This course introduces an overview of the generic components of social work as a profession, including its professional values, ethics, knowledge, processes and cross-cultural considerations to the students. Social work students should hold a set of values and knowledge about social needs and problems when they start their professional training.

With the background knowledge and relevant perspectives, students can analyse and assess the needs and problems of individuals, families, groups and communities. Students will be enabled to blend personal competence with professional values and knowledge, as well as to develop the awareness and sensitivity towards the cultural differences between the Western origin of social work practice and its adoption in Eastern societies.

Students taking this course will learn basic theories and models commonly used by social workers when dealing with human problems on individual and family levels. They will acquire an overview of the different social work processes as generated from various theoretical models that can facilitate the appreciation of the embedded values and assumptions in social work. Developmental concepts on assessing and intervening in the problems of individuals and families from social work perspectives will be covered. Students will also explore the comparative and integrative use of different theoretical models and their sensitivity towards the cross-cultural dimension will be enhanced when working with individuals and families.

In line with the course “HSW112 Social Work Theories and Practice I”, this course aims to enhance students’ attitudinal and behavioural competence in applying a range of different practice strategies and skills in working with different systems and settings. As a competence-based course, it also equips students with an awareness of the importance of values and code of ethics in direct social work practice.

­

This course aims to examine human behaviour in social environment pertinent to the practice and development of social work. It begins with the multi-dimensional perspective, and focuses on individual selves, small groups, organizations and communities. It also examines different kinds of biological, psychological, and sociological theories relating to human behaviour in social environment. The area of examination covers the dimensions of race, class, ethnicity, age, and disability. Socio-economic and cultural factors contributing to the formation and practice of inequality, prejudice, discrimination, and oppression will also be addressed. Students are encouraged to explore the relevance of various theories in the local context.

This course aims to provide students with a general understanding of the philosophical background and the principles of social work. It has three components and begins with an introduction of a common philosophical foundation of social work, which covers human worth, equality, human rights and social justice. Secondly, it examines the ethical principles concerning individual, group and community interventions, and agency administration. Thirdly, it explains the distinctive features of the generic approach in social work education, and key concepts such as power and empowerment practice, Chinese culture and helping, as well as corporate social responsibility.

This course aims to help students develop competence and value-awareness for implementing social work interventions at the group and community level. It equips students with the knowledge of contemporary theories and models to analyze social and community problems. Students are also expected to acquire practice abilities at the macro-level with the awareness of the theoretical bases and methods for group, organizational and community changes. This necessitates the bringing together of the individual and social as well as the agency and structure during social work practice.

In line with the course “HSW122 Social Work Theories and Practice II”, this course aims to enhance students’ attitudinal and behavioural competence in applying a range of different practice strategies and skills in working with different systems and settings. As a competence-based course, it also equips students with an awareness of the importance of values and code of ethics in direct social work practice.

Programme planning, implementation and evaluation are basic tasks of social service practitioners. This course is designed to equip students with the ability to perform basic tasks of social service development and skills in programme planning, implementation and evaluation. Students will be introduced to learn the basic concepts and strategies, methods, processes, relevant techniques and skills, tools of programme planning, implementation and evaluation that are usually used in the diverse settings of social service organizations for various clienteles. Community problem-solving, service innovation, budgeting and financial control, cost-effectiveness analysis and project management will be covered. These knowledge and skills will enable students to assess the appropriateness and relevance of various approaches and procedures of programme planning in human service sector.

­

This course aims to enable students to apply and integrate social work theories and methods in the practicum service setting. Students are expected to develop professional skills to implement social work theories and methods in practice, and become familiarized with the professional role and staff role in host agencies. Students will also be equipped with a reflective attitude and essential skills in practice as they internalize social work values and ethics.

­This course aims to equip students with the general concepts and challenges of the welfare state; and policy models of social welfare policies through a systematic discussion of social welfare services development in general as well as in the Hong Kong context by reviewing the trends, problems and issues. Students will have a chance to discuss and identify the strengths and weaknesses concerning social welfare policies in Hong Kong.

This course aims to introduce students to the nature and the purpose of law, and particularly those laws relating to social work practice. It covers areas such as professional liability, equal opportunity protection, Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance, family law, domestic violence, youth justice and social advocacy. Throughout the course, the relationship between care and control in the use of law and social work practice is highlighted. Students will participate in a trial role-play and a court visit. Some of the lectures are conducted by outside speakers with case analysis. There are several short quizzes for students during class so that they can have a reflection on their understanding of the lectures.

­This course aims to enable students to discover practice theory by generalizing from practice experiences, and critically assess the application of knowledge and skills in practice. Students are expected to develop competence in performing the professional role and staff role in host agencies; as well as competence as a reflective professional practitioner.

The focus of this course is on the study of organizational theories with an aim of fostering a general understanding of the administration of non-profit organizations. Another objective is to help students recognize the values, principles, processes, functions and skills of management in these organizations. It also facilitates students to understand the challenges of administrators working in human service organizations and the application of management in human service practice. Case studies will be used to illustrate the application of practical theories and models in these organizations especially in the context of Hong Kong.

This course aims to develop students’ competence in using an integrative intervention model for direct social work practice and to examine students’ suitability for becoming professional social work practitioners through reflecting on their own working and learning experiences.