Study Guide

Objective

Students are able to define the concept of empowerment and describe how it is related to critical social work theories.
They know how to analyse social mechanisms behind marginalisation and analyse structures and processes which produce inequality and disadvantage on regional, national and international level. Students analyze practices, structures and processes which produce and maintain marginalisation, inequality and lack of engagement and power in society, welfare services and social work. Students recognise needs for empowering social work in the clients' lives, work communities and in social work responsibilities. They are familiar with empowering social work methods. Students can describe what kind of conflicts may emerge in empowering work processes and what kind of solutions there are to solve them. Students are prepared to plan and evaluate a social work process, in which empowering methods are used and sustainable development promoted. Students can critically analyse their attitudes and opinions. In working with clients, they can reflect their own individual values and ethical views.

Content

- the concept of empowerment
- critical social work theories
- marginalization, inequality and disadvantage in society
- promoting empowerment in client work, social welfare organizations and society
- empowering methods in social work
- planning and evaluating a process of empowering social work
- empowering work and sustainable development
- evaluation of one's values and action

Materials

Kam, P. K. 2020. Strengthening the empowerment approach in social work practice: An EPS model. Journal of Social Work, 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468017320911348. Access through SeAMK computer network or SeAMK remote access.

Payne, M. 2014. Modern social work theory. 4th edition. New York: Macmillan International, Higher education. Parts: 11-14.

Skene, K.R. 2021. What is the Unit of Empowerment? An Ecological Perspective. British Journal of Social Work, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcab012.

One of these:
Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control.
Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory.
Bandura, A. (1995). Self-efficacy in changing societies.

Teaching methods

Lectures, simulation of different participative methods, group guiding

Evaluation scale

1-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The students can define the concept of empowerment and describe the core content of the critical social theories underpinning it. They can describe such practices, processes and structures in society, service systems and social work that produce and maintain marginalization, inequality, lack of power and participation. They recognize the connections of these factors with ecosocial sustainability. The students are able to describe the needs, for empowering social lwork and the power structures in the lives of the service users as well as in the social work organizations and practices. The students are able to describe their own social work practice and the values behind it, and raise questions concerning value conflicts that they have experienced in social work practice and name structural factors connected to them.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

In addition, the students are able to reflect on the concept of empowerment from many perspectives and connect it to practical work and empowering methods.They can reflect the structural and social factors connected to their own values and the value conflicts they have experienced.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

In addition, the students are able to reflect critically and comprehensively on the marginalizing processes in the lives of service users, in social work organisations and in social work profession. They are able to analyse it by applying critical theories. They ae able to apply empowering social work methods in the case example in a creative way and describe the use of the methods in detail, taking into account the ecosocial sustainability. They can analyse and assess critically both their own actions and the professional practices of social work from the perspective of empowering goals of social work. They are able to assess the empowering approach in relation to the other possible approaches in social work.

Qualifications

Students of the Degree Programme in Social Services:: Basic studies of the degree programme

Further information

Finnish students can choose between this course and the following courses:
- Communication and Media in Social Work
- Structural Social Work
- Community-Oriented Social Work