SOS1120 Professional interaction in social work Course description

In this course, the students develop an understanding of how the performance of social work is rooted in the profession’s theoretical foundation. The course provides knowledge about different factors that can affect relationships and professional cooperation with other people. 

Through skills training in groups, the students will learn about what it means to practise social work. Together with their group, they will practise developing their professional expertise. This takes place through group work, role play and the use of cases that concern interacting with people in difficult life situations. The students are also trained in handling their own emotions when working with people in difficult life situations.

The course comprises the first of two levels of skills training.

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 knowledge of work and change processes in social work
• has knowledge of communication and interaction with people at the individual level
• has knowledge of power structures that affect their relationships with users 
• has knowledge of how digitalisation of the welfare services affects communication with users and partners 

• is familiar with the importance of understanding oneself and having empathy with others 

Skills

The student:

• can use communication and interaction skills in their professional work with individuals 

• can reflect on the importance of language, including the use of interpreters, in meetings with users 
• can reflect on how power affects the relationship with users, their social and material living conditions and the freedom of action for change work 
• can reflect on the importance of group processes through participating in group work
• can receive and give constructive feedback 

General competence

The student:

• can be emphatic and attentive when encountering the feelings and experience of others 
• can reflect on their own values and attitudes in their professional practice
• has insight into the exercise of professional judgement 

• has insight into the importance of digital communication in professional practice and interaction 
• can disseminate research-based knowledge of professional interaction both orally and in writing

Teaching methods vary between lectures (e-lectures), seminars and student-active learning methods/group work.

The following compulsory activities must have been approved in order for the student to take the exam:

1. Compulsory active participation in skills training

The minimum attendance requirement for skills training in groups is 80%. If a student’s absence exceeds 20% but is lower than 40%, a compensatory coursework requirement will be set. The coursework requirement must be completed and approved by the given deadline. Absence in excess of 40% will result in loss of the right to take the exam.

The reason why active attendance is compulsory is that the student will in this way acquire competence necessary to meet the objectives of the course that they would be unable to acquire from solely reading the syllabus and/or taking the exam. 

Compulsory activities must be completed and approved by the given deadline in order for the student to take the exam.

The course concludes with an oral exam in groups with a time frame of approx. 40 minutes, where the students make a presentation relating to a topic and skills relating to professional interaction. The group will be given a topic and/or questions to prepare 48 hours before the first day of the exam.

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.

Pass/fail.

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

Berit Bergheim and Stine Harstad