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Effective writing in professional social work practice
This free course, Effective writing in professional social work practice, will introduce you to the importance of writing in professional social work. It will develop your understanding of the different ways that writing forms an integrated part of professional practice in the UK.
People are at the centre of writing in social work practice, and the course will explore the importance of language and analysis. It is through writing that social workers communicate, provide detailed assessments and recommendations about people's lives.
The course is designed for social work students and those who are already qualified and who want to develop their understanding and skills in professional writing. The activities within the course are based on extensive research and will help you explore what matters in professional writing.
This OpenLearn course is an adapted extract from the Open University Social Work courses.
Course learning outcomes
After studying this course, you should be able to:
- describe different types of social work writing
- understand the importance of professional writing as part of practice
- explain why writing is central to the lives of people being written about
- demonstrate description and analysis skills in writing.
First Published: 18/02/2026
Updated: 18/02/2026
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