Social Work in Welfare System

Study:	Social Work - 6. semester
Code:	43946
ECTS:	3.0
Course coordinators:	prof. dr. sc. Nino Žganec
Exam dates:	01. 02. 2024. 15. 02. 2024. 18. 04. 2024. 13. 06. 2024. 27. 06. 2024. 11. 07. 2024. 29. 08. 2024. 12. 09. 2024. Exam registration: Studomat

Literature:
Puljiz, V., Bežovan, G., Šućur, Z., Zrinščak, S., Žganec, N. i Balaband, A.; Decentralizacija socijalnih službi: nacrt modela; Revija za socijalnu politiku, 10 (1) (2003), str. 69-83 Puljiz, V. i Žganec, N.; Sustav socijalne pomoći i socijalne skrbi; Ured za strategiju razvitka Republike Hrvatske (2002), str Kaliterna Lipovčan, Lj. i Dahl, S. A.; Employment policies and welfare reform; Institut društvenih znanosti Ivo Pilar (2002), str Žganec, N. i Kujundžić, M.; Djeca i institucijska skrb; Dijete i društvo: časopis za promicanje prava djeteta, 5 (2/3) (2003), str. 189-203 Žganec, N.; Socijalna skrb u Hrvatskoj - smjerovi razvoja i reformi; Revija za socijalnu politiku 15 (3) (2008), str. 379-393 Zakon o socijalnoj skrbi; Narodne novine, 157/2013., str Šućur, Z.; Razvoj socijalne pomoći i socijalne skrbi u Hrvatskoj nakon Drugoga svjetskog rata; Revija za socijalnu politiku, 10 (1) (2003), str. 1-22
Optional literature:
O'Connor, I., Hughes, M., Turney, D., Wilson, J. i Setterlund, D.; Social Work and Social Care Practice; Sage Publications Ltd. (2006), str

Description:

Students will receive basic information about the activity of social workers within the social welfare system in the Republic of Croatia and EU countries. Through the outline of specific features of the roles and functions that social workers have within social welfare system, and a comparative outline of the EU countries, the students will be enabled to enter the labour market fully informed, and to critically evaluate activities within which most social workers find employment.

Course description

Terminological definitions: social policy, social security, social welfare, social work
Social welfare system in the Republic of Croatia - legal context
Specific roles and functions of social workers within the social welfare system
Parts of social welfare system in the Republic of Croatia
Social work and users of social welfare system
Comparative outline of activities of social workers within the social welfare system of other countries
Specific features of the activity of social workers within the social welfare system in relation to relevant sectors
Career opportunities for social workers employed within the social welfare system
Reforms of social welfare system and the role of social workers in them

Cognitive Skills:

After successfully completing the course, students will be able to:

1. define main areas of work and relevant elements within Croatian social welfare system

2. explain aspects of functioning of different social welfare institutions andthe roles of social workers in them

3. select appropriate strategies of prešaration and further education necessary for competent operatiion within social welfare system

4. compare different parts of social welfare system in the Republic of Croatia and characteristics of comparative systems in selected EU countries, as well as characteristics of social workers within them

5. plan personal career development within the Croatian social welfare system

6. assess possibilities of the development of social work within social welfare system in performing different functions this profession has

7. prepare for a competent lifelong learning process and acquisition of information necessary for the operation within social welfare system

8. evaluate good and bad sides of activity of social workers in the social welfare system of the Republic of Croatia and selected EU countries

Practical and Generic Skills:

General generic skills

After successfully completing the course, students will gain:

1. ability to understand the social welfare system

2. ability of independent professional work

2. ability to plan and manage career development

4. ability to adjust to a new situation

5. ability to make appropriate decisions on the basis of acquired knowledge

6. ability of critical assessment of different roles and functions of professionals in the social welfare system

Matching Assessments to Learning Outcomes:

1.1. Written examination / 2 mid-term examinations - Levels 1-3

1.2. Oral examination: reporting about a certain aspect of social welfare system or characteristics of social work in that system - Levels 2-5.

Written examination may be passed through two mid-term examinations each of which covers one half of the course contents. Mid-term examinations can amount to the maximum of 10 points, and the grading system is as follows:

0-4 points - insufficient (1)

5 points - sufficient (2)

6-7 points - good (3)

9-9 points - very good (4)

10 points - excellent (5)

Written examination for students who did not pass through mid-term examinations consists of 15 questions, each of which carries 1 point, and the grade is calculated according to the following scale:

0-7 points - insufficient (1)

8-9 points - sufficient (2)

10-11 points - good (3)

12-13 points - very good (4)

14-15 points - excellent (5)

Oral examination consists of reporting about a selected aspect of the operation of social welfare system or characteristics of social work practice in that system. The level of preparation, the skill of integrating knowledge from various sources, the manner of expression, the usage of professional terms and expression of the student's critical attitude are evaluated.

Final grade is calculated as an arithemtic mean of grades for written and oral examinations.

Consultations schedule: