SBV4300 Knowledge perspectives in child welfarework Course description

Child welfare is a social field whose practice is based on implicit and explicit theories drawn from many different disciplines. Child welfare is also a normative field of activity, which means that it requires critical reflection on the part of the professionals practising it. The course focuses on the child welfare service’s heterogeneous knowledge base and established forms of understanding and presents different perspectives on phenomena of relevance to child welfare. Different understandings of evidence-based practice and the relationship between research-based knowledge, experience-based knowledge and the experiences and wishes of children and families are discussed. The challenges the field of practice and the individual professionals face when new research or new methods or measures are to be implemented/applied in practice are also analysed. The course presents different perspectives on children’s development. A particular focus will be on constructions of children that cast children as participants in everyday life and in the child welfare service’s professional practice

Theoretical perspectives and normative conceptions provide guidance on what we can see and what we look for. The forms of learning are meant to allow students to train their analytical skills in order to understand the professional practice of the child welfare service from a power perspective and in light of the social context in which the child welfare service operates.

The language of instruction is Norwegian.

None.

After completing the course, the student should have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence: 

Knowledge

The student has

• in-depth knowledge of key knowledge discourses in child welfare and other welfare fields and of different criteria for evidence-based practice
• advanced knowledge of the child welfare service’s heterogeneous knowledge base, interdisciplinary and interprofessional collaboration, and an understanding of the relevance of theoretical perspectives to professional practice
• in-depth knowledge of theoretical understandings of children and childhood, categorisation processes in the child welfare service’s everyday practices
• advanced knowledge of children’s right to participation and protection and the importance of children as participants in everyday life and in the professional practices of the child welfare service

• advanced knowledge of different perspectives on children’s development
• specialised knowledge and insight into research on care assessments and the importance of a holistic understanding of children and parents
• advanced knowledge of how neglect and abuse occur and are manifested in different ways in children, young people and families in vulnerable life situations
• in-depth knowledge of different perspectives on family work and milieu therapy within and outside institutions

Skills

The student can

• analyse and take a critical approach to the child welfare service’s implicit and explicit knowledge base to make decisions and implement measures in the child’s best interests
• analyse professional issues related to risk assessments and different explanations of children and children’s problems
• take a critical approach to different sources of knowledge and carry out comprehensive care assessments by analysing and assessing the child’s best interest in light of relevant theories and methods

• cooperate with children and parents and other services when obtaining information and assessing measures

General competence 

The student can

• apply knowledge and skills about children, young people and families in vulnerable life situations in new areas in order to carry out advanced tasks and projects
• communicate about professional issues, analyses and conclusions in child welfare work with children, young people and families, partners and the general public

• take a critical and analytical approach to explicit and implicit theories, measures and methods in child welfare practice

The teaching takes place with in-person attendance on campus, and the working methods vary between lectures and student-active learning methods.

The following coursework requirements must have been approved in order for the student to take the exam:

• Coursework requirement 1: A written group assignment where students work with readings. The coursework requirement must have a scope of 4-5 pages. In addition, there is a cover page and a bibliography. The students are obliged to participate with equal contributions.

The purpose of the coursework requirement is to increase the students' insight into the course's academic perspectives, as well as develop skills in academic discussions. If the assignment is not approved, it is given the opportunity to submit an improved version once within the specified deadline.

The exam in the course is an individual home exam of 72 hours. The exam paper should be 10 pages long (+- 10 %). Font and font size: Calibri 12-point. Line spacing: 1.5.

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

Grade scale A-F.

The exam papers are assessed by one internal and one external examiner. At least 25% of the exam papers will be assessed by two examiners. The grades awarded for the papers assessed by two examiners form the basis for determining the level for all the exam papers.

Marianne Buen Sommerfeldt and Hilde Anette Aamodt