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Working in Human Service Organisations (SCWK90070)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
August
Overview
Availability | August |
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This subject aims to give students an appreciation of the nature of human service organisations as a context, vehicle and target of social work interventions. Several theoretical perspectives on human service organisations will be explored and students will be introduced to a number of specific dimensions useful in understanding organisations, like goals, mission, technology and culture. They will also examine the different ways in which such organisations are structured for line and task accountability and what difference the overall size of the organisation makes for both workers and clients. The environment in which an organisation operates and its inter-organisational field are of increasing importance in human service practice and different ways of understanding and conceptualizing the environment will be presented. The clients/consumers/target groups of human service organisation have a major influence on program design and choice of technology. Similarly, the way in which work is structured in the organisation will have a particular impact on staff in terms of the manner in which they interact with colleagues and manage their time and stresses of the job. Utilisation of supervision and the nature of interdisciplinary teamwork will be particularly explored. Finally, the course will explore how change within the organisation can be initiated, implemented and evaluated.
Intended learning outcomes
At the completion of this subject students should be able to:
- describe and analyse a human service organisation from a number of different theoretical perspectives;
- develop a good conceptual and empirical understanding of some of the key dimensions of organisational analysis e.g. size, structure, goals, technology, culture
- be familiar with common tensions confronting both service users and professionals in human service organisations
- be able to understand change and resistance to change in human service organisations
Generic skills
On completion of this subject students should be able to:
- critically analyse texts and practices
- understand recent developments in social work contexts of practice
- link theory to practice
- competently communicate in ways relevant to both academic and practice contexts
- undertake independent research
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
Two 2500 word written essays, 50% each, one due mid and one end of semester (100%)
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- August
Principal coordinator Ralph Hampson Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24 contact hours (8 x 1 hour lecture, 8 x 2 hour seminar) Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 27 August 2018 to 26 October 2018 Last self-enrol date 7 September 2018 Census date 14 September 2018 Last date to withdraw without fail 12 October 2018 Assessment period ends 9 November 2018 August contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
2013, English, Book, Illustrated edition: The organisational context of human service practice/Elizabeth Ozanne and David Rose. Ozanne, Elizabeth 1944- (author)
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Social Work - Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Last updated: 3 November 2022