Module manager: Ged McGurn
Email: g.l.mcgurn@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
HECS1117
This module is not approved as a discovery module
HECS1133 Professional Practice 1 is designed to provide students with an introduction to social work practice, encompassing essential skills, values, and theoretical foundations. The module blend of lectures, interactive workshops, group assignments, and simulated scenarios to develop practical knowledge and practice skills. In addition, students benefit from a 20-day work placement and a two-day shadowing experience, offering valuable opportunities to understand and apply theoretical insights in real-world contexts. The module also promotes reflective practice and utilises digital platforms to enhance learning equipping students to become competent and adaptive practitioners.
1. HECS1133 is designed to enable students to explain and articulate the role of the social worker, grounding their understanding in the Professional Capabilities Framework and Social Work England's Professional Standards.
2. Through engagement in reflective practice, utilising digital portfolios and peer feedback mechanisms, students will assess their personal development and professional growth.
3. The module encourages the application of theory and academic material to practical situations through problem-based learning, case studies, collaborative projects and authentic assessment.
4. HECS1133 focuses on developing skills in information gathering, problem-solving, and communication within diverse team environments. This is facilitated by incorporating role-play and group discussions that reflect real-world team practice.
5. Students will successfully complete the Readiness to Practice process, demonstrating an understanding of professional standards and ethical practice through participation in practice skills days, preparation activities, and simulated practice settings. These activities are designed to demonstrate practical competencies and understanding of social work in practice contexts.
1. Convey reflective thinking and writing skills and show how reflection can support continuous development of analysis and skills in Social Work settings.
2. Display an understanding and need for continuous development of professional Social Work communication skills.
3. Communicate an understanding and application of the core Social Work tasks of assessment, planning, intervention and review cycle.
4. Identify the importance of and apply Social Work knowledge of collaborative and supportive working with all stakeholders.
5. Demonstrate effective Social Work record keeping on a digital platform.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
1. Interpret Social Work Theories and Practices by exploring examples of social work theories and practice research, used in practice simulations and settings.
2. Utilise Digital platforms for Social Work record keeping, effective communication with peers, staff and other stakeholders, and for displaying a developing reflective skill set.
3. Recognise and deploy core Social Work Methods and Techniques: Reporting examples of using social work methods and techniques in practice simulations and case studies.
4. Illustrate experiences of Social Work collaboration, communication and interpersonal skills including receiving feedback.
This module serves as an introduction to professional social work practice, providing students with a foundational understanding of the knowledge, skills, and values required to work effectively. It emphasises the importance of professional conduct, social work values, and reflective practice. Students will engage in a range of learning activities, including seminars, skills workshops, guest speaker sessions, simulation and practical real-world experiences. A knowledge based, practical approach to learning enables students to develop essential skills, such as communication, assessment, intervention planning, and partnership working, preparing them for the realities of social work practice.
Module Aims:
- To introduce students to the core principles, skills knowledge and values of professional social work practice, aligning with the professional standards set by Social Work England.
- To develop a foundational understanding of social work roles, responsibilities, and ethical considerations in practice settings.
- To equip students with essential skills in communication, assessment, intervention planning, and partnership working.
To foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and reflective practice skills, encouraging students to analyse their experiences and develop a professional identity.
- To provide a practical introduction to social work through a 20-day work experience placement, bridging the gap between theory and practice.
Core Topics Areas
1. The Role of Social Work in Contemporary Society: This topic analyses the meaning and role of social work in contemporary society, considering the impact of social, political, and economic factors on practice.
2. Professionalism and Values in Social Work: This topic examines the core values and principles that underpin social work practice. It explores the practice dilemmas social workers may encounter, introducing social works legal and theoretical frameworks and the importance of professional conduct.
3. Reflective Practice and Professional Development: This topic introduces reflective practice as a threshold concept to professional development in social work. Students will learn how to critically analyse their experiences, identify learning needs, and develop strategies for continuous professional growth.
4. Communication and Engagement Skills: This topic focuses on developing effective communication skills for social work practice, encompassing verbal, non-verbal, and written communication techniques. Students will learn how to build rapport with service users, conduct sensitive interviews, communicate effectively with colleagues, and maintain accurate records.
