Session 4: The law in social care and social work

Introduction

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Photograph of a young woman going through documents with her legal adviser.

In this session, you will consider what informs social care and social work and why knowledge of the law is essential. It is not all that social care workers and social workers need to know, but it is an important element in effective professional practice. Workers have special responsibilities towards people they work with as well as their colleagues and employers. Knowing what powers and duties workers have in a particular situation, where a person may be in need or at risk, can be critical, both for the worker and the person involved.

When you have studied this session, you should be able to:

• recognise why it is important for social care professionals to know about the law
• identify some duties and powers that social care workers and social workers have
• describe how the law can support human rights.