Bachelor Programme in Social Work Programme description

The Interdisciplinary Advanced Programme in Mental Health and Addiction is based on the regulations on ‘National guidelines for tverrfaglig videreutdanning i psykisk helse-, rus- og avhengighetsarbeid’ (the Ministry of Education and Research, 2022).

The programme is offered as a full-time study over one year and a part-time study over two years. Completion of the programme grants 60 study credits/ECTS.The education aims to qualify students for preventive, therapeutic, and rehabilitative work within municipal health, social, and welfare services, mental health care, and interdisciplinary specialised substance abuse treatment (TSB).The education is research-based, practice-based, and experience-based, and meets society's demands for equitable and knowledge-based services. This entails upholding human rights, participation and development opportunities in society, and promoting good mental and physical health for individuals with mental health, substance use, and/or addiction problems.Throughout the education, the aim is to promote attitudes that form the basis for equitable services for majority and minority cultures, as well as linguistically and culturally adapted services. Students should critically reflect on power relations and be empowered to actively work to avoid abuse of power.The education provides in-depth competence in communication and interaction with individuals with mental health, substance use, and/or addiction problems and emphasises how these issues are contextualised phenomena. Upon completion of the education, students should be able to facilitate relationships that promote help and support, as well as be important contributors, coordinators, and leaders for collaborative and interdisciplinary services.The education emphasises an approach to individuals, their families, and networks that considers their life situations, experiences, and resources, as well as their linguistic and cultural background. Students acquire important competence in understanding how individual mental health, substance use, and addiction problems are embedded in a societal context, and in collaborating with other partners.Upon completion of the education, students should be able to engage with research in the field and make independent professional assessments and decisions in collaboration with the individuals primarily concerned, their families, networks, and other stakeholders in health, social, and welfare services.Further studies and working lifeThe education qualifies for positions in mental health, substance abuse, and addiction work in a wide range of areas in society. Upon completion of the education, candidates should be able to contribute to service development, planning, and systematic quality improvement processes.The further education corresponds to the first 60 study credits of the Master's Programme in Health Sciences, specialising in mental health and addiction at OsloMet, and can be integrated into this master's programme.

Admission to the programme is in accordance with the Regulations relating to Admission to Studies at OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University and regulations on ‘National guidelines for tverrfaglig videreutdanning i psykisk helse-, rus- og avhengighetsarbeid’ (the Ministry of Education and Research, 2022).

• A bachelor's degree or an equivalent degree which gives the occupational title of Social Worker, Social Educatorist, Child Wealfare Worker, Nurse, Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist.
• For applicants with a different three-year bachelor's degree in health and social sciences, psychological sciences, public health, teacher education, educational sciences, sports sciences, or police education, a minimum of 1 year of relevant professional experience is also required. Relevant professional experience is work within mental health, substance abuse, and addiction work after completing education, which must be documented in the application.

Transcript of police records

Applicants who are admitted to the programme must submit a transcript of police records, cf. the Regulations for admission to higher education, Chapter 6.

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

Knowledge

The candidate:

• has broad knowledge of the theoretical foundation of social work
• has broad knowledge of evidence-based knowledge and user knowledge
• has knowledge of methods that target individuals, families, groups and society at large
• has broad knowledge of the different life challenges of individuals and groups
• has broad knowledge of how social structures and processes can create and maintain social problems
• has knowledge of how social work contributes to achieving the Global Sustainable Development Goals
• has broad knowledge of inclusion mechanisms and conditions for social participation
• has broad knowledge of the support system, different services and benefits in the field of welfare
• has knowledge of interprofessional cooperation and coordination of services and benefits in the public, private and voluntary sector
• has broad knowledge of communication, relationships and interaction with children, young people, adults and older adults at the individual, group and societal level
• has knowledge of legal method, principles of administrative law and relevant legislation
• has knowledge of human rights and important conventions, minorities and the rights of the Sami people and their special status as an indigenous people

Skills

The candidate:

• can apply knowledge about social problems, life crises and life transitions to promote coping and change in cooperation with individuals, families, groups and collaborative partners
• can exercise judgement in interactions with people in different professional and institutional contexts
• can apply various methodological approaches at the individual, group and societal level in various service areas
• can apply rules of law and exercise judgement in a legal and social work context in interactions with individuals, families and groups
• can apply knowledge to identify resources and give hope in cooperation with people in vulnerable life situations
• can promote social justice in cooperation with people in vulnerable positions
• masters relevant methods for mapping, documentation, analysis and decision-making
• can critically assess and use research, experience-based knowledge and user knowledge in professional practice

