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Local Welfare Development

Semester 1 · 51087 · Bachelor in Social Work · 12CP · DE · IT


The module will provide an analysis of local welfare systems: models, historical evolution, and institutional framework within the Italian context and the Autonomous Province. Focus on social programming and processes of social evaluation and reporting.

Lecturers: Federica Viganò, Sabina Frei, Marco Accorinti

Teaching Hours: 90
Lab Hours: 0
Mandatory Attendance: In accordance with the regulation

Course Topics
In-depth study of social policy and governance models. Case studies.

Teaching format
Lectures will also be supported by digital teaching tools. Seminars with external experts will be organized.

Educational objectives
The course aims to provide a fundamental and critical examination of the conditions and practices of local welfare production from a multilevel perspective. It will also provide foundational knowledge of the main aspects of planning and evaluation of social policies and services. In particular, it will offer: - basic knowledge about welfare production in a multilevel system, focusing in particular on the actors, the spaces and the sectors, especially in the local context or on their local configuration; - fundamental knowledge to be able to evaluate and monitor social work; - reflection on information systems and on the evaluation approaches currently applied in the field of social work. Approaches and techniques for monitoring and evaluating interventions in social work will be introduced and explored in the workshops. The course offers a general overview of scientific content, but it is also designed to acquire skills and knowledge useful for addressing professional issues.

Assessment
The exam consists of a written part and an oral part, each contributing 50% to the final grade. During the course, guidance will be provided for both the written part (which may also be taken during the year through supplementary intermediate tests) and the oral part. The final exam will integrate both the written and oral parts.

Evaluation criteria
Acquisition and discussion of the taught content, as well as understanding and use of it in relation to professional issues and problems. In the written work, attention is paid to referencing specialized literature, logical structure, clear argumentation, critical analysis skills, and formal correctness. In the oral exam, particular attention is given to communication and reflection skills. Another criterion concerns active participation in the course through an overall assessment that takes into account the following elements: attendance at lessons, contribution during discussions, individual commitment in group work, reflections or feedback provided, participation in online forums and discussions, and direct observations during the lessons. Module weighting: Module 1 50%, Module 2a+2b 50%.

Required readings

modulo 1

Böllert, K. (Hrsg.) (2011). Soziale Arbeit Als Wohlfahrtsproduktion. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften

modulo 2a

U. De Ambrogio, Bertotti T., Merlini F., L’assistente sociale e la valutazione, Carocci, Roma, 2007. First and second part for attending students; the entire book for non-attending students.

modulo 2b 

Malley and Fernandez (2010), Measuring quality in social care services: theory and practice, Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics 81:4 2010 

Other readings

  • L. Altieri, Valutazione e Partecipazione. Per una metodologia interattiva e negoziale, Franco
  • Angeli, Milano, 2009
  • L. Bernardi, Percorsi di ricerca sociale. Conoscere, decidere, valutare, Carrocci, Roma, 2005
  • C. Bezzi, Il disegno della ricerca valutativa, Angeli, Milano, 2003
  • F. Ciucci, Valutazione delle politiche e dei servizi sociali, Franco Angeli, Milano, 2008
  • L. Fazzi, Servizio sociale riflessivo. Metodi e tecniche per gli assistenti sociali, Franco Angeli,
  • Milano, 2015
  • M. Maretti, Valutazione e politiche sociali, Aracne, Roma, 2015 
  • Obinger, H. & Schmidt, M. G. (Hrsg.) (2019). Handbuch Sozialpolitik. Wiesbaden: Springer VS.
  • Nothdurfter, Urban. (2011). Servizio sociale e politiche sociali: quali professionisti per quale welfare?. Autonomie locali e servizi sociali. XXXIV. 521 - 534


Supplementary readings

Further working literature in the form of specialist articles will be given or made available during the course.

  • Merlo, G. (2014). La programmazione sociale. Roma: Carocci.



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Sustainable Development Goals
This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the following Sustainable Development Goals.

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Modules

Semester 1 · 51087A · Bachelor in Social Work · 6CP · DE

Module A — Actors, Sectors and Spaces of Welfare

(1) Basic elements of different welfare regimes
(2) Welfare production as a complex practice in a multi-level system
(3) Actors of welfare production with an in-depth look at professionals and users
(4) Spaces of welfare production with an in-depth look at the local dimension
(5) Sectors of welfare production with an in-depth look at the interplay and areas of tension between them.

Lecturers: Sabina Frei

Teaching Hours: 45
Lab Hours: 0

Course Topics
(1) Analysis of welfare regimes and their impact on welfare production (2) The interaction between sectors, spaces, and actors in welfare production (3) Participation and shared responsibility in welfare production (4) Local design of welfare production within the framework of social planning (5) Particularities and challenges in different sectors of welfare production

Teaching format
Lectures, exercises, group work

Required readings

Böllert, K. (Hrsg.) (2011). Soziale Arbeit Als

Wohlfahrtsproduktion. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für

Sozialwissenschaften.

Dischler, A. & Kulke, D. (2021). Politische Praxis und Soziale Arbeit. Theorie, Empirie und Praxis politischer Sozialer Arbeit. Leverkusen-Opladen: Verlag Barbara Budrich.

Kazepov, Y. & Carbone, D. (2018). Che cos’è il welfare state?

Roma: Carocci.

Obinger, H. & Schmidt, M. G. (Hrsg.) (2019). Handbuch

Sozialpolitik. Wiesbaden: Springer VS.

Möhle, M. (2020). Sozialstaaten in der Europäischen Union. In: Europäische Sozialpolitik. Springer VS, Wiesbaden.

Nothdurfter, Urban. (2011). Servizio sociale e politiche sociali:

quali professionisti per quale welfare?. Autonomie locali e

servizi sociali. XXXIV. 521 - 534.



Supplementary readings

Campanini, A. (ed.) (2022). Dizionario di Servizio Sociale. Roma: Carocci Faber.



Semester 1 · 51087B · Bachelor in Social Work · 6CP · IT

Module B — Planning and Evaluation of Social Services

1.Examining evaluation system in social work (case studies)
2.How to build an activity plan (developing indicators, monitoring, evaluating, reporting)

Lecturers: Federica Viganò, Marco Accorinti

Teaching Hours: 30 h - Accorinti Marco 15 h - Viganò Federica
Lab Hours: 0

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