Risk Report and Investigation in Child Protection

The course will focus on the complex cases and their ethical assessments in the municipal child welfare services. These cases will be related to the framework of the legislation and theoretical frame. Students learn to assess the situation of the child and different risk to the child's health and development through risk report and investigation. Communication with vulnerable children and young people, as well as their families and networks, culture and different activities as communication tools are central. The course integrates theoretical knowledge with practical knowledge and knowledge from children and parents point of view.

Knowledge
The student has:
- Knowledge of risk reporting, assessment, and investigation
knowledge of the Child Welfare Services Act
- Knowledge of cooperation and communication with children in vulnerable situations, their families and networks,
- Have knowledge of conflict, power and empowerment, also child and family involvement
- knowledge of vulnerable children and adolescents and neglect of care - knowledge of the best interests of the child (children's needs, risk and protection factors)

Skills
The student:
- can make a professional evaluation of children at risk, investigate and report messages to the child welfare service
- can apply legislation during working phases
- identify and evaluate and argue for the best interests of the child (children's needs and risk and protection factors)
- can professional conversations with children, parents and their networks to clarify the child's hole care situation
- can reflect on ethical dilemmas and develop cultural sensitivity in meeting with vulnerable children and their parents

General competence
the student:
- can plan and carry out work tasks in the municipal child welfare service in accordance with professional and ethical requirements
- has insight into child welfare issues in public administration
- is conscious of children's rights and can facilitate children's participation
- has insight into how conversations have different purposes and can interact with children and their families and networks in different child welfare situations during the process
- can reflect critically on their own views
- can use art, culture and activity in contact with vulnerable children and adolescents

Lectures, self studies, theme-based work in groups, field studies, skills training and activity.

Part of the teaching may be done in English.