Department of Psychology, Sociology and Politics
Faculty of Development and Society
Evidence for Welfare Practice
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ASSESSMENT
Students are required to submit a written assignment – weighting 100%
TOPIC
The objective of this assignment is to use a piece of practice to demonstrate the link between evidence and welfare practice. You can EITHER choose ONE of the four case scenarios provided on the Blackboard OR produce your own case scenario based on your practice experience with the agreement of your supervisor.
Your work may range from the entire process of work with an individual service user (e.g. a child or an adult) to a piece of work undertaken in a group setting (including group living).
After you have chosen the case scenario, you should select a particular focus of practice, including the service user(s), the problem/need identified and the intervention approach; then explore in some detail the theoretical and evidence basis of the practice; and evaluate the process and possible outcomes of the work concerned alongside reflecting on the process of practice.
WORD COUNT
The assignment has a word limit of 4,500 words (excluding the reference list and appendices). The usual 10% rule applies.
DEADLINE OF SUMBISSION
To be submitted electronically through Blackboard, by 28th June 2019 (Fri), 15:00 UK time.
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GUIDELINES
There is no standard format of the written assignment. Below are some suggestions on the elements that need to be covered in the assignment.
➢ Abstract of not more than 200 words
➢ Introduction
– Give a brief overview of the main points covered in the assignment.
– Highlight the importance of the area of study chosen.
➢ Case background
– If a hypothetical case is used, clearly identify the case scenario chosen.
– If a case scenario based on your practice experience is used, briefly explain the case background. More detailed description can be placed in the appendix.
➢ Discuss your consideration of seeking informed consent from your service user (be it a real case or a hypothetical one) for using his/her information for your assignment and explain why this will or will not be sought. If informed consent is to be sought, discuss how this can be done.
➢ Assessment
– Give an assessment on the case selected and discuss the focus of practice identified. Spell out the intervention goals.
– Apply and critically examine theories and research findings from Social Work, Sociology, Psychology and other associated disciplines that explain or deepen understanding of the circumstances of the service user and the problems he/she is facing. This section may also include the law and policy context related to the case and practice.
➢ Intervention
– Select and justify with theories and evidence basis for an intervention approach relevant to the intervention goal(s) set for the problem identified in the case scenario. Give an outline of the intended plan of work and demonstrate the application of the intervention approach chosen. Discuss what may work or may not work in the intervention and the ethical issues/dilemma that may arise.
– In the situation where a case scenario based on practice experience is used, also discuss the actual intervention process, and what actually worked or not worked during the process.
➢ Evaluation
– Select and justify with theories and evidence basis for evaluating process and expected outcomes in the practice. Discuss how the evaluation will be conducted and what
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factors may affect the evaluation process and outcomes.
– In the situation of a case scenario based on practice experience, apart from the selection and justification with theories and evidence basis for evaluating process, discuss the actual evaluation process and outcomes, as well as factors affecting the evaluation process and outcomes.
➢ Ethical concerns
– Examine the ethical concerns in the practice.
➢ Reflection on the practice
– Examine and reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of applying the selected intervention approach in your practice.
– Discuss the cultural issues that may be taken into consideration in using your selected intervention approach.
➢ Recommendations
– Recommend possible modifications/adaptations on future practice related to your target group and problem identified.
➢ Conclusion
– Summarise the main points of the paper and discuss the main findings identified.
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ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Learning Outcome
Assessment Criterion
Levels of Achievement
A statement of what a student should know, do or understand
A statement of which aspects of student’s work will be judged, in relation to the LOs
A statement of what the student must do to achieve a particular grade or mark against the assessment criterion
1. Identify and justify an appropriate area of study, and critically appraise a range of literature for that area of study
2. Evaluate research designs and/or models for evaluating practice in that area, and recognise any ethical issues in the area of study
3. Conduct an appropriate analysis and draw reasoned conclusions to make recommendations for practice
The student’s work will be judged on appropriate identification of the project study topic; use of relevant research and other literature; reference to relevant research designs and ethical issues; analysis of literature and evidence with regard to welfare practice
1st
The student must demonstrate detailed and accurate knowledge and understanding of relevant sources for the chosen project area; display the knowledge and understanding of a range of research designs fully and with accuracy; successfully analyse suitable evidence and literature and demonstrate the practice implications in the project area.
2.1
The student must demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of relevant sources for the chosen project area; display a good knowledge and understanding of a range of research designs; analyse suitable evidence and literature and demonstrate major practice implications in the project area.
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2.2
The student must demonstrate a largely accurate knowledge and some understanding of relevant sources for the chosen project area; display a knowledge and some understanding of a range of research designs; offer an analysis of suitable evidence and literature and demonstrate some practice implications in the project area.
3rd
The student must demonstrate some knowledge and understanding of relevant sources for the chosen project area, though detail may be missing and aspects misunderstood; display a knowledge and some, possibly limited, understanding of a range of research designs; offer an analysis of suitable evidence and literature and demonstrate some practice implications in the project area though this may lack effective combination of theoretical and evidential materials.
