Methodical Child Welfare Work in a Multicultural Society 070-072

Course Objectives

The objectives of major course unit 2 are drawn from the stated objectives of the national curriculum.

Major course unit 2 will help the students to:

• gain a general understanding of various assistance programmes and be able to use them in working to reduce the social problems of children and adolescents in cooperation with other professional groups and the users/clients.
• be able to plan, execute and evaluate initiatives for improving the circumstances under which children and adolescents grow up, in cooperation with the parties involved.
• be able to carry out professional tasks in the daily environments of children and adolescents, including various institutions where children and adolescents stay.
• be able to work with relationships characterised by conflicting interests and influences and mediate conflicts in accord with the needs of children and adolescents.
• be able to meet children and adolescents and their families with respect and empathy, and view mutual consideration and equality as necessary to the practice of their professions.
• be able to work with people with differing interpretations of reality and be able to practice their profession in multicultural contexts.
• understand and have knowledge of the relationship between society’s structures and processes and social and psychosocial problems among children, adolescents and their families.

Course Description

COURSE UNIT 6: CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING IN PRACTICAL CHILD WELFARE WORK. PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE STUDIES

30 ECTS

The aim of course-unit 6 are that the students will:

• reflect on ethical problem approaches, develop ethical plans of action and be able to identify value conflicts.
• gain experience in practical-methodical work and improve their ability to integrate practical experience, theoretical knowledge and reflection while practicing their profession.
• develop insight and experience related to future professional roles.
• demonstrate an integrated view of the individual and his/her integrity and rights.
• acquire an understanding of cultural and ethnic backgrounds in child welfare.
• develop knowledge, attitudes, skills and social competence in the application of methodical competence to the practical exercise of child-care work in a multicultural society.
• be able to give an account of why families belonging to ethnic minorities, and refugees and asylum-seekers who are minors, might require assistance from the child welfare services.
• be aware of various dilemmas which may occur in a multicultural society with respect to identity, policies, social integration, inclusion and participation.

The content of this course unit includes understanding child welfare work within various fields of practice where the relationships between methodical work, ethnicity, cultural understanding and the legal framework are vital. The course unit also addresses the question of practical training in different environments, and reflection on knowledge, attitudes and experiences from the practice studies.

Teaching and learning methods: Lectures, group work, role playing, reflection work, exercises in communication and cooperation and practical experience. The training programme includes preparation for the practice period and a concluding seminar to review the practice period.

Assessment methods: The practice studies are evaluated on a pass/fail basis.

Course unit 6 includes three assessment assignments and one documentation assignment.

Course unit code: 070-072 6-1

Assessment assignment 6-1: An individual response with content related to the production of an information brochure related to the practical training location. 1000 words. Evaluated on a pass/fail basis (5 ECTS).

Course unit code: 070-072 6-2

Assessment assignment 6-2: Approval of practical training

This assignment requires the students to define the basis on which their professional training periods should be judged acceptable. Individual responses. 4000 words. Pass/fail (15 ECTS).

Course unit code: 070-072 DO2

Documentation assignment: The individual student must document a minimum of 75% participation in the seminars prior to and following the practice period.

Course unit code: 070-072 6-3

Assessment assignment 6-3: Ethical dilemmas
The students shall present a written analysis of an ethical dilemma based on the practice studies. The essay should be based on ethical dilemmas encountered during the practice period and will form a basis for group work followed by individual responses. 3000 words (10 ECTS). Pass/fail.

Course code: 070-07P1 METHODICAL CHILD CARE WORK AND PRACTICAL TRAINING STUDIES

The objective of practical studies is that the students will gain experience with methodical child care work, be challenged to demonstrate professional, personal and ethical reflection and honestly evaluate their personal knowledge, attitudes and skills. The practical training will help students to develop many professional skills which they will need in their future careers. In terms of work load, the practical studies corresponds to 16 ECTS of course unit 6.

