Work Placement and Language Internship 3: Client Work in the Service SystemLaajuus (10 cr)

Objective

The student

• understands the ethical principles of social welfare work and can apply them in challenging client situations
• is able to take client safety into account
• understands the dimensions of structural social work, is familiar with the social service system and can guide clients to appropriate services
• is able to apply their knowledge and skills in multidisciplinary cooperation
• is able to identify, critically analyse and develop their own professional competence
• is able to act as a representative of social welfare in the work community and professional networks

The students are able to apply suitable work orientations and methods for work with the service users in a client-centred and anti-discriminatory manner. They are able to plan and organise individual and/or community activities socio-pedagogically by strengthening the individual, the group, and the community. They can identify and address discrimination or inequality located in the macro, meso and/or micro dimensions of society faced by the services users. The students can justify, document and evaluate client work and its efficiency.

The students can apply the principles of professional ethics and anti-discriminatory approaches in the social field in their work and professional communities. They can critically reflect on their own actions. The students are familiar with the current research and development in the work community and in the social field.

Language or language awareness related learning outcomes (specified aims for different language levels)
B1 – B2:
C1–C2 (native Finnish speakers)

The language and the language awareness objectives of the course (Finnish language) are selected according to each student's level of language proficiency.

B1 - B2: The students actively participate in the communication situations of the internship. They promote the goals of communication in different situations appropriately and participate in the professional discussions in Finnish. They identify possible problems in communication situations and know how to adapt their communication depending on the recipient.

The students recognise the tones and nuances of language use and are able to take them into account in their written communication. They are able to produce the most important types of written text in their field (e.g. quotations, e-mails, meeting minutes, client documentation).

C1 – C2 (also native Finnish speakers): The students are able to act appropriately and language-consciously in oral and written communication situations during the internship. They recognise the tones and nuances of language and are able apply them in client meetings and client documentation. They know how to develop their language awareness and are able to anticipate possible challenges in communication. The students are able to adapt their communication according to the recipient (e.g. use of plain language).

Content

• Ethical principles in social welfare

• Client safety

• Social services system, client guidance, multidisciplinary work

• Structural social work

Qualifications

The student has completed approximately 120 ECTS, including the course Work Placement and Language Internship 2 – Professional Client Work in Social Services. The student has successfully completed the course Finnish 4 or has B1 language proficiency in Finnish.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Framework of assessment is attached to the curriculum's description.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

Framework of assessment is attached to the curriculum's description.

Further information

Students with excellent Finnish language skills (at least level C1) can complete their internship in an international exchange. The language internship supports the student's language learning (at levels A2–B2) and language-aware working approach (at levels C1–C2). Students assess their Finnish language skills themselves using an assessment tool before and after the internship.

Early childhood education and care students can complete this internship either in an early childhood education environment or in another operating environment. For students with Finnish as a second language, completing the course requires participation in the Finnish for Social Services course, which lasts for the entire semester.