Aftercare for Young People with experiences of Public Care

The course is a second cycle course and is part of a Blended Intensive Program (BIP). The course is also given as a free-standing course.

To be eligible for the course a Bachelor´s degree in Social Work of 180 credits is required (included in a Bachelor or Science in Social Work), alternatively a Bachelor´s degree in a related topics. Furthermore, English skills are required equivalent to English B/English 6.

The main objective of the course is to provide a deepened and scientific knowledge about support for young people leaving public care in different countries.

Young people who have experienced living in foster care, residential care, or have received support from child welfare services while living with their parents often require public support during their transition to adulthood. This type of support is commonly referred to as aftercare and is organized differently in various countries. This course aims to enhance understanding of how aftercare can be provided and organized, drawing on competence across different countries.

As a blended intensive program (BIP), the course covers the following subjects:

• Aftercare practices in different countries
• Research about aftercare
• Support for especially vulnerable groups in the leaving care population
• Organization of aftercare
• Interventions and support measures in aftercare
• Relationships with biological- and foster family and other carers
• Comparative studies

After completion of the course the student is expected to:

Knowledge and understanding:

• Discuss recent research in the field of aftercare
• Discuss relevant interventions for care leavers and support need for vulnerable groups
• Discuss the complex relationships experienced by young people with a background from public care including relationships to parents and carers

Competence and skills:

• Analyse differences in aftercare practice

• Argue for different aftercare practices based on the scientific knowlege base

Judgement and Approach

• Critically examine theoretical and professional issues within the field from an international and comparative perspective

• Assess opportunities and challenges related to professional practice in aftercare

• Online activities
• Lectures and seminar on campus
• Group activities

Overall, the course is conducted over a period of seven weeks. The compulsory components are:

• Online seminars and teaching over a six week period (part-time)
• Intensive week (campus based; full-time)

Medium of instruction: English

A written assignment and oral presentation in groups during the intensive week.

The student’s presentation is graded with Pass (G) or Fail (U). The written assignment is graded with Pass with distinction (VG), Pass (G) and Fail (U). If any examinating element receives the grade Fail (U) but is judged to be close to the limit for the grade Pass (G), supplementation is allowed.

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local rules regarding RIU students at the University of Gothenburg.

The course is graded using a three-point grading scale: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G), and Fail (U).

To obtain Pass with Distinction (VG), the student must be awarded VG on the written assignment.

The results of and possible changes to the course will be shared with students who participated in the evaluation and students who are starting the course.