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Preface
Social Work Research Methods Programme
The Research Methods Programme provides two postgraduate, post
qualifying modules for social workers approved by the Northern Ireland
Social Care Council as part of the Professional in Practice Framework:
• The Evidence-Informed Professional and Organisation (SWK 751)
• Research and Evaluation Methods in Social Work (SWK 752)
The programme provides three modules for users of social care services and
their families:
• Using Evidence to Inform Professionals and Organisations (SWK 753)
• Research and Evaluation Methods to Inform Social Work (SWK 754)
• Innovation and Co-production in Social Work Research (SWK 755)
The modules for social workers are accredited by the professional regulatory
body, the Northern Ireland Social Care Council, and enable candidates to gain
Requirements of the Professional in Practice Framework as detailed below.
They require employer support and post-qualifying practice experience for
entry. They are designed particularly for Senior Practitioners, training officers
and other experienced social workers to gain knowledge and skills in using
evidence to inform their practice and service development in their organisation.
These modules achieve credit towards the Postgraduate Certificate and
Postgraduate Diploma and MSc in Professional Development in Social Work.
The modules for service users and carers equip them to carry out roles in
developing social care research, such as membership of research committees
and grant awarding panels. These modules achieve credit towards the
Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma.
All modules are 60-credit Level 7 (postgraduate) modules and are designed
to develop knowledge and skills relevant to social work research-related
activity and culture in Northern Ireland in support of the Social Work Research
and Continuous Improvement Strategy 2020-2025 (Health & Social Care
Board, 2021) updated from the previous 2015-2020 Strategy.