Aim 

The aim of the assessment is to provide the opportunity to develop an engaging podcast and reflect on your personal beliefs about leadership.  You will use a critical reflective framework to strengthen your reflective skills about the type of leader you are and want to be. 

Instructions

PART A:  Podcast 20 mins

What type of leader are you? 

Please follow the instructions to complete the group work podcast and reflective discussion.

You will record a podcast which will be a minimum of 15 minutes and a maximum of 20minutes.    This will be completed in pairs.  You will be randomly assigned to a group at the beginning of term which can be located in the Assessment Block on Moodle.   Instructions on how to record a podcast and make an engaging podcast will  be located in the Assessment Block on Moodle. 

The podcast will be a  question-and-answer discussion between two students.  You are encouraged to complete the survey in week 1 and the results of the leadership survey can inform some of your discussion in the podcast.  You can also create your own questions to critically reflect and explore the topic of leadership.   Please refer to the question prompts for the podcast on Moodle and information about how to create an engaging and interesting podcast.  

PART B: Written Reflective Assessment 750 words

The second aim of the assessment is to strengthen your reflective practice skills.  Please refer to the content in week 2.  You are required to use one of the 3 reflective practice tools to guide your reflection.   

You are required to identify one of the critical reflection tools below: 

·       Reflexivity

·       Postmodernism

·       Critical social theory

You are to write an 750 word reflective written assessment about how you used the critical reflective framework to reflect on leadership, how it was helpful, challenging, and how this critical reflection framework can be helpful for future social work practice.    

Literature and references 

In this assessment use contemporary references to support your podcast discussion. You may also use seminal scholarly literature where relevant. Suitable references include peer-reviewed journal articles as well as textbooks and credible websites. When sourcing information, consider the 5 elements of a quality reference: currency, authority, relevance, objectivity, and coverage. Grey literature sourced from the internet must be from reputable websites such as from government, university, or peak national bodies: for example, the Australian Association of Social Workers. 

Requirements  for reflective written assessment 

·         Use a conventional and legible size 12 font, such as Times New Roman, with 2.0 line spacing and 2.54cm page margins (standard pre-set margin in Microsoft Word). 

·         Include page numbers on the top right side of each page in a header. 

·         You may write in the first-person perspective (I, my) for reflective writing tasks, or as directed by your lecturer. 

·         Write in the third-person perspective.  

·         Use formal academic language. 

·         Use the seventh edition American Psychological Association (APA) referencing style. The CQUniversity Academic Learning Centre has an online CQU APA Referencing Style Guide. 

·         The word count is considered from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion. The word count excludes the reference list but includes in-text references and direct quotations. 

Resources 

·         You can use unit provided materials and other credible sources (e.g. journal articles, books) to reference your argument. The quality and credibility of your sources are important. 

·         We recommend that you access your discipline specific library guide: the ; Social Work and Community Services Guide. 

·         For information on academic communication please go to the Academic Learning Centre Moodle site. The Academic Communication section has many helpful resources including information for students with English as a second language. 

·         Submit a draft before the due date to review your Turnitin Similarity Score before making a final submission. Instructions are available here.  

 
Generative AI 
 
Generative artificial intelligence (Gen-AI) includes a range of computer programs that use data sets and computer-generated information to create new content.   For this assessment you may use Gen-AI to help you to understand the question, explain research concepts and check references are in the correct format. If you use Gen-AI, you should include a statement that declares that you have used Gen-AI and how you have used Gen-AI. 
 
You should not use Gen-AI in the creation or critical analysis of the content or to write or rewrite any part of your assessment.   

Please refer to the Marking Criteria below.  The Rubric version of the criteria can be located in the Assessment Block on Moodle. 

Critically evaluates leadership and how leadership is shaped by the socio-political historical context.  5 marks 

Excellent critical evaluation about leadership. 5 marks 

Very good critical evaluation about leadership.  3.75 marks 

Good critical evaluation about leadership. 3.25 marks 

Satisfactory critical evaluation about leadership.  2.5 marks 

Does not demonstrate insights or misunderstands key insights about leadership. <32.5 marks 

Critically evaluates how personal beliefs and experiences shape and influence an understanding of leadership and provides personal examples of this. 5 marks 

Advanced critical analysis of how personal experiences and beliefs inform an understanding of leadership. Cites excellent examples that demonstrate an excellent understanding. 5 marks 

Very good critical analysis of how personal experiences and beliefs inform an understanding of leadership. Cites excellent examples that demonstrate an excellent understanding. 3.75 marks 

Good critical analysis of how personal experiences and beliefs inform an understanding of leadership. Cites excellent examples that demonstrate an excellent understanding. 3.25 marks 

Satisfactory critical analysis of how personal experiences and beliefs inform an understanding of leadership. Cites excellent examples that demonstrate an excellent understanding. 2.5 marks 

Demonstrates a lack of awareness of critical analysis and thinking.  The presenting issues are not clearly stated; information is not interpreted; evidence is considered fact without question; and implications considered. <2.5 marks 

Demonstrates insights into the use of critical reflection to think beyond dominant knowledge and reflects on the usefulness of a reflective tool, examining its strengths and challenges and its relevance to social work practice.  15 marks 

Advanced critical analysis of how personal experiences and beliefs inform an understanding of leadership using a critical reflection model. Cites excellent examples that demonstrate an excellent understanding.  15 marks 

Very good critical analysis of how personal experiences and beliefs inform an understanding of leadership using a critical reflection model. Cites excellent examples that demonstrate an excellent understanding. 11.25 marks 

Good critical analysis of how personal experiences and beliefs inform an understanding of leadership using a critical reflection model. Cites excellent examples that demonstrate an excellent understanding. 9.75 marks 

Satisfactory Advanced critical analysis of how personal experiences and beliefs inform an understanding of leadership using a critical reflection model. Cites excellent examples that demonstrate an excellent understanding. 7.25 marks 

Demonstrates a lack of awareness of critical analysis and thinking. The presenting issues are not clearly stated; information is not interpreted; evidence is considered fact without question; and implications considered are simplistic.  <7.25marks 

Materials are original and creative in design to engage the audience. The podcast and critical reflection discussion is clearly presented and engaging and adheres to time limit. 5 marks 

Excellent originality and creativity to deliver presentation and engage audience.   The presentation is clear, audible, interesting and all the content is engaging. 

Very good originality and creativity to deliver presentation and engage audience. The presentation is clear, audible, interesting and all the content is engaging.

Good originality and creativity to deliver presentation and engage audience. The presentation is clear, audible, interesting and all the content is engaging.

Satisfactory  originality and creativity to deliver presentation and engage audience. The presentation is clear, audible, interesting and all the content is engaging.

Fail to deliver a clear presentation that was logical or understandable or Did not understand the task requirements.  

Aim 

You will be developing an understanding of contemporary trends of managerialism and leadership approaches in relation to your third-year placement and human service organisations.  

Instructions 

Please follow the steps below to complete your assessment task: 

1.       Provide an explanation of the contemporary trends of managerial approaches in human service organisations that includes marketization, managerialism and governance. 

2.       Reflect on your field placement experience and critically evaluate how these contemporary approaches to management impacted on the service      users, social workers and managers and team leaders within the organisation.  

3.       Provide examples from field placement to demonstrate an understanding. 

4.       Critically evaluate the field placement experience and any ethical issues that arose for social work practice according to the AASW Code of Ethics (2020).

5.       Critically evaluate the opportunities to promote social work values and ethics within the constraints of human service organisations and your field placement organisation. 

Please refer to the Marking Criteria below.  The Rubric version of the criteria can be located in the Assessment Block on Moodle. 

Demonstrates an understanding of managerialism, marketisation and governance, by providing accurate descriptions of the concepts.  7.5 marks.

Exemplary understanding. Attention to detail is without fault and all the concepts have been described accurately. 7.5 marks

Very good effort attending to understanding of the concepts.  All concepts  demonstrate due attention to detail with some minor gaps. 5.75 marks 

Good effort attending to understanding of the concepts. All items demonstrate due attention to detail with some gaps that impact on presentation and understanding by the reader and/or audience.  5 marks. 

Satisfactory effort defining concepts.  Most items demonstrate due attention to detail with some gaps that impact on presentation and understanding by the reader and/or audience.  3.75 marks

Submission is missing aspects of task or task requirements have been misunderstood.  <3.75 marks

Critically evaluates how managerialism impacts on human service organisations and discusses the implications of these trends on social work practice.   5 marks 

Evaluation critically and logically assimilates evidence from multiple diverse areas to provide surprising and detailed explanations of impact in human services work.  5 marks 

Evaluation logically assimilates evidence from multiple areas to arrive at an explanation of impact in human services work. 3.75 marks 

Evaluation assimilates some evidence from areas to identify strengths and limitations to arrive at an explanation of impact in human services work. 3.25 marks.

