Therapeutic Social Work with Vulnerable Children and Young People

The course provides an introduction to milieu therapeutic work with vulnerable children, adolescents and their families. Different milieu therapeutic perspectives and approaches to promote learning, mastery, inclusion and participation. Communication with children and young people about bad experiences and cooperation about their change and development. Various aspects of power, asymmetry, coercion and voluntariness, i.a. The Child Welfare Act, The Rights Regulations.

Knowledge - The student has:

• knowledge of different milieu therapeutic perspectives and methods that promote learning, mastery, inclusion and participation for vulnerable children and adolescents in an milieu therapeutic context
• research-based knowledge about children and young people in child welfare institutions and environmental therapeutic change work in different arenas
• knowledge of legal and organizational frameworks relevant to milieu therapeutic work
• knowledge of power, coercion and voluntariness in milieu therapeutic work

Skills - The student can:

• explain key perspectives and methods in milieu therapeutic work
• can reflect on professional and ethical issues related to milieu therapeutic work with vulnerable children and young people
• can communicate appropriately with vulnerable children and young people about neglect, violence, abuse and intoxication

General competence - Students:

• have insight into basic concepts and theories related to milieu therapeutic work with children, adolescents and families.
• can show diversity and cultural sensitivity in milieu therapeutic work aimed at children, adolescents and families
• can create opportunities for children and young people in their situation to work with their change and development

Lectures, preliminary assignments, learning groups, assignment work, visits to institutions, oral presentation, skills training and self-study. The pedagogy presupposes active presence in all forms of learning. Parts of the teaching and learning material may be given in English.