| Unit name | Social Care in Crisis |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SPOL20047 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Professor. Cameron |
| 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?
Many of us will require some form of social care support during our lifetime, either as children, young people or as adults. However, the social care sector in England is in crisis and the decisions government takes over the coming years will determine the future of the sector. Key decisions to take include whether or not services should be available to all - irrespective of needs and personal finances, how social care should be arranged and who should provide services – the private, voluntary or statutory sectors, what role should social workers and paid care workers have; what support should be provided to informal carers and, how should social care be funded. The decisions government make will largely be informed by the political and economic values of society and we will all be affected. This is your opportunity to become informed so that you can take part in the debates as they evolve.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit draws on many of the key theories and concepts that underpin your programmes, including the concepts of need, risk and dependency and the role of marketisation and regulation and then applies them to a central, but neglected, area of social policy in England. Using research evidence, the unit will consider how trends in policy and practice over time have impacted the sector. Through a range of class exercises the unit will provide you with opportunities to work in small groups with peers, develop your analytic skills well as your ability to communicate complex ideas to different audiences.
An overview of content
This unit focuses on the social care sector and the political, social and economic values that underpin policy and practice in this field. Key concepts considered include need, risk, care and dependency. You will consider trends in social care, including the development of the mixed economy of provision as well as the personalisation agenda, and the implications of these developments for people who draw on care and support. Key themes discussed in this unit include how services are financed; what role the private sector should play and who should assess an individual’s need for services.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
The unit aims to provide you with a critical appreciation of contemporary debates about how and why the social care sector is configured in its current form. It will encourage you to think about the consequences of this for those who draw on care and support as well as those who are involved in providing it.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to;
You will experience a range of different learning activities including weekly 2 hour lectures (incorporating interactive elements), a small group task to support inquiry-based learning in order to familiarise students to the context of social care policy and practice and, weekly seminars which include a range of interactive exercises designed to develop understanding of key concepts and support the critical application of knowledge and concepts to real life scenarios. These activities will support students to complete both summative assessments. You will also have opportunities to discuss their assessments within specific seminars.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative)
Through weekly readings and formative tasks including a small group task and, seminar based interactive exercises, you will be introduced to a range of concepts and resources to support both summative assessments.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative)
Part 1 - Policy Brief (1000 words maximum, 25%)
This assessment covers ILOs 1 & 4.
Part 2 – Essay (2000 words maximum, 75%)
This assessment covers ILOs 1, 2 & 3.
When assessment does not go to plan
Subject to the university regulations for taught programmes, you 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. SPOL20047).
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.
