PDIMS25HKI Professional Skills for Working in Diversity Settings (5cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Objective

The students will be able to:
• reflect on their own personal background and be sensitive to different service users in a diversity context
• develop skills in anti-oppressive practice and human rights-based approach in relation to oppressed individuals, groups and communities
• understand concepts in relation to sexual orientation, gender diversity and gender sensitivity in social work
• understand interfaith dialogue, diversity in religions and spirituality in social work
• familiarise themselves with multicultural competences and intercultural communication in different work settings

Content

Contents:
• Self-reflection in a diversity context
• Anti-oppressive practice and human rights-based approach
• Sexual orientation, gender diversity, gender sensitivity
• Interfaith dialogue, diversity in religions and spirituality in social work
• Multicultural competences and intercultural communication in different work settings

Location and time

As in schedule: https://lukujarjestykset.diak.fi/

Materials

COMPULSORY STUDY MATERIAL:

All lecture material. One self-chosen novel from the book list.

HUMAN RIGHTS BASED APPROACH

Steen, J. A., Mann, M., Restivo, N., Mazany, S. & Chapple, R. (2017).Human Rights: Its Meaning and Practice in Social Work Field Settings.National Association of Social Workers, 62(1), 9-17. Ebscohost Academic Search Premier.

Human Rights in Health and Social Care Services. [Video]. Youtube. (3min 16s) https://youtu.be/9noiJnloIKc?si=mmdqY-UI1c65Su2E

ANTI-OPPRESSIVE PRACTICE

Neves, S. (2025). Working with LGBTQ+ people in our current society: Developing an anti-oppressive practice. European Journal of Psychotherapy & Counselling, 1–15.

Critical concept: Anti oppressive practice. [Video]. Youtube. (9min 32s) https://youtu.be/yX7Oz7ir-IE

GENDER DIVERSITY AND SEXUAL IDENTITY:

Healy, J. (ed.) (2022) Sexual identity and gender diversity. The Spinney Press.

Read the following article from chapter 2: International human rights law and sexual orientation and gender diversity

SPIRITUALITY:

Crisp, B. (2016).Contemporary Social Work Studies: Spirituality and Social Work. Farnham: Ashgate. Ebook Central (ProQuest)

Read chapter 2: Social Work and Spirituality, (pp. 23-32)

INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION AND COMPETENCIES

Azzopardi, C., & McNeill, T. (2016). From Cultural Competence to Cultural Consciousness: Transitioning to a Critical Approach to Working Across Differences in Social Work. Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 25(4), 282–299. https://doi-org.anna.diak.fi/10.1080/15313204.2016.1206494

Teaching methods

Study module follows blended learning including orientation, lectures, independent learning, supervision and exam.

Attendance to the orientation is compulsory in order to start the course. Attendance to the exam is compulsory.

Completion alternatives

Alternative way of completing the study module is only possible upon specific circumstances/criteria (i.e. sickness etc.). Personal reasons such as travel and work are not considered as acceptable criteria.

Alternative way of completing the study module must be agreed with the responsible teacher and/or study guidance counselor two weeks before the beginning of the study module the latest.

In this study module, the alternative way of completing the course contains an extensive written assignment or participation in a pre-agreed work-life related project or similar.

Student workload

Orientation 5h
Lectures 12h
Supervision and self-reflection on diversity issues 14h
Exam and course feedback 8h
Independent study (novel, study material) 90h
Use of Diakle, course feedback survey, communication 6h
= 135h

Further information

The study module requires skills to use Diak´s online learning area.
Diak guidelines are followed in AHOT / RPL process.
No previous studies are required.