Certificate in Social Work

Duration:                                           12 months

Credit load:                                        156                                         

Minimum Credit Load:                    156

Maximum Credit Load:                   156

Maximum MBK Credit Load:         156

ZNQF Level:                                      7

Accreditation organization:              University Council (MSU)

PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAMME

The programme also aims at producing para social workers with the competencies to work in statutory and non-statutory settings as social work support workforce and/or are working in social work related settings but want to attain or upgrade skills for career advancement.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

For all entry pathways candidates must have at least five Ordinary Level subjects/ National Foundation Certificates including English Language at grade C or better.

Normal Entry:  Five Ordinary Level subjects/ National Foundation Certificates including English Language at grade C or better.

PROGRAMME CHARACTERISTICS

Areas of Study:         Social Work.

Orientation:               Introductory Social Work.

Distinctive Features: The programme introduced students to social work methods, concepts, principles, values and ethics.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND FURTHER EDUCATION

Employability: Certificate in Social work graduates can work in a variety of settings as social work support workforce.

Further Studies:        Diploma in Social Work and Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Social Work (Mature Entry).

PROGRAMME DELIVERY

Teaching and Learning Methods: Lectures, tutorials, role plays, seminars, group work, field-based activities, work related learning, dissertation, individual independent study.

Assessment Methods: Written and oral examinations, tests, written and practical assignments, field reports, seminar presentations, work related learning reports, dissertation and continuous assessment.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

On successful completion of this programme the graduate will be able to:

• Know how to intervene at the individual, family, group and community levels to restore social functioning.
• Explore own values, identities and ideological perspectives and have a clearer appreciation of the influence of the same on social work practice.
• Have a good appreciation of social work methods and their utility to social work practice.
• Apply the knowledge learnt to practical situations so as to enhance the resilience of vulnerable populations.
• Acquire and develop practical skills and/or competencies to work with a variety of vulnerable groups through mentored fieldwork/industrial attachment placements.
• Have the pre-requisite knowledge base and skills to support and compliment social workers at all levels within diverse practice settings.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Refer to the University’s General Regulations.

PROGRAMME ASSESSMENT

Coursework:                            40%: In class Test (50%), Assignments (50%)

Written Examinations:            60%

Other: a) Dissertation is assessed on the basis of a research project (75%) and Oral presentation

• (25%).
  1. b) Industrial Attachment/Work Related Learning is assessed based on Industrial Attachment/Work Related Learning report (30%), assessment by Work Supervisor (40%), and assessment by Academic Supervisor (30%).

PROVISION FOR PROGRESSION

Refer to the University’s General Regulations.

FAILURE TO SATISFY EXAMINERS

Refer to the University’s General Regulations.

GRADING AND DEGREE CLASSIFICATION

Refer to the University’s General Regulations.

 WEIGHTING

Refer to University’s General Regulations.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

Module                                                                                                           Credits

Level 1 Semester 1

CSW031 Introduction to Social Work                                                                      8

CSW032 Communication Skills                                                                                8

CSW033 Introduction to Social Work with Individuals                                            8

CSW034 Introduction to Social Work with Groups                                                  8

CSW035 Introduction to Social Work with Communities                                         8

CSW036 Introduction to Social Work Research                                                        8

Level 1 Semester 2                                        

CSW037 Introduction to social policy and Administration                                       8

CSW038 Introduction to social services and development                                        8

CSW039 Introduction to Social Work with Children and Families                           8

CSW040 Introduction to community Health                                                             8

CSW041 Management of Welfare Organizations                                                      8

CSW042 Social Work and Crisis Intervention                                                           8

CSW043 Work Related Learning                                                                             24

MODULE SYNOPSES

CSW031 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK

The module is intended to provide students with a foundational critical overview of the history, methods, purpose, values, principles and ethics of the social work discipline. The module will also allow the students to interrogate the role and efficacy of remedial social work practice in developing countries.

