Course content

The subject provides an introduction to welfare legislation which is essential for social workers' application of the law in future professional practice, including the requirements for case management. The Child Welfare Act and the Social Services Act and associated regulations therefore have a central place in the curriculum and teaching activities. In addition, social workers must be familiar with relevant provisions in other welfare laws in order to be able to carry out their tasks in work with individuals and families. This applies to, among other things, the Children's Act, the Guardianship Act, the Education Act, the Immigration Act, the Integration Act, the National Insurance Act and health legislation. The student will learn to identify legal issues in complex social work cases. When reviewing relevant legislation, the importance of human rights will be highlighted, including the Constitution's provisions on human rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the ECHR. Legal and professional judgment is also emphasized. The professional practice of sociologists is characterized by fundamental values ​​and political objectives which must safeguard the rights and legal certainty of vulnerable groups. The area is therefore strictly regulated by law, and an important part of the subject is the requirements for sound case management.

Learning outcome

Knowledge - the student has:

• knowledge of how to proceed in order to be able to take a position on legal issues that are relevant for social workers
• knowledge of key welfare laws; including in-depth knowledge of the Social Services Act and the Child Protection Act
• knowledge of the importance of human rights for the individual's rights and duties under welfare law, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the ECHR
• knowledge of rights and duties, competence and special administrative law
• knowledge of human rights and national legislation that contributes to securing the rights of minorities, including the position of the Sami population as indigenous people

Skills - the student can:

• identify the requirements for the legal basis for decisions according to relevant welfare laws
• identify and solve current welfare law issues based on legal methodology

General competence - the student can:

• communicate welfare law issues and see these in the context of social work issues
• can work with welfare law issues related to social work

Learning methods and activities

The learning activity will consist of lectures with solutions to legal issues based on practical cases, and discussions and reflections on these in plenary. Some of the teaching material will be posted on the learning platform in the form of videos, articles and other relevant material. Students must expect some self-studies before and after lectures.

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

Students must have passed all exams in the first semester and 45 credits in the program in order to take the exam in this course.

The course has study rights requirements. This means that the course is reserved for students admitted to the programme Bachelor in Social Work at NTNU.

Course materials

Will be published on Blackboard at the start of the course