Empowerment, ethics and social work challenges (10 cr)

Objective

The students are able to critically view empowerment, ethics, and challenging client situations. 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 importance of values and the ethical foundation of work in social services and can apply ethical concepts and principles in professional activities.

The students are able to support citizenship, inclusion and a sense of community using advocacy and societal influencing skills. The students are familiar with different concepts of empowerment. They use critical thinking skills to support work within an urban environment in an ethical and sustainable way. The students can anticipate and act in challenging and threatening situations and 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, ethical thinking and problem solving. Deconstructing and reconstructing power. Empowerment concepts and their use in the social field. Use of empowering language when working with service users. Ethics in documenting work with service users. Supporting and restricting the right of self-determination. Challenging and threatening situations. The importance of emotions and processing them in social services. Well-being at work. Critical thinking and reflection. Simple Finnish vocabulary and phrases used in interactions with diverse service users.

Location and time

Tentative Schedule: TIMES MAY CHANGE
25.10.2024 12.45 - 16.00 MPA4010 Orientation
30.10.2024 12.45 - 15.30 MPA5020 Ethics
01.11.2024 12.45 - 16.00 MPA4010 Empowerment
04.11.2024 12.45 - 16.00 MPA6012 Empowerment
07.11.2024 09.00 - 11.45 MPA4018 Ethics
08.11.2024 12.45 - 16.00 INDP WK
14.11.2024 09.00 - 11.45 MPA4018 Ethics
15.11.2024 12.45 - 16.00 INDP WK
18.11.2024 09.00 - 11.45 MPA4009 Ethics/Media
18.11.2024 12.45 - 16.00 MPB5010 Empowerment
22.11.2024 13.00 - 15.00 MPA4010 Empowerment (as seen in your topic)
26.11.2024 09.00 - 11.45 MPA4009 Ethics/Media
26.11.2024 12.45 - 16.00 MPB2030 Challenges in working life
29.11.2024 09.00 - 16.00 INDP WK
02.12.2024 12.45 - 16.00 MPA4010 Seminar
7.12-14.12.2024 EXAM (open in EXAM system this week)

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:
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
Shelly Kagan: Normative Ethics, Part I: Factors, Ch. 1 - 5

Media:
Normand Baillargeon: A Short Course in Intellectual Self-Defence: Ch. 4 Media

Client Situations:
General Aggression Model. Allen, J. J., Anderson, C. A., & Bushman, B. J. (2018). The General Aggression Model. Current Opinion in Psychology, 19, 75–80.

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

Teaching methods

Contact teaching
Literature
Guidance and project
Self-directed learning
Seminar

Employer connections

n/a

Exam schedules

7-14.12.2024 in EXAM (exam.metropolia.fi)

International connections

international materials used

Completion alternatives

n/a

Student workload

27h/credit

Content scheduling

see above

Further information

n/a

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Framework of evaluation is as an attachment in the Curriculum's description.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

Framework of evaluation is as an attachment in the Curriculum's description.

Assessment methods and criteria

TBA