Social Service Work (10 cr)

Objective

The students understand the importance of legislation as a tool for guiding social work. They are familiar with the most important general legislation and the hierarchy of norms in social welfare. The students are familiar with the whole social security system.
The students knows how to take into account the dimensions of client safety in social work. They know the legal remedies of the social welfare client and understand the importance of the social sector and the role of poverty prevention and reduction. The students recognize the client's resources and are able to draw up a client plan together with the client. The students are familiar with different models of service guidance. They are able to apply the regulations and key guidelines governing social work.

The students understand the special features and requirements of online counselling in social work. They are able to carry out counselling work online and guide the clients to services. The students are familiar with the possibilities of digital environments in social work.

Content

Key general legislation of social welfare, the service system and other forms of social security in the work of the Bachelor of Social Services. Client safety. Hierarchy of standards: constitution, general laws, special laws, decrees, instructions. Client's legal protection, reminder, complaint and appeal. Client responsibility, resources and mapping the close network. Models of service coordination. Assessment of service needs. Person in need of special support. Client plan. Document client work and processing documents.

Online meeting and counselling skills. Specific features and requirements of online counselling. Ethical principles, information security and data protection. Opportunities and challenges of digitalisation in social work.

Location and time

Schedule (Tentative as times WILL change)

Case Management lectures:
27.09.2023 12.45 - 14.15 Orientation lecture, mandatory
6.10.2023 09.00 - 11.45 Social welfare, the service system and other forms of social security in the work of the Bachelor of Social Services.
11.10.2023 12.45 - 15.30 Key general legislation of social welfare, models of service coordination
13.10.2023 12.45 - 15.30 Assessment of service needs. Client plan. Document client work
01.11.2023 12.45 - 15.30 ZOOM-lecture Client's legal protection, reminder, complaint and appeal. (together with Finnish Sosiaalipalvelutyö courses)
08.11.2023 12.45 - 15.30 Lecture/ Studying as a group, teachers support available
16.11.2023 12.30 - 15.30 Practicing with cases
20.11.2023 9.00 - 12.00 Seminar
27.11. 9.00-11.00 (+30min) Exam 2h, extra 30 min for those with special support decision

Online Counselling:
31.10.2023 12.45 - 16.00 MPA4018 Orientation, Social Welfare in Finland
07.11.2023 12.45 - 16.00 MPA6018 Online Services
09.11.2023 12.45 - 16.00 MPA6018 Online Counselling as a method
28.11.2023 8.30 - 11.45 MPA4010 Technology and Ethical Standards
04.12.2023 12.45 - 16.00 MPA4010 GDPR/Digital Divide
11.12.2023 8.30 - 11.45 MPA6018 Final Seminar, Presentations

Materials

Literature:
Case Management: will be announced later

Online Counselling
Optional: Online Counselling and Guidance Skills (2010). Jane Evans (ebook)

Additional optional supportive literature:
Online Counselling, 2010 (2nd ed.). Kraus, Stricker and Speyer, (ebook)
Open Dialogue and Anticipations (2014). Seikkula & Arnkil
Helena Aarnio: Deep Learning through dialogue (DIALE project)
http://www3.hamk.fi/dialogi/diale/framework.html
Palveluohjaus: portti itsenäiseen elämään (2007). Suominen & Tuominen
Longhofer, Jeffrey., Kubek, Paul M., Floersch, Jerry. 2010. On Being and Having a Case Manager: A Relational Approach to Recovery in Mental Health. Columbia University Press. (metcat, ebrary)
Bogo, Marion. 2006. Social Work Practice: Concepts, Processes, and Interviewing. Columbia University Press. -> Part 2: The process of Helping in Social Work Practice (pages 143-229) (Metcat/ebrary)
Aspinwall-Robers, E. 2012. Assessment in Social Work with Adults. McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing. (Metcat/ebrary)
Constitution of Finland (Suomen Perustuslaki)
Social Welfare Act (Sosiaalihuoltolaki)
Act on the Status and Rights of Social Welfare Clients (Social Welfare Clients Act: Laki Sosiaalihuollon asiakkaan asemasta ja oikeudesta)
Administrative Procedure Act (Hallintolaki)

Teaching methods

The course is divided into two parts:
Case Management & legislation 6 credits
Online counselling 4 credits

Case Management:
Lectures, individual and group work assignments

Online Counselling:
Students will work in an online environment, using different platforms to practice synchronous and asynchronous counselling skills. Online lectures will be minimal and most of the work will be done in pairs or individually using supportive teaching materials.

Employer connections

n/a

Exam schedules

n/a

International connections

international literature used

Completion alternatives

n/a

Student workload

27 hours per 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

Assessment:

Online Counselling
- Active participation (for those doing contact teaching option)
- Individual work: Final essay (1-5)
- Group work: Combined seminar presentation - putting it all together

Objective

The students understand the importance of legislation as a tool for guiding social work. They are familiar with the most important general legislation and the hierarchy of norms in social welfare. The students are familiar with the whole social security system.
The students knows how to take into account the dimensions of client safety in social work. They know the legal remedies of the social welfare client and understand the importance of the social sector and the role of poverty prevention and reduction. The students recognize the client's resources and are able to draw up a client plan together with the client. The students are familiar with different models of service guidance. They are able to apply the regulations and key guidelines governing social work.

The students understand the special features and requirements of online counselling in social work. They are able to carry out counselling work online and guide the clients to services. The students are familiar with the possibilities of digital environments in social work.

Content

Key general legislation of social welfare, the service system and other forms of social security in the work of the Bachelor of Social Services. Client safety. Hierarchy of standards: constitution, general laws, special laws, decrees, instructions. Client's legal protection, reminder, complaint and appeal. Client responsibility, resources and mapping the close network. Models of service coordination. Assessment of service needs. Person in need of special support. Client plan. Document client work and processing documents.

Online meeting and counselling skills. Specific features and requirements of online counselling. Ethical principles, information security and data protection. Opportunities and challenges of digitalisation in social work.