This specialist programme in Clinical Social Work offers Social Workers specialised psychiatric and psychodynamic psychotherapeutic knowledge, skills and expertise in assessment, diagnosis, therapeutic, developmental, supportive and preventative services. The focus is on client systems experiencing mental health and related complex social challenges. Clinical Social Work is a recognised specialism in South Africa by the SACSSP through the PBSW and the National Department of Social Development.

The Clinical Social Work programme provides theoretical and professional rigour and is benchmarked against the International Clinical Social Work Federation criteria for the specialisation in the field of Clinical Social Work. It is also responsive to mental health indigenous realities and the complex social challenges of South Africa and the continent through appropriate practice based theoretical frameworks. The Clinical Social Work Masters Programme is pioneering and is situated within an Object Relations Psychodynamic paradigm.

Admission requirements                               The faculty requirements as set out in the Faculty of Humanities Handbook apply. Specific additional requirements for the programme are: (a) A degree qualification as a social worker;    (b) Registration as a social worker with the SACSSP;                                                            (c) Admission is by selection including an interview and preference will be given to those with appropriate qualified social work practice experience (2 years or more).                                  Acceptance is on the recommendation of the programme convenor and approval of the Head of Department.

Programme Structure: The programme consists of six compulsory components:

  1. Eight Modules in Four Courses,
  2. Minor dissertation
  3. Clinical Social Work Internship

The duration of the programme is two years if pursued full time.

Year One:

1) Psychodynamic Theory & Assessment (Module 1: Psychodynamic Theoretical Models; Module 2: Clinical Psychiatric Assessment & Psychodynamic Formulation) 1st Semester

2) Psychotherapy & Psychiatric Disorders (Module 1: Adult Psychiatry; Module 2: Child & Adolescent Psychiatry) 1st Semester

3) Psychotherapy with Individuals (Module 1: Psychotherapy with Adults; Module 2: Psychotherapy with Children & Adolescents) 2nd Semester

4) Psychotherapy with Families & Groups (Module 1: Family & Couples Therapy; Module 2: Group Psychotherapy) 2nd Semester

Year Two:

5) Dissertation (Minor dissertation) 1st Semester

6) Clinical Social Work Internship (400 hours—10 weeks full time and up to 16 weeks part-time internship placement in a clinical milieu setting)

Courses offered in the first year are presented on Tuesday & Wednesday evenings, from 16h30 to 18h30.

Programme Convenor:

Ronald Addinall

Tel: 021 650 3475/3483

E-mail: ron.addinall@uct.ac.za