5.Assessment and Intervention Planning: This topic equips students with a fundamental understanding and the core skills to conduct child and adult assessments of needs, using a range of assessment tools and frameworks. Students will learn how to assess, formulate intervention plans, setting goals, identifying appropriate resources, and collaborating with service users in the planning process.
6. Partnership Working and Interprofessional Collaboration: This topic highlights the importance of collaborative practice in social work, emphasising the need to work effectively with service users, families, and other professionals. Students will develop skills in building and working in partnership to meet service user needs.
7. Work Experience Placement: Students will undertake 2 day shadowing and a 20-day work experience placement in a social work setting, providing an opportunity to apply their learning in a real-world context. The placement aims to enhance their understanding of social work roles, develop practical skills, and build confidence in their abilities.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workshop | 2 | 6 | 12 |
| Supervision | 3 | 0.5 | 1.5 |
| Fieldwork | 20 | 6 | 120 |
| Lecture | 18 | 1 | 18 |
| Seminar | 18 | 2 | 36 |
| Independent online learning hours | 20 | ||
| Private study hours | 192.5 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 187.5 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 400 | ||
In Semester One, students will complete a formative video interview exercise with peers and a reflective study of this will be discussed in tutor groups. They will receive a pass or fail mark for the video interview and 500 reflection and also feedback from module leader, personal tutor and expert by experience during this process.
In the first 6-8 weeks of semester one tutors will offer formative feedback on a series of four reflective journals, based on personal and professional experience and in class activities
During the students 120 (20 day) hour work experience , tutors will offer feedback on two reflective journals in preparation for final summative submission
Coursework – Formative video interview and 500 word reflection
Coursework – Formative journals 4 in first 6 week of Sem 1 and 2 during 120 experience in sem 2.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Essay | 2000 word essay | 100 |
| In-course Assessment | Readiness to Practice Interview (Pass/Fail) | 0 |
| Coursework | FORMATIVE: video interview and 500 word reflection | 0 |
| Coursework | FORMATIVE: Formative journals 4 in first 6 week of Sem 1 and 2 during 120 experiEnce in sem 2 | 0 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
The assessment for the module is 2000-word reflective account of three works-based experiences. These are staggered within the second semester giving students the chance to work on each reflection sequentially. They are then brought together as one assignment to submit at the end of the module. Each part has its own word count from the total of 2000 words. These include, door knocking simulation of practice (500 word), two-day shadowing (500 word) and 120 hours work experience (1000 word). From each of the these the students are asked to upload as they go to their PebblePad workbook and submit their final document with all components to Turnitin at the end of the module mid-June. Students will have a maximum of two attempts at each element of assessment (essay and interview). After submission of the essay students undertake a readiness for practice interview - which is marked PASS/FAIL, they need to pass this to progress to year 2 and assessed social work placement Readiness to Practice interview format; In year one assessment of Readiness to Practice is done via an assessment in a 30 minute individual interview with a personal tutor. In line with Social Work England guidance the individual interview process will be monitored and quality assured by the Practice Assessment Panel which includes representatives from service users, carers and employers The assessment includes the following: i) Satisfactory evidence of '2-day shadowing' an experienced social worker. ii) Satisfactory completion of the skills day's activities - 20 day Work experience. iii) Satisfactory completion of digital PebblePad portfolio demonstrating module work throughout the year. iv) A satisfactory DBS check undertaken by the University of Leeds. v) A satisfactory Self Declaration of Health and Occupational Health screening vi) A satisfactory understanding of the Social Work England’s Professional Standards vii) A satisfactory understanding of the Professional Capabilities Framework viii) A satisfactory understanding of Service Users and Carers perspectives. ix) Satisfactory engagement. Additional formative assessed work Students will complete a formative video recorded interview with a service user and a 500-word reflection on this. This will be marked on a pass/fail basis but is not part of the final module assessment. The reflection is marked and feedback given to feedforward to assessed work.
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Last updated: 28/07/2026
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