COURSE UNIT 7: ASSESSMENT OF CHILD CARE SKILLS

15 ECTS

The aim of course unit 7 is that the students:

• will be able to demonstrate their insight into the growing environments and situations of children and adolescents and their understanding of interpretations and practices associated with the care and training of children.
• acquire a basic understanding of various causes which may lead to unsatisfactory domestic situations for children and adolescents.
• gain an understanding of what is meant by the expression “vulnerable children and youth in a multicultural society”.
• develop an understanding of and acquire the ability to evaluate children and youth’s life situation, their need of care, and the importance of care skills in a multicultural perspective.
• understand the importance of relational ties between care persons and children, and the break down of these ties.
• acquire knowledge and understanding of how initiatives may be taken with regard to the most relevant laws and regulations.
• be able to work with relationships characterised by conflicting interests and influences and mediate conflicts in accord with the needs of children and adolescents.
• acquire skills in the ability to evaluate vulnerable children and youths’ care situations, and parents, and/or other responsible persons, care skills.
• acquire knowledge and understanding of how individual, cultural, individual and social factors lead to a marginalised life.

The content of the course unit is associated with theories and research relating to child care, care skills and failure of care in a multicultural society. In addition, the course unit includes knowledge regarding legal and framework conditions for methodical child welfare work related to care skills in a multicultural context. Emphasis is also placed on work with ethical problems and dilemmas in the practical implementation of methodical child welfare work.

Teaching and learning methods: Self study, lectures and group work related to specific implementation of measures.

Assessment methods: The course unit includes one assessment assignment and two documentation assignments.

Course unit code: 070-072 7-1

Assessment assignment 7-1: Assessment of Child Care Skills

The content of this assignment should focus on an assessment of child care skills.

Group assignment. 4000 words. A letter grade which comprises 50 % of the course grade for major course unit 2 (15 ECTS).

Course unit code: 070-072 DO3

Documentation assignment: The student must document 75% attendance of the group work which results in the assessment assignment 7-1.

Course unit code: 070-072 DO4

Documentation assignment: A video recording of skills’ exercises from two different situations in communication. Length: maximum 2 x 3 minutes. Group assignment. In addition, a brief individual reflection note which describes and justifies the choice of the skills’ exercises must be submitted.

COURSE UNIT 8: METHODICAL WORK WITH VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND YOUTH

15 ECTS

The aim of course unit 8 is that the students:

• understand the connection between the premises and choice of methodical approaches in the work with vulnerable children and youth.
• develop their understanding and use of social educational methods, and use of activities and cultural initiatives as part of the methodical work.
• increase their understanding of communication, interaction and conflict management and its importance in meetings with the relevant user-groups.
• become aware of the many possibilities which methodical work with vulnerable children and youth in a multicultural society offers, and show how child welfare workers may collaborate with other players in this work.
• have an overview of the support apparatus and be able to use it in the work which contributes to a reduction of children and youth’s social problems.
• have knowledge of the professional child welfare and social educational work in the families of ethnic minorities and refugees and asylum seekers who are minors.
• increase the awareness of, and develop the quality of, professional child welfare work.
• establish knowledge of vulnerable children and youth, their families and social networks, and develop understanding of the connection between individual, group and social conditions and methodical work with regard to a coping skills approach.

The content of the course unit includes theories and research relating to the life situations of vulnerable children and youth, how marginalisation and deviation is constructed, and in-depth knowledge of various methodical approaches related to the individual, families/groups and society considered in a multicultural context. Social educational approaches and the use of activities and cultural initiatives in conjunction with challenges relating to students’ functional and interactive skills will be of fundamental importance.

Teaching and learning methods: Self study, lectures, use of activities and cultural initiatives, use of groups, practical training skills, communication exercises and field work.

Assessment methods: The course unit includes one assessment assignment and two documentation assignments:

Course unit code: 070-072 8-1

Assessment assignment 8-1: Methodical work with vulnerable children and youth and oral examination.

The response should contain a professionally grounded initiative built on knowledge and understanding of the relationship between individual/group situation and choice of methodical approach. Individual answers (3000 words). Letter grade which counts for 50% of the grade for major course unit 2 (15 ECTS).

Course unit code: 070-072 DO5

An individual oral examination in basic knowledge from major course unit 2 and the students’ understanding of their own subject. Assessment portfolio 8.1 must have received a passing grade before the student may take the oral examination. The final grade is assigned after the oral examination. The oral examination is primarily intended as an adjustment to the grade from the assessment portfolio, but it is also possible to assign the candidate a failing grade if the oral examination so indicates.

Course unit code: 070-072 DO6

Documentation assignment: Video recordings of skills’ exercises from two different situations in communication. Length of maximum 2 x 3 minutes. Group response. In addition, a brief, individual reflection note which describes and justifies the choice of the skills’ exercises.

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