Strengths and limitations about marketisation are evaluated with sufficient evidence for impact in human services work 2.5 marks 

Limitations and strengths of each approach are poorly identified, or insufficient evidence is provided to demonstrate the impact in human services. <2.5 marks 

Critically evaluates how marketization impacts on human service organisations and discusses the implications of these trends on social work practice. 7.5 marks 

Several major reflections or insights, grounded in social work values and ethics have been expressed.  7.5 marks   

A few reflections or insights, grounded in social work values and ethics have been expressed.  5.75 marks 

Some reflections or insights, grounded in social work values and ethics have been expressed. 5 marks 

At least one reflection or insight referring to social work values and ethics was expressed.  3.75 marks 

The reflection or insight expressed was incongruent with or inappropriate for context and social work practice.  <3.75 marks 

Critically evaluates the social work values and ethics that were challenged and influenced by these contemporary managerial trends during field placement. 

Several major reflections or insights, grounded in social work values and ethics have been expressed. 7.5 marks   

A few reflections or insights, grounded in social work values and ethics have been expressed. 5.75 marks 

Some reflections or insights, grounded in social work values and ethics have been expressed. 5 marks 

At least one reflection or insight referring to social work values and ethics was expressed. 3.75 marks 

The reflection or insight expressed was incongruent with or inappropriate for context and social work practice. <3.75 marks 

Identifies opportunities to promote social work values and ethics within the constraint of managerial approaches. 5 marks 

Several opportunities have been identified, which are strategic and are based on social work values and ethics. 5 marks 

A few opportunities have been identified, which are practical and are based on social work values and ethics.  3.75 marks  

Opportunities have ben identified that demonstrate relevance within the organisational context and are based on social work values and ethics.   3.25 marks

Opportunities have been identified that have some relevance to the organisational context and are based on social work values and ethics. 2.5 marks

Opportunities have been identified that are either not relevant, or do not relate to the organisational context.  <2.5 marks 

Demonstrates synthesis and integration of literature, strength of argument, correct spelling (McQuarie) and punctuation with appropriate citation and referencing (Harvard). 5 marks 

Exemplary writing standard. Correct grammar, spelling and punctuation. Uses appropriate writing and referencing styles. No or very minor mistakes evident.  5 marks 

Quality of writing is of a high standard with only minor grammar, spelling, punctuation and referencing mistakes evident. 3.75 marks 

Quality of writing is of a good standard with a few grammar, spelling punctuation and referencing mistakes evident. 3.25 marks

Quality of writing and presentation is of a satisfactory standard with quite some grammar, punctuation, spelling and referencing mistakes evident.  2.5 marks 

Quality of writing and presentation is at a poor standard with many mistakes and lack of clarity evident. <2.5 

Aim 

To develop an understanding of dominant leadership theories alternative theories of leadership, examining their strengths and challenges in relation to social work practice. 

To identify leadership approaches and theories that are relevant to social work practice with the use of examples of how these approaches would be helpful in social work that are aligned with the Social Work Code of Ethics.

To identify how your understanding of leadership approaches will influence your social work practice. 

To reflect on the group work process. 

Instructions 

PART A: Blog Post 1500 words 

• You will complete this assessment with the same group member that you completed the podcast with.  You will be randomly assigned to groups at the beginning of term. 
• You and your social work colleague have a social work blog about resistance and change to dominant managerial practices. You decide to write a blog post on leadership approaches in social work practice which examines dominant models of leadership styles and theories and alternative models of leadership approaches and practical strategies for implementing  approaches that align with social work values.  
• You are required to refer to the literature and content learnt during the unit. 
• Please refer to Moodle which has information on what a blog entails and how to write a blog that is of high quality, engaging and interesting. 

PART B: Written Reflective Assessment 750 words 

You will critically reflect and analyse your participation in a group work learning environment to identify your strengths and areas that need further development and consider what you might do in future to improve your group work engagement an sills.

Use a critical reflection model to critically reflect on an experience of significance/importance that occurred in your pair/group over the course of completing the two assessments.  The experience should be one you hope to understand or learn more about. Writing in the first person, use the model and questions adapted from Fook and Gardner (2007) as a guide to provide a brief narrative about what happened, your reactions, and its meaning, examine dissonance and articulate the learning and insights you gained for future practice. 