General competence

The candidate:

• has insight into the professional ethics of social work
• has insight into power structures and exercise of power that contribute to social inequality
• has insight into and can reflect critically on their own professional role in encounters with institutional and political requirements in their service provision.
• can plan and carry out work tasks in complex situations
• can plan, implement and coordinate interprofessional collaboration between different services and service levels
• can communicate knowledge from a social work perspective and exchange points of view and experience with partners
• can contribute to innovation and development of good practice
• is familiar with the importance of digital communication in professional practice and cooperation
• can reflect on the consequences of digitalisation in a life course perspective
• can reflect on their own role, ethical issues and guidelines, human rights, values and attitudes in cooperation with different user groups in different phases of life
• can acquire research-based knowledge about relevant measures at the individual, group and societal level and reflect on these measures

The work and teaching methods shall facilitate the integration of knowledge, skills and competence in order to help achieve the greatest possible transfer value to professional practice. Emphasis is therefore placed on using a variety of work methods and alternating between theoretical studies and practical training. The course plan specifies the applicable methods for each course.

Teaching activities should stimulate active learning and engagement. A good learning outcome is dependent on the students' own effort, cooperation with fellow students and individual work. Different types of digital technology are used in the programme to stimulate student-active learning and collaboration. Digital learning resources in the form of film clips, podcasts, academic texts, learning pathways, articles and interactive assignments are used in the programme.

The students will receive follow-up throughout the programme in the form of supervision and feedback. In some cases the students will assess each other's work and provide feedback. Such feedback may be provided in writing, orally or as a combination of both. More detailed descriptions of the most common work and teaching methods used in the programme are provided below.

LecturesLectures are used for introduction, inspiration, or in-depth learning in conjunction with other teaching methods. Most lectures are held in Norwegian, but might also take place in English.

Study groups

The students work with assignments while supervised by the lecturer. Academic discussions and assignments are carried out and solved in cooperation with other students. Group work is intended to support the learning of subject matter and at the same time provide training in cooperation, interaction and communication skills.

Seminars

The seminars will focus on student-active work methods. During the seminars, students will work on various topics and on developing their own relational competence and their competence to provide care. The seminars are intended to give the students an opportunity to practise presenting topics, develop critical thinking and provide constructive feedback. In some seminars, students will practise their relational skills through e.g. roleplay and exercises.

Supervision

The students will attend supervision groups. Sessions will focus on sharing and reflecting on their experience from practical training. The students will work on integrating theoretical knowledge and practical experience. The students will work on integrating theoretical knowledge and relating it to the practice of mental health care.

Self-study

Students are expected to acquire this knowledge through self-study. Students come to this programme with different preconditions for learning, and self-study enables them to prioritise topics and areas they want to focus more on. Self-study also helps to encourage independent activity and reflection.

Practical training regulations

The periods of practical training must be completed and approved in accordance with the applicable regulations. Reference is made to the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University, in particular Chapter 8 . Supervised practical training. Number of attempts. A diploma will not be issued until the external practical training has been approved. Students who have not completed the whole programme can be issued a transcript of the exam records for the exams and parts of the programme they have completed.

The student and supervisor are assigned a contact person at the university. The university conducts visits to the practical training establishment as necessary. The university offers free supervisor training within the university’s geographical area.

Duties

Students are to carry out duties of a type that social workers at the practical training establishment normally do. The work duties should be varied. On the basis of the daily tasks, the students are encouraged to see the connection between the institution’s tasks and general issues regarding its purpose, framework and work methods. The student’s learning objectives must be formulated in a learning contract entered into between the student, supervisor and practical training establishment (see below).

The student must comply with the ordinary norms and rules that apply in working life. Reference is made to the applicable agreements and provisions set out in the Working Environment Act. If the practical training establishment has its own personnel regulations, the student must act in accordance with the sections regulating conduct on duty. The students must familiarise themselves with the duty of confidentiality and submit a written declaration of confidentiality on arrival at the practical training establishment. They are also expected to be familiar with the professional ethical principles and guidelines for social workers and comply with them.

Working hours and attendance requirements at the practical training establishment

The student must comply with the practical training establishment’s working hours. At workplaces where employees work in shifts, there should be a reasonable balance between daytime work and evening work. Night shifts are not to be included in the students’ working hours.

The period of practical training is compulsory, and an 80% attendance requirement applies. Absence of up to 20% is only accepted in connection with illness, holding an office or approved leaves of absence. Any absence in excess of this must be made up for, and an agreement must be reached with the university and the practical training establishment on how this can be done.

