Social Security (4 cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Objective

The purpose of the course is to understand the social security system as a whole, especially from the perspective of financial security.

Competences:

Competence in social client work
Social service system competences

Learning outcomes:

You are able to provide goal-oriented support to clients in their daily lives in various financial difficulties and strengthen their financial capacity. You can document decisions and other documents related to client work, taking into account information security and privacy requirements.

You understand the principles of social security and are familiar with and able to act in accordance with the legislation governing social security. You can recognise the importance of financial security in service counselling.

Content

The course focuses on the principles and legislation governing social security. The course examines social insurance, social assistance, basic social assistance and other supplementary social assistance as part of social security. The course introduces the methods and principles of financial social work and examines the documentation of decisions and other documents.

Location and time

The course will be delivered non-stop between 1.9. and 31.7.2026.

The last date for returning assignments is 31.7.2026, after which no further returns will be accepted.

Materials

Sosiaaliturvan valinnat ja perusperiaatteet. Sosiaaliturvakomitean raportti. Sosiaaliturvakomitean julkaisuja 2022:5.

Sosiaaliturvakomitean välimietintö 2023. Valtioneuvoston julkaisuja 2023:23.

Viitasalo K. 2021. Taloudellisen kyvykkyyden vahvistaminen ja mekanismit sosiaalityössä. Julkaisussa

Matthies, A.-L., Svenlin, A.-R., & Turtiainen, K. toim. 2021. Aikuissosiaalityö : tieto, käytäntö ja vaikuttavuus. Gaudeamus.

Zechner M., Karjalainen S., ja Viitasalo, K. toim. 2019. Avauksia taloussosiaalityöstä

Teaching methods

During the course, you will study independently in the Moodle learning environment and by completing the online course materials of Kela and Kanta services according to your own schedule. You will search for and read information, watch videos, do applied exercises and take exams based on the learning materials in Moodle independently. You will receive guidance through moodle messages sent by your teachers. If necessary, you can contact the course teachers by email. At the end of the course, you will be assessed on your learning.

Exam schedules

Part 1: reading the article and two video lectures
Part 2: exam
Part 3: Kela coaching programme, Kela rehabilitation online course, client case study/exam
Part 4: reading of article, exam
Part 5: Basic course in social care documention, online course on Kanta services

Detailed timetables can be found in the Moodle workspace.

Completion alternatives

You can apply for admission on the basis of previous equivalent higher education studies (content/objectives/extent). Discuss your studies with your tutor and, if necessary, submit an e-application form at least two weeks before the start of the course.

Student workload

Familiarisation with study material 87 hours
Completing exams, online courses and assignments 21 hours
Total 108 h

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

1= You are able to name the principles of social security and the legislation that governs it. You recognize income security as a part of social security. You can name social insurance, social assistance, basic social assistance and supplementary social assistance. You can name methods and principles of financial social work. You can determine how decisions are documented in an information-secure manner.

2= You can name the principles of social security and the legislation that governs it and give examples of them. You can explain income security as part of social security. You are able to define and give examples of social insurance, social assistance, basic social assistance and supplementary social assistance. You can name methods and principles of financial social work. You can determine how decisions are documented in an information-secure manner.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

3= You can define, explain and give examples of the principles and legislation governing social security. You can explain income support as part of social security. You can define and explain social insurance, social assistance, the basic social assistance and supplementary social assistance and give examples of the differences between these forms of assistance. You will be able to explain the methods and principles of financial social work and explain how to document income support decisions in an information-secure manner.

4= You can explain and justify the principles of social security and define the legislation governing it. You can examine income security from different perspectives as part of social security. You can compare the differences between social insurance, social assistance, basic social assistance and supplementary social assistance schemes and analyse their relevance from different perspectives. Be able to structure the methods and principles of financial social work as a whole and draw conclusions about the relevance of financial social work. You will be able to explain how decisions on income security are documented in a secure manner.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

5= You can explain and justify the principles of social security and define the legislation governing it. You can examine income security and its importance from several perspectives. You can compare the differences between social insurance, social assistance, the basic social assistance and supplementary social assistance schemes and analyse their relevance from different perspectives. You will be able to structure the methods and principles of financial social work as a whole and draw conclusions about the relevance of financial social work. You will be able to explain how decisions on income security are documented in an information secure manner. You will be able to identify needs for the development of income support systems and to evaluate, on the basis of researched data and/or reported experiments, different new solutions to problems.

Further information

The assessed outcomes of the course are:

Part 1: reading of the article and two video lectures (mark as done, approved-fail)
Part 2: exam (0-5)
Part 3: Kela coaching programme (mark as done, approved-fail), Kela rehabilitation online course (approved-fail), client situation assignment/exam (0-5)
Part 4: reading an article (mark as done, approved-fail), exam (0-5)
Part 5: basic course in social care documentation (approved-fail), online course on Kanta services (approved-fail)

Completion of the course requires independent study and successful completion of all required assignments and exams. The numerical grade for the course is given on the basis of the average of the numerically assessed examinations (in sections 2, 3 and 4).