Work in Child Protection

The main content of the course is the complicated professional and ethical judgements to be made by the public child welfare services within the ramifications of the relevant legislation. The students learn to consider wether the child's situation may represent an unacceptable risk to the child's health and development, and make professional choices regarding measures to be taken to reduce the risk. Decisions are made trying to balance the child welfare services' obligation to help the child, with the cooperation and complicity of the child and the family. Communication skills is essential, and educational activities is part of the course.

Knowledge
The student has knowledge about
- the history of the child welfare services and it's place in modern society
- the child welfare Act and it's main principles
- public administration, the responibilities of the state and the municipalities in the area of child welfare.
- culture and ethnicity
- conflict, power and powerlessness, and the complicity of children and adults
- abuse and sexual offense
- addiction, violence and crime
- childhood conditions, upbringing, care and neglect
- cooperation with children and families

Skills
The student can
- explain the historical background of child welfare and it's place in society, including the responsibilities of different levels of public administration
- carry out professional child welfare proceedings within the public administration
- make professional judgements on incoming reports to the child welfare services
- make use of the relevant legislation when making inquiries and applying measures in child welfare
- carry out professional interviews with children and their families to evaluate the child's situation
- identify and evaluate risk factors regarding neglect in childhood and adolescense, and apply relevant measures to avoid suboptimal development of the child
- reflect on ethical dilemmas in interaction with children and parents at risk from different cultures.

General competence
The student
- is aware of his or her own position of power and uses it carefully for the benefit of the child
- knows how a conversation may have different aims and can communicate with children, adolescents and parents in different contexts
- can reflect critically on his or her own attitudes towards different norms regarding care and upbringing
- can plan and carry out assignments within the municipal child welfare service, in line with professional and ethical standards
- can communicate the grounds for choices and decisions