• Experience - Describe the experience. What happened? 
• Reactions – How did you react? How did you feel? What were you thinking? What did you do? 
• Reflecting on Meaning - Why was the experience important/significant to you? What did it mean to you? What does your account and language tell you about your underlying values, beliefs, theories, and assumptions? Where do you think these ideas originated, and how was your experience influenced by your historical, cultural and social context? 
• Theory and Knowledge - What other perspectives have you considered? Identify relevant theories or literature that could make sense of the situation or provide another view. 
• Examining dissonance - Did this situation highlight any gap between how you say you will practice (espoused values, theories and skills) and your actions and interpretations? Is this ok? If so, why? If not, why not? What does this tell you about the values, theories, and practices critical to your emerging social work identity and practice framework? 
• Articulating learning - What specific learnings can you take from this experience? What did you learn about yourself, others, and the society in which you live? What knowledge or insights did you gain? What skills did you learn? 
• Developing a plan – Based on these learnings, what would you do next time in a similar situation? What would you continue to do, and what would you change? Explain why, including the anticipated consequences and hopes of this new response. What values, knowledge, theory, and skills will you need to develop to proceed with this new approach? 

Please refer to the Marking Criteria below.  The Rubric version of the criteria can be located in the Assessment Block on Moodle. 

Demonstrates an understanding about dominant leadership theories and approaches, their strengths and challenges. 5 marks 

Excellent critical evaluation of the range of leadership theories and approaches, their strengths, and their challenges.  5 marks 

Very good evaluation of the range of leadership theories and approaches, their strengths, and their challenges.  3.75 marks  

Good evaluation of the range of leadership theories and approaches, their strengths, and their challenges.  3.25 marks  

Satisfactory evaluation of the range of leadership theories and approaches., their strengths, and their challenges.   2.5 marks 

Inadequate evaluation of the range of leadership theories and approaches, their strengths and their challenges.  <2.5 marks 

 Demonstrates an understanding of alternative leadership theories and approaches to dominant leadership, their strengths and challenges.  5 marks 

Excellent critical evaluation of alternative leadership theories and approaches, their strengths and their challenges. 5 marks 

Very good critical evaluation of the range of alternative leadership theories and approaches, their strengths and their challenges.  3.75 marks 

Good critical evaluation of the range of alternative leadership theories and approaches, their strengths and their challenges.  3.25 marks 

Satisfactory critical evaluation of the range of alternative leadership theories and approaches, their strengths and their challenges.  2.5 marks 

Inadequate critical evaluation of the range of alternative leadership theories and approaches, their strengths and challenges and or/has misunderstood the task. <2.5 marks 

Provides examples of how leadership theories and approaches (dominant and alternative) these could be used in practice and aligns with the AASW Code of Ethics (AASW, 2020)   5 marks 

Excellent critical evaluation of theories and their relevance to social work practice and excellent use of examples. 10 marks 

Very good critical evaluation of theories and their relevance to social work practice and very good use of examples. 8.5 marks   

Good critical evaluation of theories and their relevance to social work practice and good use of examples. 7.5 marks   

Satisfactory critical evaluation of theories and their relevance to social work practice and satisfactory use of examples. 5 marks   

Inadequate  critical evaluation of theories and their relevance to social work practice and inadequate or no use of examples and/or has misunderstood tasks. <5 marks  

The blog post is engaging, interesting and clearly written, with the inclusion of reputable research that is written in an understandable way. 5 marks 

The blog is original, engaging, creative and well written without errors. 5 marks 

The blog is engaging and shows very good creativity, is well written and structured clearly.  3.75 marks 

The blog is engaging and shows some creativity and is for the most part presented cohesively.  3.25 marks 

The blog is satisfactory and conveys the content.  2.5 marks 

The blog post does not engage the audience in an engaging way, and/or the task has been misunderstood.  <.25 marks   

Demonstrates insights into the use of critical reflection to think beyond dominant knowledge and reflects on the usefulness of a reflective tool, examining its strengths and challenges and its relevance to social work practice.  15 marks 

Advanced critical analysis of the group work process using a critical reflection model. Cites excellent examples that demonstrate an excellent understanding.  15 marks 

Very good critical analysis of the group work process using a critical reflection model. Cites excellent examples that demonstrate an excellent understanding. 11.25 marks 

Good critical analysis of the group work process using a critical reflection model. Cites excellent examples that demonstrate an excellent understanding. 9.75 marks 

Satisfactory Advanced critical analysis of group work using a critical reflection model.   Cites excellent examples that demonstrate an excellent understanding. 7.25 marks 

Demonstrates a lack of awareness of critical analysis and thinking. The presenting issues are not clearly stated; information is not interpreted; evidence is considered fact without question; and implications considered are simplistic.  <7.25marks