SWK-7026B Developing Professional Leadership

Key Details

Module Leader and Teacher: Anna Wright
Credit value: 20 level 7 (M) credits, Spring Semester
Module Fee: £560
Submission of summative assessed work: 3pm, 21st July 2025

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INTRODUCTION

This module can be taken as a stand lone module or the credits can be put towards the MA in Advanced Social Work. It is possible to exit from the MA in Advance Social Work with a Post Graduate Certificate (60 credits) or Post Graduate Diploma (120 credits) .

Applications are open to social workers with at least one year’s post-qualified experience.

INTRODUCTION
This module aims to develop the skills and professional confidence of social work practitioners (working within any sector of practice) to critically reflect upon their own practice and understand the organisational contexts within which it occurs. Candidates undertaking this module will develop practice leadership roles either through increasing responsibility for areas of practice, specific expertise in a certain practice area or through responsibility for the learning or practice of colleagues.

This module is not designed specifically for those in management roles, but works well for some first-line managers who want to maintain a specialist knowledge in an area of practice.

The module is designed to specifically address the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) which requires social workers at every stage of their careers to develop and show genuine leadership skills at their particular level of development. The module will enable practitioners to focus on a specific area of practice which relates to one or more of the Knowledge and Skills Statements for social workers (DfE –Child Care and DoH- Adult Care).

Candidates will take an area of their practice and improve skills in this area through practice, reading and researching, learning from colleagues etc. and then present aspects of this learning in a team meeting or similar event. A workshop will be offered to give peer support to the preparation and delivery of these presentations and the written assignments. Possible areas of practice might include:- direct work with children, improving a child’s experience in their reviews, working with adult abuse, improving transitions for disabled young people, working with older people with learning disabilities, working with domestic violence, improving care for those with dementia, supporting foster carers and adopters. Specific supervision of students or NQSWs will not be included as these are covered by other modules.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
1: The candidate will be able to demonstrate an ability to evaluate their personal and organisational effectiveness in supporting the professional development of themselves and others and contributing to a learning culture in their team. This will be partly evidenced from feedback from team members.

2: The candidate will be able to effectively demonstrate how they can facilitate the learning or professional development of others in relation to professional values and ethics.

3: The candidate will be able to evidence an increased awareness of themselves as reflexive practitioners with a sophisticated understanding of how their practice within an organisational context impacts upon outcomes for service users

KEY KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING AND SKILLS IN CURRICULUM:
To engage in critical reflection in the workshop provided and to use the discussion and debate about your chosen area of expertise to inform choices for decision making and intervention.

To further develop a professional identity and responsibility for practice, perhaps leading in one or more areas of practice

To be more aware of the use of self in social work practice, including the emotional impact of direct work and the possible effects of stress on the worker's actions and relationships with other professionals.

To develop skills in leading and mentoring colleagues in the workplace.

TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT

There will be a combination of face-to-face teaching and distance learning. The 2 days of teaching will look at models and styles of leadership, disseminating leadership, emotional intelligence, organisational contexts and creating a learning culture.

Time spent: for 20 credits, 200 effort hours:

ASSESSMENT

Formative assessment:
A presentation to a team meeting, or similar, covering aspects of new learning about practice and resources around the chosen area of work. Feedback will be required from team members as evidence that knowledge has been disseminated and that practice across the team will change/improve as a result. A workshop (22nd April 2025) will give peer support to the preparation and delivery of these presentations.

Summative assessment: a 4000 word assignment:-
“Critically analyse an area of practice that you have a lead role or specific knowledge and expertise in within your team or agency. Critically appraise relevant literature and research and show how you are developing this area of expertise in your own practice and for the wider team” (using the presentation to your team as an illustration).

Submission date: By 3pm 21st July 2025

TEACHING DATES:

• 17th February 2025
• 14th March 2025
• 24th April 2025 workshop – Students will attend either the morning or afternoon
session, but please keep the whole day available at present as times will be
organised nearer the time.

We are hoping these will take place in person at UEA, but there remains a possibility that they will take place online. This will be confirmed nearer the time.

Teaching and learning activities for this module will take place online. You should diary in
some time ahead of the teaching days to complete self-directed learning activities.

HOW TO APPLY

Please contact your agency Workforce development department about the application process. If this is your first CPD module at UEA you will need to register with UEA Admissions. If this is a second or further CPD module you will need to enrol through the Postgraduate Learning and Teaching Hub

Please wait until you have approval from your agency before you enrol. Once you are enrolled, please check you have access to Blackboard before the first teaching date.

Applications for the module for 2024-25 open 1st December 2024 and will close mid-February 2025 (date TBC).

Please be aware that teaching, assessment dates and venues, are subject to change. All up to date information will be available via your UEA Evision account once you are enrolled onto the module.