MS1-323 Collaboration – service users and the professional

Contents and structure

The course focuses on interactions and collaboration with patients and service users with long-term, complex needs. Through their work with theoretical concepts and research, students will gain in-depth knowledge of how patients and service users may experience illness, health issues, social challenges and disabilities. The course also draws attention to challenges and resources in different phases of life and life transitions, and what close relatives and social networks mean to the patient or service user and for interactions with health, care and social welfare services. Knowledge of resource mobilisation, user involvement and participation, autonomy, power, powerlessness and empowerment constitute a central part of the study.

The course focuses on the role of professional helper in interaction with the service user, the service user’s network and the volunteer sector, and in cross-professional interactions. There will be emphasis on a contextual approach and the implications of perspectives on the human being and institutional frameworks for interaction. A professional helper role that is autonomous, resource-oriented, solution-oriented, and capable of preparing coordinated and individualised services will also be highlighted. Key topics include an understanding of relationships and relational competence, as well as professional judgement and professional ethics. The course will focus on analysing interactions between the professional helper and patient/service user in the complex health, care and social welfare system, preparing research questions, and posing critical questions about established practice and existing knowledge.

Learning Outcome

Students who complete this course will achieve the following overall learning outcomes defined by knowledge, skills and general competencies:

Knowledge:

Students will have...

• advanced knowledge of the patient and service user roles, user involvement and empowerment.
• in-depth knowledge of what characterises patient and service user experiences and needs from a contextual development and life phase perspective.
• advanced knowledge of various perspectives on interaction between helpers and patient/service users, patient and service user networks, and cross-professional situations.
• in-depth knowledge of ethics and professional judgement as part of their professional practice with patients and service users, and in cross-professional interaction.

Skills:

Students will be able to ...

• analyse conditions for patient/service user involvement and the empowerment of service users with complex, long-term needs.
• critically reflect on what family members and support network mean to patients and service users, and facilitate cooperation with and support for the network.
• mobilise patient/service user participation and involvement.
• identify and discuss, in collaboration with the patient/service user and support network, their resources and needs from a contextual development and life phase perspective.
• analyse and critically reflect on their own role as professional practitioners illuminated by ethical and professional perspectives.
• prepare and facilitate coordinated and individualised services within the framework of health, care and social welfare services, in collaboration with patients/service users, their support networks and the professional team.

General competencies:

Students will be able to ...

• critically reflect on, analyse and facilitate good interactions in the complex health, care and social welfare system.
• use scientific literature on interactions between patients/service users and professional helpers to analyse relevant issues.
• use knowledge-based arguments in discussion on interactions in health, care and social
• welfare services at the individual and group levels.

Entry requirements

None

Teaching methods

In the course there are different teaching and learning activities. In the sessions there will be lectures, groupwork and seminar with presentation and discussion. In between the sessions, it is expected that the student allocate time to the written work individually and in groups, digital forms of learning and self-study.

Compulsory learning activities

The following mandatory learning activities must be approved before students can take the exam.

1. Submit a paper with a minimum of 1500 words by a specified deadline.
2. Participation in the seminar with presentations, peer feedback and feedback from the teacher.

Assessment

Paper

Individual paper: 3500 words +/- 10%

Grading system

Grading scale with letter grades from A to F, where A to E are passing grades and F is fail.

New exam

If failed exam (F) the student submits a revised, written assignment to the new exam.

Examination support material

Allowed

More about examination support material