“The main struggle people have with creativity is that they stop themselves from doing what comes naturally.”
— CLARISSA PINKOLA ESTÉS
Creative and Reflective Practice in Social Care
Module Description
All social care students take a module titled Creative and Reflective Practice in Social Care in the first semester of Year 1 of the BA (Hons) in Social Care programme at DkIT. This module introduces students to concepts of creativity, the creative self and reflective individual through key theories of creativity and practices of creativity, play and reflection with specific references to their own personal and professional development as social care practitioners.
In a variety of lectures, practical workshops and tutorials, students engage with their own creativity, and creative and reflective practice, developing a foundational understanding of the relevance and benefits of creativity and reflective thinking in social care work. Particular emphasis is placed on challenging students' assumptions about creativity and understandings of creativity and providing opportunities to students’ to use their imaginations and creativity in the development of the self. In doing so, students are encouraged to rediscover and develop their own creativity thereby enabling them to work creatively and reflectively with various clients and professionals in social care settings.
Learning and Teaching Approach
This module is delivered using creative, experiential, interactive and participatory methods. These approaches enable students to explore aspects of themselves in a safe environment as part of their personal and professional learning. The practical workshops in drama and art focus on specific creative interventions for use within the social care classroom to increase self-reflection, empathetic knowledge and skills, personal wellbeing, and confidence and skills in process based arts practice. In the tutorials students' process and reflect on these creative experiences both individually and collectively using reflective writing exercises, exemplars and discussion. Learning from the practical workshops and tutorials is supported by engagement with theoretical concepts related to creative and reflective practice covered in the interactive lectures, and knowledge and understanding of the benefits of creative activity for service users and social care practitioners.
This module maps to the CORU Standards of Proficiency below:
Domain 1: Professional Autonomy and Accountability
Domain 2: Communication, Collaborative Practice and Team working
Domain 5: Professional Knowledge and Skills
Learning Outcomes
1. Explore the benefits of creativity and reflection in social care practice.
2. Practice creative, recreational and reflection skills relevant to social care (Domain: 5.16).
3. Explore the creative self in practical arts-based workshops and through reflective practice (Domain: 5.19).
4. Discuss how play-based, creative and activity-based methods can help children, young people and adults to communicate (Domain: 5.16).
5. Critically evaluate one’s own creativity and creative practice (Domain: 1.23, 2.6, 5.19).
Indicative Syllabus
1.Introduction to Creativity
The concept of creativity: the meaning of creativity, different definitions and perspectives. Myths/misconceptions about creativity. Types of creativity (creativity on a spectrum). Why creativity? Being creative; the creative person, creative behaviour, the creative mind, the creative process and creative environments. Barriers to creativity. Developing creative thinking skill and ways of nurturing creative thinking in children, young people and adults. (Domain: 1.23).
2.Creativity in Social Care Practice
The benefits of creativity in social care practice. Using individual and group creativity in the provision of 'direct and indirect' care tasks. Creative methods that use tools like drawing and role-play to work with particular groups. Using play and the creative arts to communicate with children, young people and adults in care. Demonstrating creative thinking ability and creative leadership in carrying out organisational activities. (Domain: 5.16).
3.Drama and Social Care Practice
Introduction to drama in the social care environment, with an emphasis on developing empathy and non-judgemental discussion of complex social issues in a trusting environment. Practical drama workshops will be held ever second week building students confidence and skills in process based drama practice. Students will engage in basic improvisation skills, games and performance skills, Augusto Boal's Image Theatre and Forum Theatre, issue based process and drama for children and young people. Students will also develop clear, concise, accurate and objective documentation skills. (Domain: 1.23, 2.6, 5.16, 5.19).
4.Visual Art and Social Care Practice
Introduction to process-oriented art workshops using a person-centred approach. Emphasis is on the use of art as a means of self-expression, communication, representation, engagement and personal development. Practice workshops develop student’s understanding of process art and appreciation of the intrinsic worth of art and the importance of clear, concise, accurate and objective documentation of the sessions, as well as ways to support individual wellbeing. Essentially, the focus is on a range of arts activities, exercises and interventions as a tool for personal and professional learning. (Domain: 1.23, 2.6, 5.16, 5.19).
5.Reflective Practice and Reflective Writing
What is reflection and reflective writing? Why reflect? The benefits of reflection. Types of reflection. Models of reflection. Tools for reflective practice. Learning to write reflectively. Integrating theoretical and practical learning. Improving the quality of reflective writing. (Domain: 5.19).
Assessment
The learning outcomes of this module are assessed by means of a 100% continuous assessment. The continuous assessment consists of a portfolio of based on guided questions and reflections on learning in workshops in art and drama, and other learning tasks relevant to selected topics covered in lectures. Students focus on how reflection and creativity through the Arts and beyond can add and enrich social care practice to enhance the client's quality of life and their own.