Service System and Legislation in Social and Health Care (3 cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Objective

The aim of the course is understanding the healthcare and social services system and the legislation that governs it.

Competences:

Ethics (common for all)
Sustainable development (common for all)

Social service system competences (Degree Programme in Social Services)
Rehabilitation service system (Degree Programme in Rehabilitation Counselling)
Advocacy and promotion of occupational therapy services (Degree Programme in Occupational Therapy)
Professional and interprofessional action (Degree Programme in Physiotherapy)

Intended learning outcomes:

You know the principles and values of professional ethics in your field and are able to link them to the service system and legislation. You know how to promote equality and non-discrimination and account for the realisation of diversity and accessibility in the service system.

You are able to use information related to your field to find sustainable solutions and operating models for the service system.

You are familiar with the Social Welfare Act, the Health Care Act and the legislation that safeguards the status and rights of clients. You are familiar with the ways in which wellbeing services counties’, municipalities’, and private and third sectors’ social, health and education services are organised and provided, and how guidance and supervision are arranged. You understand the significance of the service system as part of social security and social sustainability.

Content

The core content of the course comprises understanding the healthcare and social services system and the legislation that governs it.

Students also explore the values and principles that guide the service system as well as the client's participation and agency in the service system.

Location and time

The course will take place entirely online from 12.1.-15.3.2026 in scheduled webinars.

Materials

FINLEX. Up-to-date legislation, e.g. the Health Care Act and the Social Welfare Act..
Ihalainen, Jarmo, Kettunen Terttu. Turvaverkko vai trampoliini; sosiaaliturvan mahdollisuudet. WSOYpro, 2016.
Laaksonen, H., Laitinen, H. & Hiilamo, H. 2020. Sosiaali- ja terveydenhuollon järjestelmä. Sanoma Pro Oy.
Sosiaali- ja terveysalan eettinen perusta. 2011. Valtakunnallinen sosiaali- ja terveysalan eettinen neuvottelukunta ETENE.

Teaching methods

The course uses online- teaching (webinars), learning assignments, independent study alone and in groups as teaching and learning methods. During the course you will keep a learning diary reflecting on the topics studied.

For all webinars you will come prepared according to the instructions given in advance. You will work in small groups in the webinars according to the topic to be covered. Webinars are interactive learning situations.

Exam schedules

During the course, you will work with a partner on a written learning task. A detailed timetable for the assignment can be found in the course Moodle.

Completion alternatives

You can apply for admission with previous equivalent higher education studies (content/objectives/extent). You can also apply for admission if you have an undergraduate degree in social and health care (e.g. practical nurse) and at least six months of work experience in social and health care. Please note that experience in fields such as early childhood education or youth work is not accepted. In this case, your competence will be demonstrated by a learning assignment as part of the course. Please discuss your competences with your tutor and, if necessary, submit an e-application as soon as possible at the beginning of the course.

Student workload

Webinars 3 x 4 h and preparation 3 x 3 h = 21 h
Learning task (pair work) 35 h
Independent work 25 h

Total 81 h = 3 credits

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

1= You are able to describe the social welfare and healthcare service system and name acts that govern it. You are able to describe what the client's participation and agency in the service system mean and which values and principles guide the service system.

2= You are able to describe the social welfare and healthcare service system and give examples of it. You are able to define acts governing the service system. You are able to explain what the client's participation and agency in the service system mean and which values and principles guide the service system.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

3= You are able to present the social welfare and healthcare service system and give examples of it. You are able to apply acts governing the service system. You are able to explain what the client's participation and agency in the service system mean and which values and principles guide the service system. You are able to explain how the above-mentioned matters are manifested in practice.

4= You are able to present and justify the social welfare and healthcare service system and interpret the legislation that governs it. You are able to analyse what the client's participation and agency in the service system mean and which values and principles guide the service system. You are able to justify how the above-mentioned matters are manifested in practice.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

5= You are able to present and justify the social welfare and healthcare service system and evaluate the legislation that governs it. You are able to analyse what the client's participation and agency in the service system mean and which values and principles guide the service system. You are able to justify how the above-mentioned matters are manifested in practice. You are able to link themes to a broader societal context.

Further information

The course grade consists of a numerical learning task assessed on a scale of 0-5. The learning task includes a self-assessment part.