SPRn8819 Reflexivity in Social Work

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 12 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Asynchronous teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Pavel Navrátil, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Pavel Navrátil, Ph.D.
Department of Social Policy and Social Work – Faculty of Social Studies
Supplier department: Department of Social Policy and Social Work – Faculty of Social Studies
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Professional boundaries are the cornerstone of effective social work. There are mismatches where boundary lines can be drawn, but almost everyone agrees that a line must be drawn. Modern professional boundaries in worker-client relationships are derived from various sources. Some of these are derived from legislation (government documents), are established and codified in the standard qualities of social services, which are generally considered best practices, and among others, impact assessments in organizational policies and procedures. Professional boundaries are motivated by various possible factors: concern for health and safety, information on assisting processes, practical reasons, security, client and worker safety. Maintaining boundaries is like walking a tightrope, striving for your own balance between elements. A social worker may be able to build and maintain a good, close, intimate relationship with the interest of the client, who can attract professional employees. The course is therefore focused on reflection and searching for professional boundaries.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course the student:
- knows border theories, which come mainly from social work, counseling and the psychotherapeutic environment;
- understands the principles and starting points for reflecting the boundaries of a professional relationship;
- reflects its own management of professional borders, its ability to shape and maintain borders;
Syllabus
  • Lesson 1 Introduction
  • Lesson 2 How tight are your boundaries?
  • Lesson 3 Why do we have boundaries?
  • Lesson 4 About professional boundaries in general
  • Lesson 5 Confidentiality in a Professional Relationship
  • Lesson 6 The Beginning and End of a Professional Relationship
  • Lesson 7 Professional boundaries and law
  • Lesson 8 Disturbed Borders
  • Lesson 9 Negative Consequences of Disturbed Borders
  • Lesson 10 Preserving Borders
  • Lesson 11 Self-knowledge
  • Lesson 12 Self-care plan
  • Lesson 13 Final work
Literature
    required literature
  • Reflective practice in social work. Edited by Christine Knott - Terry Scragg. Exeter: Learning Matters, 2007, xii,159 ss. ISBN 9781844450824. info
  • NAVRÁTIL, Pavel and Radka JANEBOVÁ. Reflexivita v posouzení životní situace klientek a klientů sociální práce. Hradec Králové: Gaudeamus, 2010, 196 pp. Recenzované monografie, 1. publikace. ISBN 978-80-7435-038-2. URL info
    recommended literature
  • THOMPSON, Sue. The critically reflective practitioner. Edited by Neil Thompson. 1st pub. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008, xi, 183. ISBN 9780230573185. URL info
    not specified
  • professional boundaries
Teaching methods
- lectures
- research
- class discussion
- reading
- written reflections
Assessment methods
- online tests;
- paper;
- final essay;
(max 100 points; min 60%)
Language of instruction
Czech
Study support
https://is.muni.cz/auth/el/fss/jaro2025/SPRn8819/index.qwarp
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught each semester.
The course is taught: in blocks.
Teacher's information
In total, it is possible to earn 100 points during the course. For successful completion of the course it is necessary to obtain at least 60% of the total maximum number of points (60 points).

The evaluation of the results is carried out by one of the two methods below:

1 / For more than 30 students: ECTS methodology is used to determine grades. The score points are designed so that the final A rating is about 10%, the B rating is 25%, the C rating is 30%, the D rating is 25% and the E rating is 10%. The applicability of this design depends on the sufficient width of the point scale.

2 / With fewer than 29 students: A (min. 90%) 92 points;

B (min. 85%) 84 points;

C (min. 80%) 76 points;

D (min. 70%) 68 points;

E (min. 60%) 60 points;

Compulsory reading:

COOPER, F. Professional Boundaries in Social Work and Social Care : A Practical Guide to Understanding, Maintaining and Managing Your Professional Boundaries. London : Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2012. ISBN: 9781849052153.

O’LEARY, P; TSUI, M; RUCH, G. The boundaries of the social work relationship revisited: Towards a connected, inclusive and dynamic conceptualisation. British Journal of Social Work. United Kingdom, 43, 1, 135-153, Feb. 2013. ISSN: 0045-3102.

TRIMBERGER, GE. An Exploration of the Development of Professional Boundaries. Journal of Social Work Values & Ethics. 9, 2, 68-75, 2012. ISSN: 15536947.

The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
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