CSW 032 COMMUNICATION SKILLS

The module will raise awareness in students on the importance of effective oral and written communication in social work training and practice. The module will also introduce students to the concept of how the acquisition of communication skills enhances assessment, decision making processes and intervention in social work practice. The module will capacitate students to demonstrate effective and appropriate skills in communicating information and professional opinion to colleagues, clients (service users) and care givers.

CSW 033 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS

The module is intended to prepare students for generalist social work practice with individuals. The module aims to equip students with an appreciation of social work concepts that underpin social work practice with individuals. The module will also introduce students to principles, values and ethics of casework.

CSW 034 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK WITH GROUPS

The module will examine the concepts and functions of social group work as a method of social work. The module will explore group dynamics in group work and the phases of group development. The module will also assess the role and functions of the social group worker and the relevance of group work practice in Zimbabwe.

CSW 035 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK WITH COMMUNITIES

The module will introduce students to strategies for agency and community engagement as well as community organizing. It develops students’ capacities to critically engage in reflection in order to address community problems of oppression, social exclusion and marginalisation.

CSW 036 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH

The module introduces students to basic social work research, emphasizing the importance of evidence based social work interventions using quantitative and qualitative research methods. Students will also be introduced to the basics of Monitoring and Evaluation of interventions as well as the basic analysis of data.

CSW 037 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION

The module will introduce students to social welfare policies, the policy formulation processand the challenges of policy implementation. The effects of social policy administration on marginalized and vulnerable populations will also be analysed.

CSW 038 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT

The module will introduce students to the domain of social welfare and social services provision. An attempt to define the concept of poverty will be made with an emphasis on the various comparative categories of poverty. The module will also interrogate the constraints to achieving the goals of social welfare services provision.

CSW 039 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

The module will introduce students to child development, parenting practices, family systems and common settings for social workers specializing in practice with children and families. Students will also be introduced to Zimbabwe’s public/statutory child welfare and protection system and the relevant international, regional and national policy and legislative frameworks. The National Case Management System will be reviewed to give students an in-depth appreciation of the integrated and collaborative approach to the provision of child welfare and protection services to children.

CSW 040 INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNITY HEALTH

The module will introduce students to the practice of integrated health primary care. Students will become knowledgeable of the social work roles of awareness raising and advocacy in the prevention of communicable and non-communicable diseases. The course will equip students with basic information on communicable and non-communicable diseases to enable them to recognise and understand health problems among their clients and refer them appropriately for treatment. Students will develop skills in engagement, assessment, intervention and supporting clients across a range of health conditions including HIV, substance abuse and mental illness.

CSW 041 MANAGEMENT OF WELFARE ORGANISATIONS

The module will introduce students to management and accountability principles as they relate to social welfare organisations. Students will also learn about the basic management functions of planning and organising and the application of these concepts in social welfare organisations. The module will also focus on the basics of administrative roles such as program development, resource mobilisation budgeting, data management, staff supervision, advocacy and program evaluation.

CSW 042 SOCIAL WORK AND CRISIS INTERVENTION

This module introduces students to basic crisis intervention skills to provide immediate and short term response to various client groups. The crisis intervention model will be explored as a possible technique. The scope of the module will encompass both man-made and natural disasters such as induced mass movement of people due to conflict, industrial accidents, famine, floods and earthquakes respectively.

CSW043 WORK RELATED LEARNING

The 12 week long supervised practical fieldwork emphasizes the development of professional identity and conduct, professional values and ethics, and the skills of client engagement. The practical fieldwork placement will afford students with an opportunity to blend learned social work methods with practice. The main objective of the practical fieldwork is to produce fully groomed results-oriented cadres who can competently practice using the knowledge imparted to them. Practical fieldwork placements must be preceded by a fieldwork orientation short course to prepare students for field placement. To ensure critical reflection of theoretical and practical issues among students the fieldwork placement will be held in between the blocks for the taught courses.