Health and social workers, deacons, and other professionals who work closely with people will, in their work, meet individuals who have experienced loss. The content of this course will be based mainly on knowledge about bereaved and close relatives’ experiences of grief related to sudden and unexpected death. Through the subject, knowledge from this field will be made visible as applicable in other bereavement support work as well.
Health and social workers, deacons, and other professionals who work closely with people will, in their work, meet individuals who have experienced loss. The content of this course will be based mainly on knowledge about bereaved and close relatives’ experiences of grief related to sudden and unexpected death. Through the subject, knowledge from this field will be made visible as applicable in other bereavement support work as well.
The aim of the course is for students to be able to understand their professional role in bereavement support work and to develop the knowledge necessary to meet bereaved people and their close relatives. This includes being able to meet the immediate needs of people in mourning and being able to assess what further assistance they can be offered. The subject will be based on a family perspective, where the follow-up of children, young people, and adult carers’ grief will be particularly thematized.
Throughout the course, students will be able to further develop their competence through an introduction to relevant theory and through critical reflection on how one can contribute to supporting people in grieving processes who have different ages, life situations, cultural backgrounds, religions, and different relationships with their families and networks.
Main Subjects
- newer theories about crises and bereavement support
- meeting with people in grief and crisis, with a particular focus on children, young people and their carers
- taboos and stigmas linked to the loss of loved ones, with a particular emphasis on suicide or drug-related death
- rituals and procedures in addition to legislation around cremation and burial
- self-care for helpers in bereavement support work
- cooperation with user organisations and people with user experience in bereavement work
Work and Teaching Methods
The course will emphasise working and teaching methods that promote the integration of theory and one’s own experience. At the lectures, students will receive instruction through lectures and group work. Between these sessions, students are expected to interact with the subject matter independently.
- Lectures
- Exercises and reflections
Compulsory activities
- Written work requirements
- Attendance at course meetings, lectures, and related gatherings
Assessment
- Individual written assignment, 3 days
- Grade: A-F
Target group
Ukrainian refugees who have worked as therapists in Ukraine. Secondary, Ukrainian refugees with work experience regarding communication with people in difficult life situations.
Teaching program
The course is specially designed to Ukrainian therapists who have fled to Norway, and the teaching will be provided Tuesdays from 09.00 –11.00. The major part of the lectures will be translated to Ukrainian language. In addition to weekly online lectures, the student must calculate time for written work requirements and an individual home exam.
Reading list
MASOS-417 Bereavement support [2023-H]
Facts
Credits: 10 ects
Deadline for applications: June 4, 2023
Start: June 20, 2023, Time: 0900-1100
Online course
Admission requirements
A completed three-year bachelor’s degree is required. Any admission to a master's in social work takes place according to the master study’s admission requirements.
The course will be taught in spring 2023/autumn 2023. Ukrainian students who do not have the opportunity to obtain a diploma can, on completion of the course, receive a course certificate without credits.
Information regarding ranking of the applicants is not yet available.