Course Code: CCSS4025

HKU SPACE Community College

Associate Degree Programme

Contemporary Social Work and Social Welfare

Teaching Plan and Syllabus 2024-25

Course Lecturer: CHAN Ka Ki, Gaston, LEE Chit Ming, David

E-mail: [email protected], TBC
Consultation: by appointment.

1. Introduction

This course aims at orientating students to social work and social welfare services, introducing the
knowledge base of social work and the values and skills demanded in practice. Through analyzing current
social service programs, students should be able to understand the needs, problems and services for
vulnerable groups in Hong Kong.

2. Objectives

Upon completing this course, students should be able to:

ILO 1: describe the functions and historical development of social work and social welfare services;
ILO 2: explain the values, guiding principles and code of ethics of social work practice;
ILO 3: define the knowledge base and practice methods of social work;
ILO 4: evaluate current social welfare services for vulnerable groups in Hong Kong.

3. Course Assessment

Type Description ILOs Weighting

Class Participation 1-4 10%
Group project progress log (around 2 pages,
1-4 5%
5-6 students per group)
Group project presentation (40 minutes, 5-6
1-4 20%
Formative students per group)
Assessment Mid-term test (MC and/or short questions)
(one-hour) (SOUL Quiz: 02/11/2024
(Saturday) 4pm-5pm@Soul) The quiz covers 1-4 20%
teaching materials before the quiz. You have to
remember this timeslot, you will not get any reminder
for it.

Reflective paper (1500 words)1 1-4 15%

Summative
Assessment 2-hour written examination (may be in the
(not more than format of MC, or short answers, or long
50%) 1-4 30%
questions or any other format deemed
appropriate)
Total: 100%

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4. Syllabus

Unit Content Venue Class Activities Week

Course Overview Course introduction 1
Nature of social History of social work
work Purposes and goals of social work

Definition of Social Welfare; 2

Social welfare & Providers of welfare services;
history of welfare History and types of welfare
services in HK services in HK

Social work The unique value and dignity of 3

values and human beings, the self-
principles actualization of individuals,
social justice, human rights, etc.
Guiding principles and codes of
professional ethics

Knowledge base Social work theories and practice 4

of social work methods
practice
(Practice skills and practice
theories, element of helping and
professional relationship)

Knowledge base Social work theories and practice 5

of social work methods
practice (element of helping and
professional relationship)
Consultation 6
Guest Lecture Guest Lecture 7

Social work with Understanding and working with 8

group and groups and communities
communities

Social service Group presentation: children 9

programs for or families
children and
families

Social service Group presentation: youth 10

programs for
youth/ older Group presentation: older
people people
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 Unit Content Venue Class Activities Week

Social service Group presentation: disabled 11

programs for people
disabled people/
ethnic minorities Group presentation: ethnic
minorities
The future of Contemporary challenges 12
social work
Course review

5. Class Schedule
Day of class Course Lecture dates
codes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Monday CL06 16/9 23/9 30/9 7/10 14/10 21/10 28/10 11/11 18/11 25/11 2/12 9/12

Wednesday CL01, 25/9 9/10 16/10 23/10 30/10 4/11* 6/11 13/11 20/11 27/11 4/12 11/12
CL04
Thursday CL02, 19/9 26/9 10/10 17/10 24/10 31/10 7/11 14/11 21/11 28/11 5/12 12/12
CL03
Friday CL05 13/9 20/9 27/9 18/10 25/10 1/11 8/11 15/11 22/11 29/11 6/12 13/12

* 4 NOV: Teaching Wednesday Schedule*

CCSS4025-CL01@ADC302
CCSS4025-CL02@ADC315
CCSS4025-CL03@UNC612
CCSS4025-CL04@ADC612
CCSS4025-CL05@ADC302
CCSS4025-CL06@ADC315
ADC---Admiralty Centre
UNC---United Centre

6. Requirement

1. Class participation – Students are expected to read tutorial materials, participate in group discussion,
and share their experiences and opinions in class activities.

2. Group project presentation – Students are to form groups to examine various social service programs in
Hong Kong. These include services for children and families, youth, older people, disabled people,
ethnic minorities or new immigrants, or other vulnerable or disadvantaged groups. After visiting
social service agencies, students are required to make a presentation in class.

3. Reflective paper: The purpose of the reflection paper is to help students reflect on their previous
conceptions about social work in the light of the learned experience due to the course.

4. Examination – This two-hour examination assesses students’ ability to (a) describe social work
function and development (b) understand the philosophy, knowledge base, values and principles of
social work (c) examine social work relationship and intervention process (d) apply social work
theories to analyze social services logically and systematically.

7. Recommended Reading

Textbook:
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1. Kirst-Ashman, K.K. (2013). Introduction to Social Work & Social Welfare: Critical Thinking
Perspectives, International Edition 4th Edition. U.S.A.: Brooks/Cole.

References:
2. Adams, R., Dominelli, L, & Payne, M. (Eds.) (2009). Social Work: Themes, Issues and Critical
Debates. (3rd Edition). Hampshire, UK: Palgrave Macmillan
3. Chui, W.H. & Wilson, J. (eds.) (2006). Social Work and Human Services: Best Practice. NSW: The
Federation Press.
4. Corey, M.S. & Corey, G. (2003). Becoming a helper. Pacific Grove: Brooks/Cole.
5. Davies, M. (ed.). (2013). The Blackwell Companion to Social Work. 4th Edition. West Sussex, UK:
Wiley-Blackwell.
6. DuBois, B. & Miley, K.K. (2005). Social Work: An Empowering Profession. Boston: Pearson/Allyn
and Bacon.
7. Hepworth, D.H., Rooney, R.H., Rooney, G.D., Strom-Gottfried, K. & Larsen, J.A. (2010). Direct
Social Work practice: Theory and Skills. 8th Edition. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.
8. Johnson, L. C., Yanca, S. J. (2010). Social Work Practice: A Generalist Approach. 10th Ed. Boston:
Pearson/Allyn & Bacon.
9. Kirst-Ashman, K.K. & Hull Jr., G.H., (2010). Understanding Generalist Practice. 6th Edition.
Australia: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning.
10. Morales, A., Bradford, S.W., Scott, M. (2010). Social Work: A Profession of Many Faces. Boston:
Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.
11. 周永新、陳沃聰(2013)《》

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Appendix

HKU SPACE Community College

Grade Descriptors for Final Grade

Course Title: Contemporary Social Work and Social Welfare

Domain/ Programme: Social Sciences

Course Intended Learning Outcomes:

On completion of the module, students should be able to
ILO 1: describe the functions and historical development of social work and social welfare services;
ILO 2: explain the values, guiding principles and code of ethics of social work practice;
ILO 3: define the knowledge base and practice methods of social work;
ILO 4: evaluate current social welfare services for vulnerable groups in Hong Kong..

Grade descriptors that provide an interpretation of the grade.

A : Demonstrate an excellent understanding of the purposes of social work and social welfare
and the needs, problems and services for deprived groups in Hong Kong.

B : Demonstrate a good understanding of the purposes of social work and social welfare and
the needs, problems and services for deprived groups in Hong Kong.

C : Could demonstrate some understanding of the purposes of social work and social welfare
and the needs, problems and services for deprived groups in Hong Kong.

D : Demonstrate limited understanding of the purposes of social work and social welfare and
the needs, problems and services for deprived groups in Hong Kong.

F : Show no or little knowledge of the purposes of social work and social welfare and the
needs, problems and services for deprived groups in Hong Kong.