The Swedish Model: Challenges for social work with Child and Family Welfare
This course is intended as a general introduction to the emergence and development of the Swedish welfare state with a focus on the welfare states importance for social work.
The course consists of three parts.
A first part where the historical context and political circumstances that form the basis for the Swedish model is highlighted. This part covers key areas of political economy and welfare policy, social rights, relationships and power relations in the labour market, gender aspects of welfare policy, welfare state organization and distributional outcomes and changes in conditions in the Swedish model.
The second part covers current perspectives in child welfare social work, how this field is organized, the nature of the interventions as well as consequences for children and families.
A third part covers domestic violence and children´s exposure. The course explores the political background, the development of the field of research and the current situation concerning social work with domestic violence with a focus of children´s exposure.
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Course structure
Course content:
- Political theories of the welfare state
- The public sector and welfare policy
- Central aspects of current research on child welfare in Sweden
- The inflow, operations and outcomes of child welfare services
- Violence in intimate relationships and children’s exposure to it
Upon successful completion of the course students shall be able to:
- analyse contemporary development trends in welfare policy and their consequences for social work
- describe the operational procedures for child and adolescent welfare and analyse their organisation, content and consequences
- describe the emergence of the research field dealing with domestic violence and describe and analyse the corresponding social welfare initiatives
Modules
Module 1: MOD3 The Swedish model 3
Content:
- The theoretical grounds and organization of the welfare state
- Central aspects of social work and its relation to social policy programs
Intended learning outcomes:
Upon successful completion of the module students shall be able to
- identify central driving forces and actors behind the Swedish model and relate these to operating procedures in social work
- critically reflect on and discuss the historical background of the Swedish model
Module 2: CHIL Child welfare in Sweden in an international perspective
Content:
- The organisation of child welfare services in Sweden in a comparative perspective
- Outcomes and effects of child welfare interventions
- Perspectives on risk and risk assessment in child welfare work
Intended learning outcomes:
Upon successful completion of the module students shall be able to
- describe central aspects of Swedish child welfare and make comparisons with equivalent services in other countries
- orient themselves in scientific texts and problematize central concepts and issues in child welfare research and practice
- in writing identify and analyse relevant themes in this research field
Module 3: VIBU Domestic violence and children’s exposure
Content:
- A historical perspective on how domestic violence has become a political, practical and research issue
- Domestic violence and children’s exposure as an empirical and theoretical field
Intended learning outcomes:
Upon successful completion of the module students shall be able to
- give an accounting of and discuss how and when domestic violence was acknowledged as a social problem
- discuss and analyse social work conditions and measures for dealing with domestic violence and children’s exposure to it
Teaching format
The course is given in English.
MOD3 The Swedish Model, 5 credits.
Instruction is in the form of lectures and seminars with active student participation.
CHIL Child Welfare in Sweden in an International Perspective, 5 credits.
Instruction is in the form of lectures and seminars with active student participation.
VIBU Domestic Violence and Children´s Exposure , 5 credits
Instruction is in the form of lectures and seminars with active student participation.
Limitations
In a final degree this module may not overlap in terms of knowledge content with any other similar module.
Assessment
Attendance at seminars and examinations is obligatory.
Grades are set according to the following scale:
A: Excellent; outstanding performance with only minor errors
B: Very good; above average standard but with some errors
C: Good; generally sound work but with a number of notable errors
D: Satisfactory; fair but with significant shortcomings
E: Sufficient; performance meets the minimum criteria
Fx: Fail; some more work required before the credit can be awarded
F: Fail; completely unacceptable performance
Information on grading criteria and forms of examination will be communicated at the start of the course.
To pass students must have obtained at least grade E on written assignments and satisfied other demands of the course.
For information on examination and retake regulations as approved by the Board of the School of Social Work, see the school website.
Students have the right to request re-examination with another examiner if failed twice. Such requests must be made in writing to the director of studies no later than one year after the course has ended.
Plagiarism, self-plagiarism and other attempts to mislead at examinations or other assessments of study achievement will result in reporting for suspected cheating, which can lead to disciplinary measures.
Basis for final grade: A summation of the home exam results for each module.
Consequences of getting a fail grade: Getting the Fx or the F grade mean that the student must retake the exam at the next suitable opportunity.
MODULE 1:The Swedish model, 5 credits
Examination with graded ratings: Individual home exam
Other demands of course: Obligatory, active participation in seminars
MODULE 2: CHIL Child Welfare in Sweden in an International Perspective, 5 credits
Examination with graded ratings: Individual home exam
Other demands of course: Obligatory, active participation in seminars
MODULE 3: VIBU Domestic Violence and Children´s Exposure 5 credits
Examination with graded ratings: Individual home exam
Other demands of course: Obligatory, active participation in seminars
Examiner
Not yet appointed.
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Schedule
The schedule will be available no later than one month before the start of the course. We do not recommend print-outs as changes can occur. At the start of the course, your department will advise where you can find your schedule during the course. -
Course literature
Note that the course literature can be changed up to two months before the start of the course. -
Contact
Torbjörn Bildtgård
E-mail: torbjorn.bildtgard@socarb.su.se
