Syllabus

Master of Social Work

SSWO 575 – Social Work In Healthcare Settings

Credits - 3

Description

This course will provide the graduate MSW student with a general understanding of social work roles and responsibilities when working in Health Care settings such as hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and clinics. Students will learn and demonstrate gained knowledge and practice skills  when assisting others of all ages in these settings. 

Areas to be addressed include medical terminology, biopsychosocial assessment for health care settings, treatment planning, professional  interdisciplinary team collaboration, leadership and social work ethics.

Materials

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

School of Social Work Program Outcomes:

Graduates of the UNE SSWO will demonstrate knowledge, skills, and leadership in the following:

1. Practice social inclusion to enable people, populations, and communities to fully participate in society, enhance human bonds in the context of cultural diversity and ensure improved quality of life and equitable resource distribution. EPAS Competencies 2 & 3
2. Engage in culturally-informed relationship building, being respectful of the complexity and diversity of contexts and circumstances. EPAS Competencies 3 & 6
3. Utilize theories of human behavior, social systems and social inclusion when offering interventions with people and their environments. EPAS Competency 8
4. Promote ethical reflection, critical consciousness and shared decision-making based in social work values and with consideration of the broader contexts of the world in which we live. EPAS Competency 1
5. Balance the roles of helpers, activists, and advocates through collaboration with communities to build healthy and sustainable resources. EPAS Competencies 2, 5, & 6
6. Engage as critical consumers and producers of research as it relates to assessment, intervention and evaluation of clinical and community practices. EPAS Competencies 4, 7, 8 & 9
7. Practice person-centered and collaborative community partnerships across diverse settings. EPAS Competency 6

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: 

1. Describe the evolution of social work practice and the various roles and responsibilities of a social worker in health care settings including, but not limited to case management, crisis intervention, advocacy, assessment, planning, referral, networking, cultural competency and interdisciplinary professional relationships. EPAS,8
2. Demonstrate ethical  social work practice in health care settings including the use of technology. EPAS 1,6,7.
3. Illustrate the ability to acknowledge and accommodate the diversity of others in social work practice skills. EPAS 2,3
4. Analyze the organizational structure of the health care systems and their influences at a micro/mezzo/macro level of social work practice. This includes Federal/State policy, procedures that also impact the delivery of health care services. EPAS 5.

Assignments

Full assignment requirements, rubrics, and due dates for all learning activities are provided in the course.

Whole Class Discussions

You will be asked to post one initial response to Discussion Questions each week, and then make a minimum of 2 peer response comments to each Discussion prompt. Postings must meet the criteria for substantiveness to earn the maximum points available.

Reflective Journals

 Throughout the course, you will respond to Reflective Journal prompts. There is no length requirement for the contributions you make to this entry; however, your reflection must demonstrate comprehension and application of what you gained from this experience and how it will hinder or assist your work with others. You may also submit a video or audio recording of this reflection in lieu of a written journal. 

Week 4: Interview with a Medical Social Worker Assignment

In Week 4, you are to submit a written assignment summarizing and reflecting on  an interview conducted with a medical social worker. Detailed guidelines for this assignment are provided in Brightspace; any questions can be directed to your course faculty. Be sure to schedule your interview in advance of the Week 4 due date. 

Week 7: Social Work Practice with Technology in Health Care Settings Assignment

This written assignment provides the student with the opportunity to expand upon the use of technology in health care settings beyond the general discussion within the course.

Grading Policy

The School of Social Work uses the following grading system for all courses with the exception of field education courses. Students are expected to maintain a “B” (3.0) average over the course of their study. Students with less than a GPA of 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. Students must have an overall GPA of 3.0 in order to receive their Master’s Degree.

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown