Psychosocial Work with Children and Adolescents, Continuing Education

Requirements for admission include possession of a Bachelor`s degree (180 credits) in child welfare, pre-school teacher, healthcare and social work, medicine, education, police work or psychology, and a minimum of one year of relevant professional practice after completed education. Applicants with other college or university level education which is on an equivalent educational and practice level may, upon special consideration, be accepted as students. Applicants with practical experience may apply for admission to the study programme in accordance with applicable laws regarding admission procedures of colleges and universities.

Participants must work directly with children and/or adolescents in a minimum of a 50% position during the entire study programme, and this must be confirmed in the application. In the event of long-term work interruptions (for example long-term sick leaves), individual progression towards completion of the study programme must be clarified with the student´s academic advisor. It will be posssible for a small number of students to complete the study without a permanent employment, but this will have to be clarified with the programme coordinator in advance.For these students supervised practice will be additional.

In the event of competition for student places, employers´ competency requirements will count heavily.

The study programme is primarily designed for persons having higher education within the areas of healthcare, social work and education as well as persons having a college and/or university education and relevant work experience.

Postgraduate study programmes require that students possess basic knowledge within the academic areas included in the study programme. Before starting, students are expected to have general knowledge within scientific theory, ethics, communication, sociology, psychology, psychiatry and methodical work.

Psychosocial work comprises creating and reinforcing children¿s and young people¿s possibilities for entering into important social roles, and through participation and cooperation based on children¿s and young people¿s resources and social competencies, increase self-esteem, promote independence and possibilities for meeting the demands of everyday life in an inclusive community. The work is based on an understanding of management and psychosocial problems in which the rational aspects are emphasised, focusing on interaction and dialogue in and with families, networks and local societies.

The study programme is divided into four major areas, and instruction and reading lists are related to local, regional, national and international experience and research. Emphasis on central topics within the various major areas is based on local conditions and needs, but there is also emphasis on basing the study programme on health promoting and preventive work.

The educational programme is part of an initiative in the government´s strategic plan for children¿s and adolescents´ mental health. It has been established as an interdisciplinary and interdepartmental part-time study programme, and imparts the competency necessary for promoting and strengthening management, enjoyment and psychosocial protective factors as well as determining and weakening the influence of psychosocial strains found in the home, daycare centre, school and local environment. The study programme focuses on persons from ages 0 to 23, and touches upon questions related to newborns and toddlers, older children, adolescents and young adults. Upon completion of the study programme participants will be able to initiate and carry out preventive and health promoting work with children, young people, and families in crises. The study programme has three major objectives in accordance with the qualification framework:

1. Knowledge:

Upon completion of the study programme, graduates will possess:

• knowledge about children's and adolescents' cognitive, social, and emotional development
• knowledge about fundamental conditions for the promotion of children's and adolescents' growth and learning
• knowledge about how social problems, drug abuse, and mental health problems in close relations may affect children's and adolescent's development
• knowledge about conditions in family networks and the local community which may have impact on children's and adolescents' abilities to cope with psychosocial challenges
• knowledge about the specialised services within the field of children and adolescents
• knowledge about the field of violence and trauma

2. General competence:

Upon completion of the study programme, graduates will possess:

• knowledge to enable them to make use of relevant laws and regulations
• knowledge about the structure of the local services as well as local and regional initiatives for children and adolescents aiming at improving their own mental health
• creativity and courage to initiate development processes in one's own work place
• the ability to work in a multidisciplinary team
• knowledge about the user perspective as well the ability to involve children, adolescents, and their families in their effort to change

3. Skills:

Upon completion of the study programme, graduates will possess:

• knowledge and skills to identify psychological, physical, and social conditions in the individual child or adolescent which may promote or hinder their mental health
• the ability of professional and ethical reflection upon one's own practice
• the ability to impart knowledge and skills
• knowledge and skills which enables you to evaluate and assess initiated measures

This postgraduate study programme in psychosocial work with children and adolescents stimulates the student to develop both personally and professionally. The study programme challenges students to study their own values and attitudes regarding persons with mental illnesses and other cooperative partners. Arrangements are made for various and flexible study and work forms, and these are presented in connection with the various courses offered.

Within the curriculum framework the possibility for students to participate actively in development of learning situations and methods in cooperation with teachers in the study programme is given. Active influence and assessment of the study programme takes place through organs such as student councils, academic committees and the faculty board.

The study programme will make systematic knowledge and service development possible through creating dialogues across professional backgrounds and service sites, and will open the possibility for exchanging experiences and counselling of the student´s own work. Joint instruction combined with interdisciplinary and interdepartmental advisement and study groups in which academic learning is connected with practical work among children and adolescents, is the principal instructional form. Advisory sessions function as a link between theoretical knowledge and practical work.

Supervision is undertaken in geographical proximity to the relevant participating communities and (to the extent it is possible) will be comprised of professionals from participating service networks. It is assumed that Canvas or another form of communication will be utilised between the student and his/her study location.

Practice supervision/supervision upon completion of tasks in personal work situations is an essential part of the educational programme. Practice supervision is group-based in order to strengthen cooperation within and between administrative levels. Meetings will be arranged between the supervisors and the rest of the teaching staff. Similarly, it is important that supervision on project and research work is also undertaken by qualified personnel. Instruction will be offered regarding children´s and adolescents´ needs and experiences, and the instructional forces for this teaching will be completed in cooperation with persons who themselves have experience with mental illness and difficult psychosocial living conditions.

Instruction will be given both in Grimstad and Kristiansand, and students are expected to attend class at both locations. Some travelling must be expected.

Examinations must be taken for each major subject area.The users´ voices are to come forth in assessments of the students´ work and competency. Both process-oriented assessment forms as well as examination forms are designed for testing of knowledge.

While the study programme does not necessarily award graduates with a new title, many enter into positions in which completion of the programme is a requirement, and for this reason also awards salary-related advantages. Through the programme other graduates acquire improved tools to complete the job they already perform or will perform in the future, not only within mental health services. The vast majority find their place of employment within the communal healthcare and social services, specialised services and the educational sector.

Parts of the continuing education in psychosocial work with children and adolescents can be included in the master's programme in community mental health work.

The study programme is completed on a part-time basis over two years, and is organised such that staff members are not unnecessarily drawn from relevant service sectors.