods and practices that integrate micro, mezzo and macro-level factors with individuals, families, groups and communities.
- Draw systematically on the body of knowledge and methods appropriate to the professional practice of social work and use a range of specialised skills to assess needs and then, analyse, select, implement and monitor and evaluate interventions in areas.
- Embody the process of appraisal and implementation of the ethical requisites of the profession along with theories that support and assist in grappling with the complexities of ethical decision-making in day-to-day value centred, ethical social work process and practice.
- Review, gather and synthesise information with the specialised context of the historical evolution of the profession internationally and South Africa.
- Engage research in social work including the skills of interrogating and evaluating multiple sources of knowledge as well as an understanding of research paradigms, methods, design and strategies.
Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
- Apply learning strategies to enhance professional identity.
- Commit to supervision and personal and professional development.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
- Understand the responsibility and power of process and building relationships.
- Discuss social work as a context-embedded profession.
- Maintain professional relationships and work effectively in teams.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
- Understand core values, theories, and social development.
- Appraise the current position of social work in the welfare context.
- Identify the purpose and principles of social work in social development.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
- Discuss human behavior and social environment theory.
- Understand factors shaping human development and behavior.
- Demonstrate knowledge of diversity and competence in non-discrimination.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
- Execute social work methods and intervention processes.
- Plan, implement, and evaluate social work intervention strategies.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
- Utilize resources for interventions with client systems.
- Evaluate outcomes of social work interventions.
- Advocate for social justice in various service fields.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
- Apply core values and principles of social work.
- Implement social work values in practice.
- Critique and preserve the Code of Ethics provisions.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:
- Analyze social welfare policy and legislation.
- Advocate for policies enhancing human wellbeing.
- Demonstrate an understanding of governance structures and laws.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9:
- Demonstrate research skills in writing a research proposal and thesis.
- Comprehensively review academic literature.
- Execute research and interpret data effectively.
Integrated Assessment:
- Formative assessment measures include active class preparation, reading reports, reflective essays, research papers, case studies, and more.
- Summative assessments are primarily in the form of examinations based on key learning outcomes.
- Mid-module assessments are formative tools, while summative assessments assess overall achievement of learning objectives.
Qualification Details
- Type
- National First Degree(Min 480)
- NQF Level
- 08
- Min. Credits
- 480
- SAQA Source
- More Information
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This page includes information from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) . Builtneat Pty Ltd trading as Study Start, has modified all or some of this information. SAQA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.