Empowering Social Work
| Structure Type: | Course |
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| Code: | SOSEM30 |
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| Type: | Elective |
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| Level: | Bachelor |
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| Credits: | 3.0 points |
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| Language of Instruction: | English |
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Course Implementations, Planned Year of Study and Semester
| Curriculum | Semester | Credits | Start of Semester | End of Semester |
| SOSALA-2015 |
3 autumn |
3.0 |
2017-08-01 |
2017-12-31 |
| SOSALA-2016 |
3 autumn |
3.0 |
2018-08-01 |
2018-12-31 |
Learning Outcomes
Students are able to define the concept of empowerment and explain the underpinning critical social work theories. They know how to analyse social mechanisms, through which marginalisation comes about and analyse structures and processes which produce inequality and disadvantage on regional, national and international level. Students recognise and question practices, structures and process which produce and maintain marginalisation, inequality and lack of engagement and power in society, welfare services and social work. Students recognise needs for empowering social work in the clients' lives, work communities and in social work responsibilities. They are familiar with empowering social work methods.Students are aware of what factors, representing the perspectives of various stakeholders, need to be taken into consideration in empowering work processes. Students are prepared to plan a social work process, in which empowering methods are used and sustainable development promoted. They are able to analyse their work with clients and the underinning values.
Student's Workload
106 hours
Prerequisites / Recommended Optional Courses
major part of the basic studies of the degree programme
Contents
- the concept of empowerment
- critical social work theories
- marginalization, inequality and disadvange in society
- empowering methods in social work
- planning a process of empowering social work
- promotion of sustainable development
- evaluation of one's values and action
Recommended or Required Reading
- Thompson, N. 2011: Promoting Equality: Working with Diversity and Difference. Palgrave Mcmillan. or
- Dalrymple, J. & Burke, B. 2006. Anti-Oppressive Practice.Social Care and the Law. Open University Press.
Mode of Delivery / Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
lectures, assignments, independent study
Assessment Criteria
Scale 1-5.
Grade 1-2:
The students can define the concept of empowerment and describe the core content of the critical social theories underpinning it. They can describe such practices, processes and structures in the society, service system and social work that produce and maintain marginalization, inequality, lack of power nad participation. They recognize the connections of these factors with ecosocial sustainability. The students are able to describe the needs, for empowering social lwork and the powet tructures in the lives of the service users as well as in the social work organizations and practices. They can produce a case example on the process of empowering social work and apply appropriately some method of empowerment. The students are able to describe their own social work practice and the values behind it, and raise questions concerning value conflicts that they have experienced in social work practice and search for structural factors connected to them.
Grade 3-4:
In addition, the students are able to reflect on the concept of empowerment from many perspectives and connect it to the practical work. They can produce a realistic case example and a solution that is applicable. They can reflect the structural and social factors connected to their own values and the value conflicts they have experienced.
Grade 5:
In addition, the students are able to reflect critically and comprehensively the marginalizing processes in the lives of service users, in social work organisations and in social work profession. They can produce a case example that highlights the situation from many perspectives. They are able to analyse it by applying the critical theories. They ae able to apply empowering social work methods in the case example in a creative way and describe the use of the methods in detail, taking into account the ecosocial sustainability. They can analyse and assess critically both their own actions and the professional practices of social work from the perspective of empowering goals of social work. They are able to assess the empowering approach in relation to the other possible approaches in social work.
Assessment Methods
will be announced at the beginning of the course
Work Placement
the study course does not include practice
Further Information
Students can choose between this and the following courses:
- Communication and Media in Social Work
- Structural Social Work
- Community-Oriented Social Work
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