| Unit name | Family Support |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SOWK20002 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Mim Cartwright |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School for Policy Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
This unit explores the difficulties and stresses that families can experience and the kinds of support available to meet the needs of children and their parents/carers. This includes studying specific issues that can impact on a child’s wellbeing, such as child abuse, domestic violence, disability and discrimination. The theoretical basis for the provision of services that promote a child’s development will be discussed alongside the legal and policy framework for providing support to children and their families. Students will undertake a visit to a family support agency to explore how services can meet the needs of children and their families in practice.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
This is a Year 2 optional unit. The unit builds on theories of childhood and child development studied in the first year to consider how they can be used in practice to support the wellbeing of children and their families.
An overview of content
The unit starts by exploring different definitions of family support and consider how these are shaped by both theory and politics. The unit will explore the needs of diverse groups of children and their families. This will include universal developmental needs of younger and older children, as well as specific needs resulting from experiences of abuse, domestic violence, disability, and discrimination. Drawing on legislation, policy, and theory the unit will consider how services available to children and families have developed over time. Students will be encouraged to critically reflect on the services available to families and make recommendations for future developments. Students will have the opportunity to visit a family support agency to see how family support services are delivered in practice.
The unit aims are:
The unit consists of a weekly mix of seminar, lecture and guided independent activities. These activities combine teacher delivery to students, asynchronous activities such as narrated slides and other teaching materials, student discussion, student group work and student independent activities including structured reading, engaging with audio/visual resources and a visit to a family support agency.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Students will engage in group work during the weekly seminars, where they will be able to access formative feedback from the facilitator and their peers about their understanding of the needs of different children and families and the support available to meet these needs. Students will visit a family support agency and prepare a formative presentation about the agency and how it meets the needs of children and families. They will get formative feedback from their peers that they can use to help develop their essay.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Short recorded presentation (25%)
Policy Brief (2000 words) (75%)
Both assessments cover all ILOs.
When assessment does not go to plan
Subject to the university regulations for taught programmes, unsuccessful students may be offered an opportunity for reassessment in the failed element(s). This will comprise a task of the same format as the original assessment.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SOWK20002).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
