Decision Making module (SW50017)

The ability to make effective and competent decisions is a key feature of any social work role. Social workers are required to draw on a range of information to determine risk, needs, and support requirements, whilst taking into account their regulatory requirements, professional values, and the wishes of the person they are making decisions with.

This module explores the relevant areas that will influence the professional decisions you will need to make in your future career.

This module covers topics such as:

• rights and responsibilities, including human rights, Code of Ethics, Code of Practice 
• decision-making theory, i.e. rationality, bounded rationality, heuristics, dual processing, and evidence-based practice 
• overview of legislation which informs practice 
• adult and child protection legislation  
• collaborative decision making 
• defensible decision-making and report-writing 
• risk 

What you will learn

In this module, you will:

• learn how to evidence your critical understanding of, and competence in, making and communicating decisions in complex practice situations
• draw on ethics, theory, legislation, research, risk, and social justice to inform your decisions to complement your learning on social policy and social work skills

By the end of the module, you will be able to:

• contextualise your understanding of influences on social work practice
• demonstrate professional accountability to service users, carers, other professional agencies, and society
• understand the ways decisions are made, the influences around decision-making, the errors that occur, and how to avoid them

Assignments / assessment

• essay 2,000 words (40%)
  • based on a decision made in practice
• report 2,500 words (50%)
  • based on a case study  
• 1-hour in-class exam (10%)
  • identify the appropriate legal action in a case study

This module does not have a final exam.

Teaching methods / timetable

• lectures
• small group activities 
• discussions 
• presentation 
• role play 
• Enquiry Action Learning
  • involves working in groups with a case study to find out about professional partner roles and community resources