The University of British Columbia
School of Social Work
SOWK310(001) and (002) Year/Term Course Title Course Schedule Course Location Term 1, 2008-09 Communication Skills in Social Work Practice Monday, 9:00-12:00 [both sections] Section 001: BIOL5460; Section 002: Scarfe204A
Instructor
(001) – Elizabeth Jones (002) – Barbara Casson
Office Location
Room 233
Office Phone
604.822.6220 604.602.0899(H)
e-mail address
elizabethjones@telus.net bcasson@shaw.ca
Office Hours
(001): M/F by appointment; (002) TBA
COURSE DESCRIPTION/OBJECTIVES:
This course provides students with a foundation of the values, knowledge and skills used to communicate in a professional social work context. The course will focus on the interview as a means to understand and apply the skills of ethical and effective interpersonal communication within a helping relationship. The skills of attending and focusing will be given primary emphasis, and skills of intervention, secondary emphasis. Through assigned readings, lecture and class discussion, role-play, video/DVD and other exercises, students will be introduced to the core values, principles and skills of interpersonal communication. Emphasizing experiential learning and reflective practice, the course is designed to assist students to make conscious use of a range of interviewing and communication skills. The salience of race, culture, gender and class, as well as tailoring interviews to the specific needs of the individuals and systems within which we work, will constitute a primary emphasis of the course. Various feedback opportunities will be utilized to enable students to explore and critically evaluate their developing skills in a variety of contexts. This course serves as a preparation for all field education courses. This course is closely related to the SOWK 305 practice course. The knowledge, values and skills in interpersonal communication will be integrated with the generalist approach to social work practice.
OBJECTIVES:
1. To develop an awareness of self in a professional helping context • To identify and build on each student’s unique communication style • To become aware of the conditions which inhibit or facilitate ethical and effective communication.
2. To acquire beginning skills in communicating clearly and effectively in a professional helping
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context. Some of these skills include: • Listening, probing, clarifying, reflecting • Initiating and developing relationships • Communicating cross–culturally, in the context of structural factors that influence the interview process, including race, culture, gender, class and role expectations. 3. To begin the process of taking responsibility for continued professional, personal, and political awareness, development and integration. • To develop self awareness in regard to the values, knowledge and skills used to communicate in a professional social work context • To understand communication and interviewing in the context of the Social Work Code of Ethics.
GENERAL EXPECTATIONS
The class will work in dyads, triads, small groups and in the large group. Teaching and learning will occur through lectures, experiential exercises, reading and reflection, discussion and feedback, role-playing, simulated helping interactions, small group activities and video. 1. Attendance
You are expected to attend all class and be present for the full three hours. Medical certificates will be required for absences. In the event of an absence for any reason, students will be required to complete make up work. Should you miss more than 3 classes, you may not be allowed to turn in your final assignment. 2. Active and Responsible Participation You are expected to participate actively and responsibly in class. We ask you to speak, listen, and share with each other. Please risk yourself, try out new skills and engage in classroom experiences. You will also be asked to complete assigned out of class readings and exercises, which serve as springboards for discussion in class. 3. Interaction You are expected to be open, honest and constructive in your interactions with others in the class. We will need to work at getting to know and to trust each other. You are expected to choose what you wish to share and what you do not. Your choices will be respected. 4. Consultation with the Instructor Due to the nature of the course and its objectives, students sometimes experience discomfort. If this should happen and you feel it is interfering with your class participation and learning, please consult with the course instructor. 5. Grading 1. Attend all classes, be present for, and responsibly participate in, the full three hours each week. Lateness for class will not be accepted. Participation is graded and is worth 10% of your final grade.
2. Complete and turn in the three DVD assignments on time.
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3. Complete to a “Pass” level make-up work assigned for lateness and/or for missed classes. NOTE: Failure in this course may lead to disqualification for SOWK 315. If this course is failed twice, the student will be required to withdraw from the Social Work Program. 6. Submitting Assignments: Students can use the drop box located in the main office on the reception counter to submit their assignments or any correspondence to faculty, sessionals or staff. Items will be date-stamped and distributed to the appropriate mailbox throughout the day. 7. Return of marked student assignments: Instructors coordinate the return of marked assignments either by handing them back to students in class or from their office. End of term assignments are returned to students who provide a selfaddressed and stamped envelope to the instructor who will mail back the assignment to students.
Shebib, Bob (2007). Choices: Interviewing and Counselling Skills for Canadians. 3rd Edition, Toronto: Prentice Hall.
