Basics of Ethics in Social Services, Empowerment and Challenges of Work (10 cr)

Objective

The students understand the importance of values and the ethical foundation in the work of social services and are able to apply ethical concepts and principles in professional activities. The students understand the diversity of values and ethical perspectives and are able to critically evaluate the justification of different ethical solutions in social services. The students understand the importance of professional ethics in social services, commit to the professional ethical principles of social services and are able to act in accordance with them.
The students are able to utilize the means of societal influencing and create citizenship supporting inclusion and sense of community. They are able to critically evaluate different media texts and their meanings. They understand the role of the media as a developer of community and inclusion and know how to utilize the media and media skills in the context of the social field.
The students are familiar with different concepts of empowerment. They know how to plan and use socio-pedagogical methods in client work that support the empowerment of individuals and communities. The students understand the questions related to the ethics of filing client work. The students are able to anticipate and act in challenging and threatening client situations. The students understand the importance of client safety. The students are able to reflect on their own professional activities and well-being at work.

Content

Professional ethics in the social field , the ethical basis for work in the social field (theory of values; key theories of normative ethics; theory of justice), ethical thinking and problem solving. Empowerment concepts and their use in the social field. Practical work methods supporting empowerment. The channels for societal influencing. Civic engagement. Media education, critical media literacy and social media. Language use empowering the client. Ethics in documenting client work. Supporting and restricting the right of self-determination. Challenging and threatening client situations. Client safety. The importance of emotions and processing them in social services. Well-being at work.

Location and time

SCHEDULE (tentative, changes may occur)

22.08.2023 XXXXXX 12.45 - 16.00 Orientation
23.08.2023 XXXXXX 12.45 - 16.00 Ethics
24.08.2023 XXXXXX 12.45 - 16.00 Construction of Empowerment
29.08.2023 XXXXXX 12.45 - 16.00 Ethics
31.08.2023 XXXXXX 09.00 - 11.45 Ethics
31.08.2023 XXXXXX 09.00 - 11.45 Dimensions and Processes of Empowerment
04.09.2023 XXXXXX 09.00 - 11.45 Ethics
05.09.2023 XXXXXXs 12.45 - 16.00 Empowerment and the Power Cube
11.09.2023 MPA6011 12.45 - 16.00 Work Challenges - Threatening Clt Situations
18-23.09.2023 EXAM (available in exam.metropolia.fi)
06.10.2022 XXXXXX 12.45 - 16.00 Final Seminar

Group Supervision times TBA

Materials

Literature for the EXAM:
Empowerment:
Understanding and Operationalising Empowerment. Cecilia Luttrell and Sitna Quiroz with Claire Scrutton and Kate Bird. ODI Working Paper 308

Ethics:
Shelly Kagan: Normative Ethics, Part I: Factors, ch. 2 - 5

John Christman: Social and Political Philosohy, ch 5 (plus optional chapters)

Ethics in Social Work - An Ethical Code For Social Work Professionals. Akademiker förbundet SSRA) Bonnie Steinbock: Adultery. 1986

Work, Values and Ethics - Ethical Guidelines for Social Welfare Professionals



Additional material for applied ethics: Larry S. Temkin: Being Good in a World of Need.

Client Situations>
General Aggression Model
Media and Critical Thinking;
Normand Baillargeon: A Short Course in Intellectual Self-Defence: Ch. 4 Media

NOTE! Students should read the exam material before the course starts.

Teaching methods

Contact teaching
Literature
Guidance and project
Self-directed learning
Seminar

Exam schedules

18-23.2023 in EXAM (exam.metropolia.fi)

International connections

IFSW Global Social Work Statement of Ethical Principles
International Reading Materials

Completion alternatives

n/a

Student workload

27t/credit

Content scheduling

see above

Further information

n/a

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

See the curriculum attachment.
The course instructor will specify the evaluation criteria in the beginning of the course.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

See the curriculum attachment.
The course instructor will specify the evaluation criteria in the beginning of the course.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

See the curriculum attachment.
The course instructor will specify the evaluation criteria in the beginning of the course.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

See the curriculum attachment.
The course instructor will specify the evaluation criteria in the beginning of the course.

Assessment methods and criteria

Active participation in the course, passing exam (0-5) and a project report plus presentation (0-5).
80% attendance in contact teaching and project work is required. The project groups assess the activity of group members in their final report.

Qualifications

The students have completed the following courses:
Introduction to Social Pedagogy; Professional Communication and Academic Writing;
Internship 1 - Social Service Work in the Client’s Everyday Life

Further information

The prerequisite course for the passing grade is: Internship 2- Professional Client Work in Social Field