Social Policy, Organization and Implications for Social Work Practice

The course gives an overview of central elements of the most recent social political and organizational reforms, currently the NAV reform and New Public Management (NPM), and explores what issues are raised for social work practice. The course studies the relationship between the different levels of public management and how actors on different levels work together in the solution of the welfare tasks (cross-disciplinary and cross-level cooperation is emphasized). Partnership is a central perspective. The notion of Partnership is not traditionally used in the welfare sector, but for example is partnership between the State and Municipalities used in the NAV reform. The notion of Partnership is also used on an individual level concerning the relation between the welfare apparatus and the users. The course also looks into processes excluding persons or groups in the population from one or more important arenas of society. The processes leading to such exclusion may be called marginalisation. The course also adresses ethical dilemmas for social work practice.

The course shall give knowledge of and tools for reflection over social politics, organization and consequences for social work. After completing the course, students are expected to be able to:
Discuss questions concerning connections between social politics, organizational conditions and the design of social work within the social/welfare services.
Have knowledge of processes of marginalization on different levels of society and how these are linked to structural conditions.
Have knowledge about how the goals of participation and equality, exclusion and inclusion can be achieved, and how this can be manifested into political actions.
Have knowledge of and understanding for current forms of organization and the conditions of public leadership.
To analyze and critically examine research within the field.

Lectures, group assignments and individual assignments. Attendance in classes are mandatory.