SOCHLTH 736 : Health, Social Justice and Practice

Education and Social Work

2023 Semester Two (1235) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

A critical examination of the social dimensions of health and wellbeing and the role of social work. Reviews current literature on the social determinants of health and strategies in micro and macro practice in health social work. Explores challenges and opportunities in the delivery of health care and the impact on the social work role and professional identity

Course Overview

Health is a human right and a social justice issue. It is also an essential focus for social work as well as an established field of practice within the profession. Health will be considered through the lens of social justice in this course and you will be able to explore health needs and disparities in populations of interest to you. This year we will encourage students to think about the social determinants of health and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. 
We will also explore the current issues, opportunities and challenges for social work in health care. We will take a reflective researcher/practitioner stance to encourage innovation and practice inquiry. Students will be encouraged to explore current thinking and research about a particular health focus and to reflect on the implications of their findings for their own practice.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: SOCWORK 721-725 Restriction: SOCHLTH 700

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Critically examine the social dimensions of health and wellbeing (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1 and 6.2)
  2. Analyse the professional and theoretical knowledge that underpins the identity of health social work as a distinct field of practice (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 4.2, 5.1, 6.1 and 6.2)
  3. Critically evaluate the challenges, constraints and strengths of social work in health settings (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1 and 6.2)
  4. Analyse in depth the impact of the social determinants of health on specific populations served by health services and the potential for social work responses (Capability 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1 and 6.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Article critique 10% Individual Coursework
Coursework-photo project 40% Individual Coursework
Literature review 50% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Article critique
Coursework-photo project
Literature review

To pass this course students must submit all assessments and achieve at least 50% for the overall course

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect hours of 26  hours of online lectures, approximately 3 hours in opt-in online tutorials, 2-3 hours of reading and thinking about the content (weekly) and 20 hours of work on assignments.

Delivery Mode

Online

Course online workshop dates

This course is delivered online. Online attendance is expected at scheduled Zoom sessions. Course materials and activities are provided online. It is expected that students will complete each module, activities, discussions, and readings according to the teaching week in which they are scheduled to create a learning community. Online optional tutorials will be scheduled to assist with assignment preparation. Full participation in, and completion of all the online activities is strongly recommended for success in this course. This course runs to the University semester 2 timetable and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

Course online workshop dates

3 August Two sessions 9-12 and 1-3

4 August One session 9-12

10 August One session 9-12

11 August One session 9-12

21 September One session 9-12

22 September One session 9-12

5 October One session 9-12

6 October One session 9-12


Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool, Canvas, which also includes reading lists, videos, a range of resources, and links to external resources to support you with this course. The reading list on Talis, includes a range of texts which will support you in your learning and completing the assignments. There is no textbook for the course.
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor. Some lecture content will be recorded.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
Feedback from previous years has been considered in the design of this course.

Other Information

Please note that it is the expectation of the programme leadership that you will attend classes for this course. Making up placement hours is not an adequate reason for non-attendance. 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 06/11/2022 08:51 a.m.