BVP5-202 Child welfare practice

The placement will contribute to an increased understanding of the interrelatioin between research, theory and practice. Learning opportunities include gaining knowledge of the public social welfare system, and acquiring the ability to work with children and youth in an ethically sound way. The placement period is an important element in the preparation to become a professional child welfare worker.

All first year courses must be passed as well as the second year courses BVP5-200 and BVP5-201.

By the end of the third term of the bachelor programme all students are offered individual councelling regarding their placement. Preparatory lessons are arranged in early January. The placement provides students with the opportunity to perform social pedagogical work in institutions and elsewhere, interacting with children, youth and their families. Students will develop and excercise knowledge, competence and preffesional attitudes in direct contact with clients under appropriate supervision from experienced practice mentors. Students will also learn how to work with individuals focussing the choices and human resources of clients themselves thorugh the assessment, planning and implementation of relevant measures. A main focus of the practice period is for students to be able to reflect ethically upon their interventions, and to demonstrate solidarity towards people in a vulnarable situation. During the placement students will also be working with relevant questions of law. Students are expected to observe the working hours which are in operation at their placement. The practice mentor offers two hours supervision per week. The student is entitled to 7,1/2 hours reading time per week.

Students receive some financial support during the placement period.

Lectures, seminars, written and oral presentations, person-centred practice.

19 weeks practice including written assignments submitted to the university college (learning agreement, practice report, optional litterature). Please also view "Course requirements" below.

Having ones placement abroad may be an alternative.

Participation in teaching at the university college:

• Preparatory practice
• Post practice gathering

Written assignment assessed by the uiniversity college:

• Practice paperwith one written instruction

Grading: passed/failed.

The assessment is based on:

• Personal presence
  The practice period is compulsory and absence without leave is not accepted. The maximum absence permitted is ten days. If this is exceeded a special agreement with the university colege and the placement is necessary. If the placement is carried out in two periods, the first period must be passed before the second starts.
• Professional rules and regulatioins
  The student must know the relevant rules and guidelines of proffesional life and is expected to behave accordingly.
• Skills
  The student is expected to be able to
• demonstrate flexibility in the communication and interaction with different clients as well as in collaboration with partners
• analyse challenging behaviour and to implement relevant measures
• present written material related to the placement, like journals, case papers and reports, utilizing knowledge gained from the theoretical courses
• focus on the choices of individuals in their work
• see the difference between personal and professional values, and to work in an ethically sound way

APPROVAL
The practice supervisor recommends whether the practice is passed or failed. The university college evaluates course requirements and makes the final decision.

WHEN APPROVAL IS IN DOUBT
"The assessment is a continuous process which runs through the whole placement period. If doubt emerges whether the student will be able to succeed, he will receive a written warning half way through the period or three weeks before the completion of the placement at the latest. The warning will underline the reasons for doubt, and will state which demands the student must fulfill in order to pass his placement period. ... Students must pass their practice period in order to continue studying...If by the end of the placement the student without reasonable doubt still does not comply with the demands stated, his placement may still be assessed as not passed even if a warning has not been issued beforehand. ... The practice period must be approved before the student can continue studying." (Extracted from national regulations, issued 01.12.2005.)

Preparing for practice:
Killén; Kari (1992): Faglig veiledning – et tverrfagleg perspektiv. Oslo, Universitetsforlaget (138 s.).
Skau, Greta M. (1996): Mellom makt og hjelp. Oslo, Tano. Kap.1-10 (130s.).
Skau; Greta M. (1998): Gode fagfolk vokser…Oslo, Cappelen Akademiske Forlag. Kap.1.2 og 3 (85 s.).

Additional literature:
Aalberg Thore K (2002): Individuell veiledning. Bergen: Høgskoleforlaget As. Kap 5, 7, 9 og 11 (100s.).

Optional literature:
Studenten skal sjølv velje ca 600 s. pensum knytt til praksis.