An introduction to social work law

This course will get you to consider your initial perceptions of the social work role before exploring what social workers do in their day-to-day practice with people. It will highlight the core values of the social work profession and consider the challenges of applying these values in practice.The course will explore the relationship between social work practice and law and will be of relevance to people interested in social work internationally, although it will draw on legislation from a UK context.This OpenLearn course is an adapted extract from the Open University course K271 Social work law.

• Introduction
• Learning outcomes
• 1 What is social work?
• 1 What is social work?
• 1.1 Perception(s) of social work
• 1.2 Role of a social worker
• 2 Social work values and ethics
• 2 Social work values and ethics
• 2.1 Rights and responsibilities
• 2.2 Rights and responsibilities in conflict
• 2.3 Partnership
• 2.4 Accountability
• 2.5 Empowerment and anti-oppressive practice
• 2.6 Respecting diversity and responding to difference
• 3 Interplay between values, ethics and the law
• 3 Interplay between values, ethics and the law
• Conclusion
• References
• Acknowledgements