REQUIRED COURSE TEXTS:
COURSE POLICIES:
Excerpt from the UBC calendar: Regular attendance is expected of students in all their classes (including lectures, laboratories, tutorials, seminars, etc.). Students who neglect their academic work and assignments may be excluded from the final examinations. Students who are unavoidably absent because of illness or disability should report to their instructors on return to classes. The University accommodates students with disabilities who have registered with the Disability Resource Centre. The University accommodates students whose religious obligations conflict with attendance, submitting assignments, or completing scheduled tests and examinations. Please let your instructor know in advance, preferably in the first week of class, if you will require any accommodation on these grounds. Students who plan to be absent for varsity athletics, family obligations, or other similar commitments, cannot assume they will be accommodated, and should discuss their commitments with the instructor before the drop date. It is recommended that students retain a copy of all submitted assignments (in case of loss) and should also retain all their marked assignments in case they wish to apply for a Review of Assigned Standing. Students have the right to view their marked examinations with their instructor, providing they apply to do so within a month of receiving their final grades. This review is for pedagogic purposes. The examination remains the property of the university.
Academic Dishonesty: Please review the UBC Calendar “Academic regulations” for the university policy on cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty. Also visit www.arts.ubc.ca and go to the students’ section for useful information on avoiding plagiarism and on correct documentation.
COURSE SCHEDULE
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SESSION 1: TOPIC:
September 8, 2008 Introductions Introductions and overview of, course outline, expectations and course objectives • Building effective helping skills • The use of self Shebib Chapter 1
•
REQUIRED READING SESSION 2: TOPIC:
September 15, 2008 Self-awareness and Ethical Decision Making Understanding of self and ethics in social work interviewing • Ethical decision-making in the context of changing values Shebib, Chapter 2 and Shebib, Appendix B The Social Work Code of Ethics for British Columbia September 22, 2008
•
REQUIRED READING: SESSION 3: TOPIC:
The Social Worker-Client Relationship
• • •
Core conditions and facilitative dimensions in social work interviewing The relationships between interest, attention and understanding Genuineness and immediacy
REQUIRED READING: SESSION 4: TOPIC:
Shebib, Chapter 3 September 29, 2008 Engaging and Understanding: Listening and Attending
• •
Verbal and non-verbal attending, observation, active listening Encouraging, paraphrasing and summarizing
REQUIRED READING: SESSION 5: Topic REQUIRED READING: SESSION 6: TOPIC:
Shebib, Chapter 4 October 6, 2008 1st Assignment Due Exploring Feelings and Meaning
•
The Use and purpose of empathy
Shebib Chapter 6 NO CLASS OCTOBER 13th , THANKSGIVING October 20, 2008 Assessment and Information gathering Open and closed questions • The purpose of questions Shebib, Chapter 5 pages: 121-132
•
REQUIRED READING:
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SESSION 7: TOPIC:
October 27, 2008 Assessment and Information gathering continued • • Exploring, probing and partializing Promoting Concreteness
REQUIRED READING: SESSION 8: TOPIC:
Shebib, Chapter 5 pages: 133-151 November 3, 2008 2nd Assignment Due Eliciting Strengths and Capabilities
• • • •
“Empowerment” in social work interviewing Motivating Stages of Change Principles of effective confrontation
REQUIRED READING: SESSION 9: TOPIC:
Shebib, Chapter 7: pages 186-203 November 10, 2008 Eliciting Strengths and Capabilities continued
• • •
Reframing Goal Setting Action planning
REQUIRED READING:
Shebib, Chapter 7: pages 204-225
SESSION 10 November 17, 2008 Endings TOPIC:
• •
Endings with Clients Evaluation and termination skills
SESSION 11: November 24, 2008 TOPIC: Final Class Preparation for final assignment Review of all readings
ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE You are required to prepare for each class by reading the noted chapters and completing the exercises in each chapter. Your instructor will review this with you. The assignments for this course are three DVDs: due October 6th, November 3rd, and December 19, 2008. Recorded interviews will be confidential. Only the dyad and the instructors will have access to them. The DVD’s will be returned to the student after instructor viewing, and students are responsible for
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safeguarding/erasing them afterward. If concerns about a taped interview and/or analysis arise, the course instructor may consult with the other SOWK 310 class instructor. In the case of an appeal, the student’s permission will be sought for further review of the tape. 1. DVD demonstrating skills of chapters 1 – 4 – Due: October 6th, 2008. Weight = 20% This assignment is an opportunity for you to demonstrate use of communication skills you are learning within the context of a beginning/exploratory interview. By the second week of class, select a partner to work with. Practice interviewing your partner about an issue he or she is currently experiencing and then tape your interview for submission to your instructor – maximum 10 minutes. Your instructor will give you specific directions about this tape. It is NOT the purpose of this interview to solve the problem or to give advice. This DVD is intended for you to demonstrate the skills you are reading about and practicing in class up to and including the end of Chapter 3. Review your DVD, and write a brief synopsis, no more than two typed pages, outlining your perception of your basic communication, interviewing and counseling skills, your strengths and areas for improvement. Comment on the overall effectiveness of your skills. Submit the review and the DVD to your instructor. The instructor will review and return it to you with written suggestions for improvement. Criteria for evaluation Demonstration of skills in Chapters 1 – 4 Critical analysis of performance including: • • • • Analysis of use of self Identification and analysis of skills used Strengths and areas for improvement Overall effectiveness of the interview
