BV2600 Psychosocial perspectives - Social-therapeutic work with children, young people and their families Course description

This course will provide an introduction to social therapy with children, young people and their families, with emphasis on work in child welfare institutions. It covers different perspectives on children and young people’s mental and physical health, and how neglect can affect their psychological development and health. The students will also be introduced to various theoretical perspectives underlying social therapy in order to facilitate children and young people’s development and growth.

The student must have completed and passed the first year of the Bachelor Programme in Child Care and Welfare.

Knowledge

The student

· has knowledge of the possible consequences of neglect on children’s physical and mental health, and how this can be expressed in children and young people

· has knowledge of trauma, possible causes, forms of expression and consequences, and how to work with children and young people who have experienced trauma

· has knowledge of different perspectives that form the basis of social therapy

· has knowledge of necessary relational and care-related conditions that enable facilitation of children and young people’s development and improvement of mental and physical health

· has knowledge of work with unaccompanied minor asylum seekers in institutions

· has knowledge of working with families and networks and of interprofessional cooperation in the field of social therapy

· has knowledge of professional ethics, ethical values and dilemmas and issues that can arise in social therapy work

Skills

The student

· can apply a multidisciplinary knowledge base to practise systematic social therapy with children and young people

· can apply relevant and applicable legislation, rules and guidelines in social therapy work in institutions

· can apply knowledge of substance abuse and criminality and knowledge of social and emotional challenges in children and young people in social therapy work in institutions

· can apply knowledge from children, young people and their families to ensure their participation and co-determination in social therapy work

· can apply knowledge of cultural diversity and demonstrate cultural sensitivity in social therapy work

· has insight into and can analyse and critically reflect on documentation that forms part of social therapy

General competence

The student

· has insight into their role as child welfare officer when working with children and young people living in institutions, including their own preconceptions, attitudes and values, and can reflect on how this affects the relationships

· can use knowledge, skills and experience to demonstrate understanding, empathy and recognition when working with children, young people and families in vulnerable life situations

The teaching methods vary between lectures, group work, self-study, written assignments, skills training with and without the use of filming and fellow student supervision.

The course includes skills training in writing and documentation carried out across the three courses: BV2200, BV2300 and BV2600, and skills training in professional communication carried out across the same three courses: BV2200, BV2300 and BV2600.

The course has two compulsory activities:

1. Skills training in writing and documentation carried out across the three courses: BV2200, BV2300 and BV2600. Attendance for skills training is calculated across the three courses in BV2600.

The attendance requirement for compulsory teaching activities is 80%. If a student's overall absence exceeds 20%, a comprehensive coursework requirement is set to compensate. If a student's overall absence exceeds 40%, they lose the right to take the exam in BV2600.

Each student is responsible for ensuring that their attendance is documented. The length of the teaching days will vary, and it is each student's own responsibility to stay informed about the teaching schedule.

2. Skills training in professional communication carried out across three courses: BV2200, BV2300 and BV2600. Attendance for skills training is calculated across the three courses in BV2600.

The attendance requirement for compulsory teaching activities is 80%. If a student's overall absence exceeds 20%, a comprehensive coursework requirement is set to compensate. If a student's overall absence exceeds 40%, they lose the right to take the exam in BV2600.

Each student is responsible for ensuring that their attendance is documented. The length of the teaching days will vary, and it is each student's own responsibility to stay informed about the teaching schedule.

Individual written semester paper of 9-11 pages. Font and font size: Calibri 12-point. Line spacing 1.5. The approved citation style APA for assignments must be complied with.

Candidates who fail or who were absent from the ordinary exam for a valid reason can take a resit/rescheduled exam.

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.

Grade scale A-F.

All exam papers are assessed by one internal and one external examiner.

Janne Thu Ilstad og Cecilie Neumann