The course aims to introduce students to the fundamental concepts of social service and the welfare and social service systems within which it originated and evolved.
Social service are introduced as a profession, as a discipline and as an institutional resource.
We will explore the cultural foundations and values, the historical evolution, and the organizational forms within which it is implemented in the Italian social and institutional context will be explored.
Human needs and societal responses. Social service: origins and historical evolution, definition, objectives, method. The principles of social service: ethics and professional ethics; the Code of Ethics - Social policies, institutional frameworks and organizational models. The functioning of organizations. Definition of the general characters of organizational realities through the analysis of metaphors used in the literature on organizations. Organizational intervention in territorial social-health services as a specific area of the social worker's professional action with respect to the themes of teamwork, network work, matrix organization, and community development. The national and regional framework of health, social and welfare services. Citizens and services. The role of the professions in complex organizations and the place of the social worker in the planning process and in the different areas of the organization of social and health services.
Class attendance, participation in educational activities and individual study will enable the
student to:
- Know the historical origins and evolution of social work;
- Understand the current reality of the profession and the welfare system in light of its historical roots;
- Clarify goals and functions of the profession, to the point of identifying as comprehensive a definition of it as possible;
- Identify the values, operating principles, and attitudes that guide professional practice;
- Get to know the Code of ethics in its various parts;
- Be aware of the disciplinary, civil, criminal, and administrative responsibilities associated with professional practice;
- Apply theoretical principles to complex situations, addressing ethical dilemmas that arise in professional practice.
- Become acquainted with the functions that social workers perform in the different sectors and organizations in which the profession is practiced.
- Be introduced to an understanding of organizations and organizational cultures.
The goal is to provide students with the tools to learn about the organizational specifics of the context in which they will work and better understand the role of the social worker, as well as the duties associated with the profession.
Class lectures with slides will present the main topics of the course and will require the active involvement of students through questions, reflections and discussion.
Cases and situations presenting ethical dilemmas will be proposed, through texts or videos, in order to develop group discussions and identify possible paths for professional practice
INTRODUCTION
Social service as a profession and as a discipline. International definition of social service.
PART ONE: HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL FOUNDATIONS
Brief history of poverty and welfare in Europe from the Middle Ages to the Modern Age. Origins and development of social service in Anglo-Saxon countries and Italy. Evolution of social policies and the welfare system from the 1970s to the present. Reflections on social service today.
PART TWO: ETHICAL-VALUE FOUNDATIONS
Ethics and professional deontology. Values, operating principles, attitudes. Code of ethics for social workers. Ethical dilemmas: possible conflicts between values and principles. Case studies presenting complexities and dilemmas.
PART THREE: ORGANIZATION AND SOCIAL SERVICE
Needs and social service. Objectives, functions and activities of social workers in the different sectors and organizations in which they practice. Organizational activity in social services. Organizational dynamics and cultures.
Textbooks and reading materials for attending students
Biffi, F.; Pasini, A. Principi e fondamenti del servizio sociale, Erickson, Trento, 2022 (nuova edizione) da pag. 15 a pag. 188
Campanini A. (a cura di), Gli ambiti di intervento del servizio sociale, Carocci, Roma, 2020 (nuova edizione)
- capitoli 1-9 pp. 5-196
- capitoli 11-14 pp. 217-292
Gui, L. (a cura di), Organizzazione e servizio sociale, Carocci, Roma, 2009
Knowledge of the following documents is required:
- Global Definition of Social Work (IFSW, IASSW, Melbourne, 2014)
- Global Social Work Statement of Ethical Principles (IFSW, IASSW, Dublin, 2018)
- Codice Deontologico degli Assistenti Sociali (CNOAS, Roma, 2020)
- Legge 8 novembre 2000 n. 328 “Legge quadro per la realizzazione del sistema integrato di interventi e servizi sociali”
Other materials will be quoted during the lectures and posted on aulaweb.
Textbooks and possible reading materials for non-attending students.
The same texts and papers given for frequent attendees with the following additional text:
Cutini, R. Promuovere la democrazia. Storia degli assistenti sociali nell’Italia del secondo dopoguerra (1944-1960), Viella, Roma, 2018
Ricevimento: Starting from September 17, the office hours will be held on Wednesdays from 9 to 11 a.m., room 3A7, DISFOR, unless otherwise indicated on AulaWeb, For work, health, or geographical reasons, meetings can be held online.
EMANUELA ABBATECOLA (President)
CAROLA ANDREA MIRANDA MIRANDA (President)
I semester from September 14th to December 4th 2020 II semester from February 15th to May 7th 2021
The examinwill be an oral
Exam questions will be designed in such a way as to test the acquisition of not only descriptive but also argumentative knowledge and skills.
One question will be proposed for each of the following four areas:
1. Origins and evolution of social work
2. Ethics and professional ethics
3. The Code of ethics for social workers
4. Organization and social service
Students who have valid certification of disability or Specific Learning Desorders (DSA) on file with the University may request the use of compensatory measures during the exams (e.g. additional time, concept maps, modifications in the written/oral mode), following the guidelines (p. 5) published here. In any case, for further information, please contact the Department's disability liaison: Isa.Fanlo@unige.it
