The Social Responsibility of the Child Protection and Child Welfare Profession

The course is based on the social responsibility of the child protection and child welfare workers as stated in Forskrift om nasjonal retningslinje for barnevernspedagogutdanning. The social responsibility links to knowledge about children, childhood and socialization, as well as professional roles and ethic in child welfare work. Lectures in communication theory, pedagogy and social pedagogy are given too. Additionally, a method in child interviewing is provided through skills development training. In the fieldwork, knowledge from children and skills in play and activities are central. The theoretical knowledge is deepened through field work at primary schools.

Knowledge - The student has:

• knowledge of the social responsibility of the child protection and child welfare profession
• knowledge of "the best interests of the child"
• knowledge of children's upbringing and socialization
• knowledge about children's activities (including children's play and digital everyday life)
• knowledge about childhood
• knowledge of communication and relationship theories, pedagogy and social pedagogy
• knowledge of the use of activities in the child protection and welfare profession and own self-development
• knowledge of observation, ethic, and emotional work
• knowledge of new forms of learning

Skills - The student can:

• account for topics and theories within the child protection and child welfare profession
• account for the social responsibility
• account for children's upbringing and socialization
• master relationship building and methods in interviewing children
• master collaboration with children using activities
• reflect upon his or her own skills and self-development in interaction with others
• reflect upon interpretation of sensory experiences
• identify and reflect upon ethical and emotional challenges
• master social-pedagogical work on children's upbringing arenas

General competence - The student:

• has insight into the social responsibility of the child protection and child welfare profession
• has insight into basic concepts of communication
• has insight into ethical and emotional work
• has insight into group processes
• has insight into how one's own communication has an affects on the interaction between people
• masters activities to promote play, learning and inclusion in collaboration with children

Student-active participation. The students participate in learning groups and the learning activities are divided between self-study preparation assignments, lectures, in-depth assignments, skills development training, video and field work

Parts of the teaching and learning material can be given in English.