Psychosocial Work with Children and Adolescents, Continuing Education

Study programme code FB-PSYA60D

ECTS credits 60

Admission requirements

Requirements for admission include possession of a Bachelor´s degree (180 credits) in healthcare and social work (child welfare, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social work, nursing or nursing for the mentally handicapped), medicine, education (general teacher, pre-school teacher), police work and/or psychology, and a minimum of two years of relevant professional practice from direct work with children and/or adolescents 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.

All 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.

In the event of competition for student places, employers´ competency requirements will count heavily. Students who have taken advanced coursework in Psychosocial Work with Children, Adolescents and Their Families (30 credits) may receive exemption from courses PSY912 Child and Adolescent Mental Health (15 credits) and PSY907 Organisation, Coordination and Co-operation - Mental Health Sevices (15 credits).

Recommended previous knowledge

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.

General description and profile of the programme

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.

Specific arrangements for recognition of prior learning (formal, non-formal and informal) Arrangements for the recognition of prior learning are described in the information on the institution under "General arrangements for the recognition of prior learning (formal, informal and non-formal)".

Examination regulations and grading For a description of the examination regulations, see the Examination Regulations of the University of Agder.

For information about the Norwegian grading system, see ECTS credits and grades. Specific information on grading for each course is found in the individual course descriptions.

Graduation requirements The Examination Regulations of the University of Agder regulate the graduation requirements for each programme of study.

Learning outcomes

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. The study programme has three major objectives:

1. Develop knowledge and competency in accordance with the needs of children and adolescents

Upon completion of the study programme, graduates will possess:

• knowledge regarding services and relevant competences in accordance with the needs of children and adolescents
• knowledge and competency to act upon meeting challenges in schools, daycare centres, healthcare and social services, child welfare services, police departments and cultural and leisure services, as well as have advanced skills for continual development of knowledge and services from a user perspective.

2. Better cooperation and coordination of services

Upon completion of the study programme, graduates will possess:

• advanced skills in interdisciplinary and interdepartmental cooperation which contributes to local services development in conjunction with voluntary organisations and other public services
• the ability to create meeting places that invite positive discourse, establishes and continues cooperative service networks for the benefit of children and adolescents, thereby contributing to the further development of available, flexible and complete services.

3. Focus on life management

Upon completion of the study programme, graduates will possess:

• solid knowledge within health promotion and the skills necessary to strengthen children´s and adolescents´ own resources and abilities to meet challenges in life themselves
• knowledge regarding the local environment´s supportive functions with relation to children´s and adolescents´ mental health, and the skills necessary to strengthen children´s and young people´s families and networks
• the ability to undertake critical and ethical reflection for users as well as knowledge about user involvement

Teaching methods

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.

Advisement 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 Fronter or another form of communication will be utilised between the student and his/her study location.

Practice advisement/advisement upon completion of tasks in personal work situations is an essential part of the educational programme. Practice advisement is group-based in order to strengthen cooperation within and between administrative levels. It is therefore important that advisors have detailed knowledge of their professional field, and that frequent meetings take place between advisors and other members of the instructional staff. Similarly, it is important that advisement 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.

Assessment methods

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.

Requirements for continuing in the study programme

Before students can begin PSY908 Psychosocial Work with Children and Adolescents, they must first have passed PSY912 Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

Occupational profiles of graduates and access to further studies

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.

Other information

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.

Before the start of each study programme, the university college enters into a binding agreement with the administrative director/city manager in at least one community and the director in the appropriate unit of the mental health sector for children and adolescents. The cooperative agreement actualises collaboration in which the study programme is a part of the community´s service development programme and competency building objectives. Efforts will be made in order that a minimum of two staff members from the cooperative departments/units in these communities/health service sectors participate in the study programme. These are prioritised at the time of admission. Employers sign a contract outlining how the employer is to utilise the newly acquired competency. The various communities´ need for qualified staff members will count heavily during the admissions process.

As regards location, certain portions of the instruction will take place in Arendal, others in Kristiansand. All students must therefore be prepared for a certain amount of travel time in connection with the study programme.

Contact person Study programme coordinator Anne Brita Thorød (anne.b.thorod@uia.no)