Law in Social Work Practice

Instruction is in the form of lectures, seminars, and group exercises. The course comprises the following components: - a survey of our legal systems and its divisions - a study of the judicial method - basic legal concepts - an emphasis on the exercise of authority In social law, there is an emphasis on the social services regulations, intervention legislation pertaining to children and adult addiction, laws regulating the protection of and service to the functionally challenged and confidentiality. The course includes relevant legislation for the professional area such as health care, psychiatric commitment and the patient data act. Special attention is paid to the the legal obligation to notify authorities of misuse and abuse such as Lex Sarah, Lex Maria, child negligence and adult addicts in need of help. In administrative law, the focus is on the administrative procedure act and the municipal act. In civil law, students study the parts of special importance to social work such as parenthood and crime, the first with a focus on appointing trustees and custodians and on guardianship, habitation and visiting rights; the second area on crimes of violence, assault, family abuse and on different sanctions, for instance juvenile detention. Also contract law regulating agreements and proxy are treated. In addition, the UN conventions on human rights are treated and how international obligations must be incorporated in the Swedish legal system to be valid in Swedish courts and authorities. The Swedish EU membership entails an obligation for Swedish courts and authorities to apply EU regulations in the areas of EU cooperation. The effects of EU laws on social services are included in the course.