The course SOS3110 Specialisation in social work – placement training must be completed and passed in order for the student to be allowed to take the course SOS3910 Bachelor’s Thesis.

Supervision

Every student must have a practical training supervisor at the practical training establishment. The supervisor should preferably have a social care education at university or university college level, and should preferably be a social worker.

The student must receive at least one supervision session per week. Supervision can take place in groups, normally in combination with individual supervision at the beginning, midway and upon completion. The times and dates of supervision sessions should be decided as soon as possible after the student starts the period of practical training.

The supervision is organised such that it enables the student to actively reflect on academic and ethical issues and on what personal competence is in practical social work. The supervisor follows the student’s learning process and takes active responsibility for ensuring the required progress. Planning of duties/learning objectives, their follow-up and assessment and any adjustments to duties/learning objectives form part of the learning process.

The student is responsible for preparing the content of the supervision sessions, with the help of the supervisor. The student will receive continuous feedback about how they are doing at the practical training establishment. They will also receive more extensive feedback from their supervisor halfway through the practical training period and on its conclusion. To what degree the student has met the learning objectives in the programme description will be assessed, and whether they have met the learning objectives set out in the cooperation between the student, supervisor and practical training establishment.

The practical training supervisor’s evaluation

On completion of the practical training period, the supervisor will submit an evaluation report, cf. the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University. The report is a written evaluation of the student’s learning progress and completion of the practical training period, based on the learning objectives formulated in the learning contract and includes a recommendation for approved/not approved practical training. The practical training supervisor will, in addition to evaluating the student’s academic development during the practical training placement, report whether the student has

met the attendance requirements at the practical training establishment

complied with the norms and rules that apply in working life

complied with the ethical principles that apply in social work

The report must include the following sentence: ‘This is an internal feedback document and cannot be used as an employment reference.’ If the practical training supervisor does not advise that the practical training placement is approved, see the separate subsection ’Doubt regarding approval/non-approval’.

Assessment of practical training

Assessment is conducted in accordance with the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University Chapter 8. Approval/non-approval of the practical training period is an individual decision pursuant to the Public Administration Act. The formal assessment is related to completed and approved coursework requirements, including attendance requirements for practical training and completion of supervision sessions. The faculty decides whether to grant approval.

Doubt regarding approval/non-approval

The practical training supervisor, contact lecturer and/or department can raise doubt regarding whether to, or advise not to, approve practical training. When there is doubt regarding approval, or if a recommendation has been made not to grant approval, the department must be notified immediately via the person responsible for the course.

If there is doubt regarding whether to approve the practical training, the student must be notified of this in writing as soon as possible and no later than three weeks before the end of the practical training period. Before the student is notified, the affected parties (student, programme representative and practical training establishment representative) must be called in to a meeting. The initiative to hold such a meeting must be immediate and the university is responsible for inviting the parties and holding the meeting. Minutes are to be kept. The parties must be given the opportunity to comment on the minutes. Any comments must be in writing and sent to the university by care of the dean within a week of the minutes being circulated.

If the grounds for doubt concerning approval permit, a written plan for correcting the factors on which the doubt is based must be prepared. The plan must in such cases contain specific measures and specify the division of responsibility for implementing such measures. The parties must agree on a date for an evaluation meeting to assess the effect of the corrective measures. If doubt is raised concerning approval, the student must demonstrate satisfactory progress during the remainder of the practical training to pass.

If the university decides that the practical training period should not be approved, the student must be informed of this and of the grounds for the decision in writing as soon as possible. The case must then be submitted to the practical training committee as soon as possible. The practical training committee decides whether the case has been sufficiently documented, and acquires additional information as necessary. The practical training committee then makes the final decision. The decision must be explained in writing.

Complaints

Decisions to not approve the practical training cannot be appealed unless a formal error has been made. This means that it is not possible to appeal against the assessment on which the decision to deny approval is based. For appeals against formal errors, the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University apply. The Appeals Board at OsloMet is the appeals body.

New period of practical training

See the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University.

Also see the section ‘Rules for study progress’.

Exclusion

A student who has acted in a grossly reprehensible manner during practical training may, if the board of the university so decides, be excluded from the programme for up to three years, cf. the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges.

Case processing requirements

The decisions are, as mentioned, individual decisions and are subject to the case processing requirements that apply to such decisions at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University.

