Do you work with children and young people and would like to undertake further professional development at an academic level? If so, the University Certificate in Social Work in Residential Youth Care is the ideal further training programme for you! On this course, you will acquire skills and competences in working with children and young people in settings such as residential groups, care homes or similar facilities.
HSD Hochschule Döpfer developed this university certificate in collaboration with the youth care organisation GFB Potsdam. You will gain subject-specific expertise to support young people in a protected environment. You’ll play an active role in helping them overcome problems and, together with the children and young people, lay the foundations for an independent life. In addition, you’ll develop cross-disciplinary skills in communication techniques, advisory, care planning and addressing ethical issues. With this certificate, you’ll expand your skills set and boost your chances of career progression!
And the best part? Not only can you use the certificate as a professional development programme with numerous benefits for your professional practice – it also counts as a module towards our degree programme in Social Work!
Language of instruction: German
Type of further education: University certificate
Duration: 2 semesters
Qualification: University certificate worth 20 ECTS
Number of students: maximum 30 per semester
Organisation: The certificate programme is delivered in a hybrid format.
The module ‘Reflection and Current Developments in Youth Welfare’ consists of three one-and-a-half-day face-to-face sessions (usually in Potsdam). All other modules consist of online sessions (on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6.30 pm to 9.00 pm) as well as intensive sessions (on Fridays from 1.00 pm to 5.30 pm and on Saturdays from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm).
Each of these modules comprises one intensive weekend and four evening sessions. In addition, there are self-study sessions, and participants have access via a learning platform to materials such as text documents, videos, presentations and the like.
Cost: €2,250.
This includes participation in all sessions, access to the comprehensive seminar materials, the examination fee and support from experienced university lecturers.
Upon request, the cost can be split into six instalments of €375 each.
If you have any questions regarding fees, discounts, grants or funding, please feel free to contact our Financial advisory serviceat any time.
Organisation and structure
The specialisation of the certificate programme focuses on closely integrating theory and practice, which is why it involves a relatively high proportion of face-to-face sessions. During these sessions, participants practise various methods, such as transactional analysis, client-centred communication/theme-centred interaction and peer advisory. These practical sessions are supplemented by online sessions, (self-organised) study groups and a comprehensive course handbook.
The certificate programme is largely linked to ourBA in Social Work degree programmeand, as such, 15 ECTS credits can largely be transferred towards it! It consists of three compulsory modules, in which you will address specific issues relating to residential youth care, as well as two optional modules, one of which you must pass.
Module content
1. Reflection and current developments in youth welfare (compulsory module)
- In one session at the start and one at the end of the university certificate programme, you will first receive an introduction, get to know each other and your fellow participants, and finally present your final project. You will also provide evidence of participation in subject-related further training, e.g. with our practice partner GFB Potsdam.
2. Social work with adolescents and young adults (compulsory module)
- Learn more about specific areas of practice in child and youth welfare in both residential and outreach settings, the challenges faced by young people as they grow from late childhood into adulthood, and the transition from school to working life. To conclude, you will give a short presentation on a field of social work (you are welcome to choose your own).
3. Case Work and Case Management (compulsory module)
- You will acquire practical skills in care planning, case management, collaboration with various funding bodies, etc., and apply your expertise in a case study at the end of the module.
4. Communication and Advisory (optional module)
- In this module, you will explore the fundamentals of communication within educational teams and develop skills in (collegial) Advisory – from which you will devise a practical application concept that you will present in a short talk.
5. Professional and Academic Ethics (optionalmodule)
- You will reflect on issues of closeness and distance in youth welfare and gain knowledge of children’s rights and the need for boundaries within educational relationships. You will apply the content in practice through a case study at the end of the module.
The university certificate is primarily aimed at educational skilled professionals, in particular nursery teachers and special needs care workers, who have recently started working in (residential) youth care. The certificate is also aimed at all skilled professionals who wish to undertake further professional development and expand their skills.
Entry requirements therefore include a (professionally acquired) qualification for university entry, as well as initial trainingineducation and current employment in the field of residential youth care.
