University of Galway

Course Module Information

Course Modules

Semester 1 | Credits: 10

The professional skills module will focus on gaining an understanding of the skills required in working with young people and their families. This will include an analysis of professionalism in youth work and other care professions. Teaching will specifically focus on interpersonal skills and their use; this will include, communication, use of authority, managing conflict and an introduction to aspects of the counselling process with a specific emphasis on counselling young people and their families. Other topics addressed on the course will include ‘use of self’ in working with young people, assessment skills, report writing skills, advocacy and empowerment, workload management skills, and the purpose and effective use of supervision. Other relevant topics may be included depending on time constraints. By the end of the course students will have gained a good understanding of the skills necessary in working with people and how to apply these in their work with young people and their families. Teaching will be via lectures with a strong emphasis on discussion and group exercises. Guided reading will be a part of the teaching process and handouts provided at each lecture. The Professional Skills Module is not assessed through examination but one Essay, one short assignment and a group presentation will form the assessment method.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. To develop a detailed understanding of professionalism, professional skills and professionalisation and how they relate to working with young people and their families
  2. To gain an understanding of the concept of Assessment and how this relates to working with young people and to complete examples of relevant assessments
  3. To develop an understanding of interpersonal skills, their importance and relevance to working with young people, including role play and group work utilising such skills
  4. To focus on skills required to complete professional reports and how to record information accurately and appropriately
  5. To focus on the significance and importance of the professionals ability to reflect on self in their work with young people and their families
Assessments
  • Continuous Assessment (100%)
Teachers
Reading List
  1. "People Skills" by Thompson N
    ISBN: 9781137467553.
    Publisher: Palgrave MacMillan
  2. "The Art of Youth Work" by Kerry Young
    ISBN: 1903855462.
    Publisher: Russell House
  3. "Counselling for family problems" by Eddy Street
    ISBN: 0803988559.
    Publisher: Sage, 1994.
  4. "Youth work" by edited by Tony Jeffs and Mark Smith
    ISBN: 0333409841.
    Publisher: Macmillan Education
  5. "The Skilled Helper" by Gerard Egan
    ISBN: 9781285065717.
    Publisher: Brooks Cole
The above information outlines module SP2205: " Professional Development Skills" and is valid from 2021 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.