Social Work Field Placement (USVP80)

There will be a total of 420 hours of professional practice over a minimum of 14 weeks.

Professional practice should ideally be completed in Rogaland. In special cases, professional practice placements in neighbouring counties may be considered.

Incoming students apply via standard international admission procedures after the department has received a request to take trainee students.

A. Spring semester

If starting in January: Participation at information meetings and a one-week pre-practice seminar with students involved in national practice. Participation in group guidance with the university's own students.

If starting later in the semester: Participation in group guidance with the university's own students. Individual guidance, tasks and literature adapted for the individual area of practice.

B. Autumn semester

If starting in August: Participation at some of the orientation week for international students. Individual guidance, tasks and literature adapted for the individual area of practice.

If starting later in the semester: Individual guidance, tasks and literature adapted for the individual area of practice.

The Department of Social Studies at the University of Stavanger (UiS) offers two bachelor's programmes in the area of social work: child welfare officer and social worker education. The department accepts trainee students from other countries that offer a similar education to that provided in these two areas. Work experience in the relevant area is an important part of social work education. Gaining experience and reflecting on practical professional work should be included in initiatives in which thinking and work methods in social studies are central.

During and after completion of the practical semester, the student shall, with regard to

Knowledge

• Be able to document basic knowledge and have an understanding of the connection between theoretical and practical social studies/child welfare work
• Be able to demonstrate knowledge of current social and welfare policies and legal provisions relating to organisation in the practical setting
• Be able to demonstrate good knowledge of co-operation agencies that are relevant to the practical setting
• Be able to give an account of knowledge and professional insight gained through co-operation with experienced practitioners, which is not described in the literature

Skills

• Be able to apply professional knowledge and relevant experience from the practical setting as the basis for selecting an action
• Be able to analyse the service user's situation
• Be able to organise practical measures based on professional reasoning
• Demonstrate the ability to evaluate own and others' professional practice
• Demonstrate good communication skills when interacting with users
• Be able to work independently and in groups on challenging, complex and extensive problems

General competencies

• Demonstrate a basic understanding of professional ethics that underpin social work practice
• Demonstrate an understanding of and an ability to utilise the expertise of other professional groups
• Demonstrate the ability to utilise new ways of thinking
• Demonstrate an analytical, critical and reflective approach to own and others' professional perceptions

Applicants must be approved by their own educational institution, and students who have completed three semesters at their home institution will be prioritised.

Norwegian teaching

The following course is a requirement for international students who are not fluent in a Scandinavian language.

Our intensive Norwegian language course gives you the opportunity to learn Norwegian at a basic level and introduces you to some parts of Norwegian culture. The course is sponsored by the University of Stavanger (it is free of charge), but you have to cover the cost of the exercise book mentioned below.

To sign up for the course, no knowledge of the Norwegian language is required. You should however, be motivated to learn a new language, and you will be expected to be prepared for the classes. You will not receive any credits (study points) for attending the course, but a test will be held at the end and you will receive a certificate when finished.

The På vei text book and exercise book will be used. It's possible to borrow the text book from a limited collection at the library but you are supposed to buy your own exercise book (approx. NOK 300). There will be 4 groups and the course will be held on Mondays/Thursdays and Tuesdays/Fridays in Arne Rettedal's building, twice a week, for 90 minutes each time for a period of 10 weeks. The timetable will be either: 17.00-18.30 or 18.45-20.15. We have 120 places available, so please sign up immediately.

Please note that we always try to accommodate everybody's preferences concerning the day and time but we cannot guarantee that you will be assigned to your chosen group/day.

Registration is on a first come, first served basis.

Fagperson(er)

Course coordinator:

Placement coordinator:

There will be 420 hours of professional practice over a minimum of 14 weeks. Foreign students that have professional practice at the same time as the department's own students participate in a joint pre-practice seminar and group guidance depending on the amount of time available. Foreign students that have professional practice during the autumn semester will have a separately adapted programme with an introduction to the Norwegian work field and individual guidance from tutors in addition to two hours' guidance every week from the teaching supervisor in the area of practice.

For students who are participating in the final practice seminar, the last two days will involve a verbal presentation of group work where students also discuss the other groups' presentation. Regulations and requirements in relation to the latter will be set out in the "itslearning" learning platform.

There are three group guidance meetings between the pre-practice and final

Compulsory syllabus 560 pages of self-chosen literature Recommended reading

Norway's report to the UN on children's rights

Askeland, G.A. and Molven, O. (2006) Dokument i klientarbeid, journalar, sosialrapport og saksframstellingar i sosialt arbeid. Oslo, Gyldendal Akademisk.

Aubert, AM and Bakke, IM (2008) Utvikling av relasjonskompetanse, Nøkler til forståelse og rom for læring. Oslo: Gyldendal Akademisk (200 pages).

Bøhn, Henrik and Dypedahl, Magne (2009) Veien til interkulturell kompetanse Bergen: Fagbokforlaget (147 pages)

De Jong, Peter and Inzoo Kim Berg (2006) Løsningsskapende samtaler. Oslo: Gyldendal Norske forlag

Doverberg, E., Pramling Samuelsson, I. (2000) Att förstå barns tankar. Metodik för barnintervjuer. Third edition. Stockholm: Liber forlag

Eide, Tom and Hilde Eide (2004) Kommunikasjon i praksis. Relasjoner, samspill og etikk i sosialfaglig arbeid. Oslo: Gyldendal Norske forlag.

Fellesorganisasjonen (FO) Rett eller galt- eller noe midt imellom? Et studiehefte om yrkesetikk (2007) Oslo.

Fellesorganisasjonen (FO) Yrkesetisk grunnlagsdokument (10 pages)

Haugland, Randi (2000) Kommuneheks på slakk line, Om barnevern i små kommuner. Oslo: Gyldendal Akademisk

Herberg, Eva Berthling and Helga Johannesdottir. 2007. Kunnskap og læring i praksis. Fra student til profesjonell sosialarbeider. Oslo.: Universitetsforlaget. Chapters 2, 3, 6 and 7 (96 pages).

Killén, K. (2007) Profesjonell utvikling og faglig veiledning - et felles faglig perspektiv Gyldendal Akademisk Chapters 2,3,4,5 and 7 (129 pages).

Leenderts, Torborg Aalen (2003) Person og profesjon, om menneskesyn og livsverdier i offentlig omsorg. Oslo, Gyldendal Akademisk Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4 and 11, 12 and 13 (135 pages).

Lingås, Lars Gunnar Gyldendal (2008) Fourth revised edition, first reprint, Etikk og verdivalg i helse- og sosialfag Oslo: Akademisk

Løkken, G. and Søbstad, F. (2006) Observasjon og intervju i barnehagen. Oslo: Universitetsforlaget

Skau, Greta Marie (2002) Gode fagfolk vokser, personlig kompetanse som utfordring? Oslo: Cappelen Akademisk Forlag. Chapters 1-4, 6-7 (128 pages).

Røkenes, Odd Harald and Hanssen, Per-Halvard (2006) Bære eller briste Bergen: Fagbokforlaget Chapter 8 (44 pages).

Aamodt, L G (1997) Den gode relasjonen. Oslo: Ad Notam Gyldendal