In the period from spring 2021 to autumn 2022, 17 organizations* that are active in child and youth welfare (KJH) in Austria jointly developed a curriculum for "dual" (part-time) further training (WB) for specialists in inpatient KJH. Representatives of 27 organizations discussed and supplemented the (interim) results in a “sounding board”. The development process was financially supported by: Fond Gesundes Österreich, child and youth welfare / state of Tyrol, FH Campus Wien, Pro Juventute, SOS Children's Village, SOP Pinkafeld, Wiener ARE Sozialpädagogik.

The “Quality standards for inpatient KJH” (FICE Austria 2019), which were developed cooperatively between 2017 and 2019, represent an essential starting point for the development of the curriculum of the supervising professionals.

The development of the curriculum is linked to the concern that the WB is implemented across Austria in the medium term and that a comparable quality of the care processes in inpatient facilities of the KJH is promoted. The aim is for the participants of the WB to be able to cope with the complex and demanding tasks of in-patient care for children and young people by strengthening their professional self-efficacy and their ability to act with confidence. The investment in the WB of the specialists directly benefits the children and young people looked after and their future prospects as well as society as a whole. Last but not least, the aim of the WB is to increase the job satisfaction of the supervising specialists in order to counteract the high fluctuation and, in particular, the current shortage of staff in the inpatient facilities of the KJH.

Process of development

The development of the curriculum was mainly carried out in two working groups, the "C-Circle" and the "Practice Group", in which the teaching and learning forms were developed. In addition, 5 meetings of a "sounding board" took place, which was made up of decision-makers in organizations active in the KJH, representatives of adjacent help systems, the Ombudsman Board and science/teaching and gave feedback on the (interim) results.

Content focus

The WB is action-, practice- and competence-oriented and is aimed at specialists who are already working in the KJH. The professional experiences of the participants are included in the learning, practice and reflection processes. The table gives an overview of the competence areas of the curriculum. It is particularly important that the 20 thematic priorities are not separated from one another. This close interlinking of content is another core feature of the WB. This is intended to sustainably promote both the understanding and the ability of the participants to act in the sense of a networked and comprehensive professional ability to act.

The curriculum will be presented on January 26, 2023 in the premises of the Ombudsman in Vienna.

Areas of competence/ECTS

1. Introduction Workshop/1

2. Basic Educational Understanding and Legal Basis/2

3. Developmental And Lifeworld-oriented Case Understanding/4

4. Bonding-relationship-trauma Education/3

5. Professional Relationship Development & Mentalization/3

6. Participations In The Institution/2

7. The Facilities As A Safe Plac/4

8. Intermediate Work, Practice In Own Institution & Supervision/2

9. Admission Process And Care Planning/2

10. Documentation/3

11. Structures Of Everyday Life In The Facilities/2

12. Group Dynamics And Social Educational Work In And With The Group/3

13. Educational Support/2

14. Intermediate Work, Practice In Own Institution & Supervision/2

15. Coping Tasks And Accompanying Adolescent Young People/3

16. Sexual Education/2

17. Collaborations With Origin System/4

18. Accompanying Transitions From Facility/3

19. Intermediate Work, Practice In Own Institution & Supervision/2

20. Health Care And Promotion/2

21. Fundamentals Of Child And Adolescent Psychiatry/2

22. Addiction Prevention/2

23. Media Educational Support/1

24. Quality Development In Social Educational Institutions/1

25. Thesis, Practice In Your Own Facility & Supervision/3

Total Etcs Points: 60   

                                                    

Monika Lengauer, Christian Posch – FICE Austria