Coursework requirements are all types of work, tests and compulsory attendance that are requirements for being permitted to take the examination. These can be written assignments, oral presentations, compulsory attendance, guidance, and similar activities. They can be carried out individually or in groups. The coursework requirements for each course are described in the relevant course description. Course requirements are given to promote student progression and development and to ensure participation where it is deemed necessary to achieve the learning outcomes. The learning activities should contribute to in-depth learning and integration of the various knowledge areas and to reflection on one's own relational skills. They should also stimulate students to seek out and acquire new knowledge. Compulsory attendanceWhere students cannot acquire skills and knowledge through self-study, mandatory attendance is required. There is an 80 % compulsory attendance requirement for seminars, study groups, guidance groups, and simulations. Attendance in practical studies, see the chapter on practical studies.If a student exceeds the specified attendance limit for mandatory attendance, the study group supervisors and course coordinators will assess whether it is possible to compensate for the absence through oral or written individual assignments. If the absence cannot be compensated for, the student loses the right to take the examination and must retake the course. The possibility of compensation depends on the extent of the absence and the activities the student has not participated in. It is the student's responsibility to keep track of their own attendance. Approval of written course requirementsCourse requirements are assessed as approved/not approved. Normally, there are three attempts for a course requirement. Course requirements that are not approved must be improved and approved before the student can take the examination. As far as possible, the second attempt is given before the regular examination/assessment, unless otherwise stated in the course description. A third and final attempt is normally given before the new and deferred examination. Non-approved course requirements may result in delays in the education.

The assessments are carried out in accordance with the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges, the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations, and the Guidelines for Appointment and Use of Examiners at the University. For assessment during the clinical training, please refer to the chapter on clinical training.

Assessment

The grading system in use is pass/fail or a grade scale with letter grades from A to F, where A is the highest grade, E is the poorest pass grade and F is a fail. In connection with group exams, all students in the group are awarded the same grade.

Resit and rescheduled exams Resit and rescheduled exams are carried out in the same manner as the ordinary exam unless otherwise specified in the course description. In special cases, resit and rescheduled exams in courses with group exams may be held as individual exams.

Appeals against grades

Grades awarded for written exams can be appealed. It is not possible to appeal the grades awarded for oral and practical exams. In connection with a group exam, the result of an appeal will only have consequences for the candidate(s) who submitted the appeal. The other students will keep their original grade.

Suitability assessment

The suitability assessment is a continuous overall assessment that takes place throughout the study programme. A student must be suitable for professional practice in order to receive diploma/certificate for the study programme.

If it appears that a student may pose a potential danger to the lives, physical and mental health, rights or safety of patients, clients and users during practical training or in future professional practice, it should be asked whether the student is suitable for the profession. University staff, personnel in practical training establishment, as well as students can submit a notification of doubt. The students concerned should be informed as soon as possible if such a notification of doubt has been sent. They should receive guidance and advice on how they can improve or be advised to withdraw from the programme.

https://student.oslomet.no/en/suitability-assessment

Programplan godkjent av Utdanningsutvalget HV: 7.12.2022. Sist endret av prodekan for utdanning HV 27. februar 2024.

Bygger på forskrift om nasjonal retningslinje for tverrfaglig videreutdanning i psykisk helse-, rus- og avhengighetsarbeid https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2022-03-14-387, fastsatt av Kunnskapsdepartementet 14. mars 2022.

Rules for study progress

All coursework requirements/compulsory activities must be completed/passed in order for the student to take the exam in a course. All exams in an academic year must be passed in order for the student to continue to the next academic year. The student must have earned at least 20 credits in the first semester in order to take the practical training in the second semester.

Suitability assessment

The Bachelor’s Programme in Social Work falls under the scope of the Regulations relating to Suitability Assessment in Higher Education, adopted by the Ministry of Education and Research on 30 June 2006:

A suitability assessment is a comprehensive assessment of the student’s academic and personal qualifications for work as a health care or social worker. More information about the suitability assessment can be found on the intranet for OsloMet students.

Student participation

Student representative

Each year group elects two or three students as its representatives. The student representatives of each year group have regular meetings with the lecturer who is coordinator for the programme year (class coordinator) in order to provide a situation report from the year group.

Dialogue seminars and dialogue meetings

Each year, a one-day seminar and a shorter dialogue meeting are held which are attended by the student representatives for all three years of the programme and representatives of the programme. The theme of the dialogue seminar is discussed with the students in advance.

Interprofessional project – INTERACT

Students participate in the INTERACT project in which part of the teaching programme is taken in interprofessional student groups. The teaching content (INTER1100, INTER1200 and INTER1300) in the first, second and third year, respectively, becomes more complex for each year, and is integrated as a compulsory coursework requirement in the existing courses in the programme description. For further information about INTERACT, see https://www.oslomet.no/forskning/forskningsprosjekter/interact.