2. DVD demonstrating skills of chapters 1 – 6 – Due: November 3, 2008. Weight = 30% This DVD is another opportunity for you to demonstrate use of communication skills you are learning within the context of a more advanced interview. Select a different partner to work with from DVD#1. Practice interviewing your partner about an issue he or she is currently experiencing then tape your interview for submission to your instructor – maximum 20 minutes. Your instructor will give you specific directions about this assignment. It is NOT the purpose of this interview to solve the problem or to give advice. This intention is for you to demonstrate the skills you are reading about and practicing in class up to and including the end of Chapter 5. Review your tape, choose a 10 minute section, and write a brief synopsis of that section, no more than two typed pages, outlining your perception of your basic communication, interviewing and counseling skills, your strengths and areas for improvement. Comment on the overall effectiveness of your skills. Submit the analysis and the DVD to your instructor. Instructor will review the DVD. Then, you and your instructor review the interview together. You will receive feedback and suggestions. If the instructor considers this interview to be at a failing level, you will be asked to redo the assignment. Criteria for Evaluation Demonstration of skills in Chapters 1 - 6
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Critical analysis of performance including: • • • • Analysis of use of self Identification and analysis of skills used Strengths and areas for improvement Overall effectiveness of the interview
3. DVD demonstrating skills from all chapters 1-7 – Due: December 19, 2008. There will no extensions for this tape. Weight = 40% YOU WILL BE COMPLETING YOUR SOWK 310 EXAM IN CONJUNCTION WITH THEATRE STUDENTS. THE INSTRUCTORS WILL DEVELOP A SCHEDULE FOR THE EXAM AND WILL ADVISE YOU OF THE DATE. The purpose of this assignment is to demonstrate your capacity to use all the communication skills you have learned in an effective manner within the context of an interview. If after review you recognize that you did not respond ideally, you are asked to identify an alternate (more preferable response). The instructors will describe the process of completing DVD #3. When the video has been completed, review your tape and complete a detailed written analysis as follows. Deviations from this framework will not be accepted. You do not have to transcribe the entire interview. SECTION 1: GOALS OF THE INTERVIEW (1 PAGE)
1. Objectives of the interview 2. Objectives for self SECTION 2: TRANSCRIPTION OF INTERVIEW (FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE GIVEN BY YOUR INSTRUCTOR). IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO PROVIDE TRANSCRIPTION OF THE ENTIRE INTERVIEW, EXAMPLE BELOW ANALYSIS OF INTERVIEW AND/OR ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE Paraphrase and open ended question INSTRUCTOR’S COMMENTS
TRANSCRIPTION SW “it sounds like you are frustrated by…..can you tell me more” C “Yes I am, I think it………and am not sure what to do SECTION 3: 1. 2. 3.
FINAL COMMENTS (2 PAGES)
Analysis of Use of Self Analysis of Integration of Skills Future Objectives for Skill Development
Submitting AssignmentsStudents can use the drop box located in the main office on the reception counter to submit their assignments or any correspondence to faculty, sessionals or staff. Items will be date-stamped and distributed to the appropriate mailbox throughout the day. Return of marked student assignments Page 7 of 8
Instructors coordinate the return of marked assignments either by handing them back to students in class or from their office. End of term assignments are returned to students who provide a self-addressed and stamped envelope to the instructor who will mail back the assignment to students.
4. Attendance and participation in class Weight = 10% Participation marks will be given to reflect your attendance, promptness, active participation in facilitation exercises and discussions. Be aware that each absence will cost 1.5 points. If you are absent 3 times, you will get 0, and if you are absent more than 3 times, you may not be allowed to take the exam. GRADING CRITERIA:
Letter Grade A+ A APercent Range 90-100 85-89 80-84 MidPoint 95 87 82
B+ B B-
76-79 72-75 68-71
77.5 83.5 69.5
C+ C CD
64-67 60-63 55-59 50-54
65.5 62.5 57 52
F
0-49
Represents work of exceptional quality. Content, organization and style are all at a high level. Student demonstrates excellent research and reference to literature where appropriate. Also, student uses sound critical thinking, has innovative ideas on the subject and shows personal engagement with the topic. Represents work of good quality with no major weaknesses. Writing is clear and explicit and topic coverage and comprehension is more than adequate. Shows some degree of critical thinking and personal involvement in the work. Good use of existing knowledge on the subject. Adequate and average work. Shows fair comprehension of the subject, but has some weaknesses in content, style and/or organization of the paper. Minimal critical awareness or personal involvement in the work. Adequate use of literature. Minimally adequate work, barely at a passing level. Serious flaws in content, organization and/or style. Poor comprehension of the subject, and minimal involvement in the paper. Poor use of research and existing literature. Failing work. Inadequate for successful completion of the course or submitted beyond final date of acceptance for paper.
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