WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY IN AFRICA

Addressing gender disparity and fostering equity in University Education

COURSE OUTLINE

LECTURER: MR A M NDLOVU
0779617421
awaxcy@gmail.com

COURSE: Introduction to Social Work with Communities

CODE: KSW218

PURPOSE OF THE COURSE:

This course grounds students in the fundamental theories, models and approaches to community
work practice. The course exposes students to community work as a primary method of social
work practice, building their knowledge and skills for effective intervention through community
systems. The course prepares students to use various community models and strategies as a
helping resource for clients, and to effectively participate as a member of committees and
interagency teams to bring about community change. Themes of sustainability, holistic
interventions, resilience and the use of natural helping systems are core to the delivery of this
course.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. To introduce students to the theories concepts, approaches and models of macro practice
social work.

2. To provide students with elementary skills necessary for them to function as community
workers and change agents.

3. To sensitise students on the pertinent resource systems that can be harnessed in

interventions that target communities as a primary delivery point for effecting
development
COURSE DESCRIPTION

Building upon preceding courses, this course equips students with basic community social work
knowledge, skills and competencies that will facilitate and strengthen their delivery as change
agents in communities. It exposes students to the strategies used in and values relevant to
community social work practice. Further, the course inculcates in student’s awareness and the
appreciation of community work as an indispensable practice domain of social work. The course
underscores the importance of mobilising communities for active participation in development
programmes and projects, in a manner that promotes community ownership, sustainability of
development outcomes and builds resilience. In addition, the importance of institutions and use
of collective resources is emphasised.

COURSE OUTCOMES

Successful completion of the course is expected to enable students to;

1. Conceptualise the fundamental theories, concepts, approaches, models and strategies

underpinning community social work practice.

2. Be able to clearly recognise and identify critical community resources and institutions
that can be used in community development, specific to individual contexts.

3. Understand the value of and strategies for conducting successful community mobilisation
including key stakeholder analysis and engagement.

4. Comprehend the need to ensure sustainability, resilience building and community

ownership as critical themes in ensuring social development in communities.

5. Develop skills and competencies to practice in a manner commensurate with the social
work values and ethos in delivering change within vulnerable and marginalised
communities.
COURSE CONTENT

Unit 1: Introduction

The unit introduces the field of community work with emphasis on the multi-professional
dimension of community work practice. The relationship of social work to community work is
highlighted with aims, values and skills required in community work being explained. The
historical development of community work is explained in order to underscore its relevancy to
today’s community work practice.
a) Definition of key concepts ‘community and community work’
b) Historical roots of community work – an international perspective
c) Aims and values of community work
 d) The relationship of community work to other social work methods
e) Basic community work skills
f) Fields of community work practice

Unit 2: Theoretical Underpinnings of Community Work

The unit introduces students to the key theories and philosophical approaches underpinning
community work practice. This enables students to comprehend the basis for the various
intervention approaches and methodologies employed to deliver change in communities,
particularly in contexts characterised by marginalisation, inequality and acute vulnerability.

a) Conscientisation – Paulo Freire

b) Resilience and strength-based approaches

c) Sustainability in development programs

Unit 3: Models and Strategies of Community Work

The unit explains the approaches to community work. Here the emphasis is on explaining some
of the key approaches/methods that can be used in community work practice, with social workers
being primary setting practitioners in this area.

a) Community Development
i) Definition of community development
ii) Key features of community development
iii) Stages of community development
iv) Community profiling – stages
iii) Critique of community development

b) Social Planning
i) Definition of social planning
ii) Key features of social planning
iii) Critique of social planning

c) Social Action
i) Definition of social community action
ii) Key features of social action
iii) Critique of social action

d) Institutions
i) Characteristics of Institutions
ii) Social institutions
 iii) The role of social institutions in community work

e) Participation in community work

- Participatory Paradigm ( Whose reality counts)
- Forms of participation
- Rodger Hart ladder of participation
- Participatory inquiry (PRA, RRA, PRL)

Methods of Teaching
a) Lectures
b) Case studies
c) Written and practical assignments

STUDENT ASSIGNMENTS
Students will be required to write TWO written assignments during the course of the semester.
Written assignments should be between 1000 and 1200 words in length otherwise the student
will be penalised. Assignments should be submitted on or before the due date, otherwise they
will not be marked. The students are expected to adhere to the essay writing guidelines provided
as part of reference material for the COURSE.

Assignment 1: Discuss the evolution of social action in contemporary Zimbabwe, explaining the
implications on community work.
Assignment 2: In class TBA

ESSENTIAL READING LIST AND REFERENCES

Barker, R. L. (2003). The social work dictionary (5th ed.). Washington, DC: NASW Press.
Chaskin, R. J. (2001). Building Community Capacity: A Definitional Framework and Case
Studies from Comprehensive Community Initiative. Urban Affairs, Vol 36(3): 291-323
Cunningham, J and Cunningham, S. (2014). Sociology and Social Work. London: SAGE
Publications.
Dalrymple, J. & oylane, J. (2013). Effective Advocacy in Social Work. London: Sage.
Hochfeld, T., Selipsky., Mupedziswa, R. & Chitereka, C. (2009). Developmental Social Work
Education in Southern and Eastern Africa: Research Report. Johannesburg: University
of Johannesburg.
Lave, J. and E. Wenger (1991). Situated Learning: Legitimate Peripheral Participation.
Cambridge University Press.
National Association of Social Workers. (2008). Code of ethics of the National Association of
Social Workers. Washington, DC: NASW Press.
Rothman, J, (2008). Multi-modes of intervention at the macro level. Journal of Community
Practice,15(4), 11-40.
Phillis, R. and Pittman, R., H. (2009) An Introduction to Community Development. New York,
Routledge
Rusch, L. & Swarts, H. (2015) Practices of engagement: Comparing and integrating deliberation
and organizing, Journal of Community Practice, 23(1), 5-26.
Steinhauer, P. (1991). The least detrimental alternative: A systematic guide to case planning
and decision making for children in care. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
Traphagen, K., and Traill, S. (2014). “How Cross-Sector Collaborations Are Advancing STEM
Learning.” Los Altos, CA: Noyce Foundation.
Wenger-Trayner, E. and Wenger-Trayner, B. (2015). “Introduction to Communities of
Practice.” Retrieved from wenger-trayner.com/introduction-to-communities-of-
practice/.

OPEN ACCESS JOURNALS

1. www.oxfordjournals.org/our-journals/cdj/

2. www.bemidjistate.edu/socialwork

3. www.communitycare.co.uk

4. www.questia.com/community-practice-theories

5. www.globalsocialwork.org