OVERVIEW

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.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

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.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Attending classes, participating in training activities, and individual study will enable students to:
• Understand the historical origins and evolution of social work;
• Understand the objectives, functions, and current role of the profession in the welfare system, in light of its historical roots;
• Understand the various parts of the Code of Ethics;
• Identify the values, principles, ethical dilemmas, and attitudes that guide professional practice;
• Professional autonomy, duties, mandates, and responsibilities of the social worker;
• Understand the relevant legislation (in particular Law 328/2000, Regional Law 12/2006, the National Plan of Interventions and Social Services, and the Regional Integrated Social Plan) and the main sources of funding (state, regional, municipal, and users co-financing);
• Understand the current structure of services (from Territorial Social Services to specialized healthcare services to the third sector) and the role social workers play within them.
• Understand issues related to organizational culture.
The goal is to provide students with the tools to understand 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.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.

TEACHING METHODS

The course will see the alternation of frontal lessons and moments of active involvement of students. A discussion will be activated on the topics covered and exercises and group work will be activated to experiment and therefore consolidate the knowledge covered by the teaching. Service experts will be involved with reference to the current structure of social and socio-health services.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Part One: Historical and Cultural Foundations
A brief history of social care and the cultural and organizational evolution of social work in Anglo-Saxon countries and in Italy. The evolution of social policies and the welfare system from the 1970s to the present. Reflections on social work today.

Part Two: Ethical and Value-Based Foundations
The code of ethics for social workers: the values, principles, ethical dilemmas, and attitudes that guide professional practice. Professional autonomy, duties, mandates, and responsibilities of social workers.

Part Three: Organization of Services
Relevant legislation (in particular Law 328/2000, Regional Law 12/2006, the National Plan of Interventions and Social Services, and the Regional Integrated Social Plan) and main funding sources (state, regional, municipal, and users co-financing). The current structure of services (from Territorial Social Areas to specialized healthcare services to the third sector) and the role social workers play within them. Issues related to organizational culture.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Students who do not speak Italian may ask for texts in English.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

I semester

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam will primarily be oral, unless the number of registered students makes it impossible to carry out an effective evaluation by the scheduled date.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam questions will be designed to test the acquisition of knowledge and skills not only in descriptive but also in argumentative terms on each part of the program.

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 published here: https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/modulistica