Overview
Managing risk is an important part of being a social worker. We'll deepen your understanding of the complexity of risk, exploring its contested nature, to help you better understand your personal and professional attitudes to it. We'll also discuss and critically apply models of, and approaches to, risk assessment.
The assessment and management of risk has become a legislated core social work activity through, for example, the Care Act 2014 and the Children and Social Work Act 2017.
However, risk and risk assessment are diverse and complex subjects which have been conceptualised and analysed from multiple disciplinary perspectives. In the social work literature alone, there are different views about what constitutes risk, whether risk is considered as negative or positive, the importance of context, and what can and should be done about any identified risk.
The various contexts in which risk assessments take place are all important – people (including social workers) can either be ‘at risk’, present a risk, or even be both at the same time. Whilst historically, the emphasis has been on professional assessment of risk, more recently, increasing prominence has been towards understanding how risk is perceived, assessed and intervened, for example risk is often talked about differently, depending on which service user group is being discussed.
This module is suitable for continuing professional development across the spectrum of newly-qualified and experienced social workers and in the context of meeting professional, ethical standards.
Outline content
In short, what constitutes risk is open to a variety of interpretations in a variety of contexts and, consequently, the assessment and management of risk is complex, multi-dimensional and contestable in terms of both process and outcome. Our course explores the contested nature of risk, enabling you to align your own personal and professional attitudes towards risk and to critically discuss and apply, models of and approaches to, risk assessment in a real world context.
Assessment
You'll submit a portfolio of evidence relating your learning to your personal practice situation.
A discounted rate is available to specific partner organisations. Please ask your Manager or Education Lead about funding before you apply. This course will be available for online delivery with online tutor support available throughout the day.
Who should attend?
Qualified social workers registered with Social Work England.
This course is suitable for continuing professional development across the spectrum of adult/child services - of newly qualified and experienced social workers - and in the context of meeting professional, ethical standards.
Dates
Taught days take place face to face, and workshops/tutorials take place online.
8, 22 May 2023
5, 19 June
3 July
17 July (tutorials)
Where you'll study
Your faculty
The Faculty of Health, Education, Medicine and Social Care is the largest in ARU, with over 7,000 students. Our Faculty is teeming with expertise and primed to meet the demand for creating health professionals, teachers, doctors, scientists and educators for the three districts we serve: Chelmsford, Cambridge and Peterborough.
We have been training undergraduates for professional roles for over 25 years, with a reputation for quality, dedication and ambition balanced with student satisfaction.
We know that to give our students the very best experiential learning, prior to getting into the workplace, simulation is second to none, for safe, realistic, learning environments. We have invested heavily in purpose built simulated wards, science labs and skills space, to support our students through their learning.
Where can I study?
Fees & funding
Course fees
30 credits (Level 7) for courses starting in 2022/23
£1,583
A discounted rate is available to specific partner organisations. Please ask your Manager or Education Lead about funding before you apply.
Contact details
Gavin Millar, Senior Lecturer, Social Work
gavin.millar@aru.ac.uk
CPD Admissions
admissionscpd@aru.ac.ukEntry requirements
To join this course, you will be a qualified social worker, registered with Social Work England.
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