About SOSU Nord
About "SOSU Nord"
Values and aims
Facts about "SOSU Nord"
Training programmes
Basic course
Social and health service helper
Social and health service assistant
Educator assistant training
Work placement abroad
Teaching
Contact
”SOSU Nord” is one of the largest social and health colleges in Denmark. Situated in an area known for the beauty of its countryside, the college’s primary activity is to train staff for the social and health sector.
“SOSU Nord” was established by the County of North Jutland in 1991 to concentrate the former training programmes (nursing aide, occupational therapist aide, psychiatric nursing aide and nursing home assistant) to a more uniform system.
The college quickly became a success and as early as in 1995 the facilities were no longer adequate. The County therefore established a new department in Svenstrup, situated south of Aalborg. The same year the college also expanded with a Department for Continuing Education and Training, responsible for upgrading qualifications, retraining and in-service training.
In 1997 the Educator assistant training was established. This programme trains pupils to work in the social and educational sector.
Another department was established in 2002. This department is situated in Hjørring.
On January 1st. 2007, due to structural changes in Danish local government, the college, ”Skolen i Hammer Bakker”, changed ownership becoming a selv-governing institution under the auspices of the Dansih state.
To mark the occasion and to signify the beginning af a new epoch, the name of the college was changed to ”SOSU Nord”, this being an acronym for the Danish phrase social (social) and health (sundhed) and north (nord), exemplifying both the college’s purpose and geographical location.
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Values and aims
We aspire to create an open and creative environment, characterized by co-operation and flexibility. We also aspire to promote values such as respect, reliability, trust, openness, participation, responsibility, tolerance, regard for differences, individuality and a high level of information and communication.
Our aim is to ensure that people are trained to work in and develop the social and health sector and the educator sector. We want to create a highly qualitative training environment, where the students can acquire a highly vocational level of competences, matching the different training programmes.
We also want to be a dynamic and enterprising workplace, closely interacting with our surroundings. Beyond that, we aspire to be an inspiring, attractive and health-conscious place of work, focusing on development of both pupils and staff. Til top
Facts about "SOSU Nord"
- Number of pupils
The college admits 550-600 pupils a year for social and health service helper training and around 350 pupils for social and health service assistant training. About 100 pupils are admitted to the basic course and about 100 to educator assistant training. The Department for Continuing Education and Training completes about 10.000 pupils weeks every year.
- Number of employees
The college has about 150 employees. They work as teachers, administrative staff, service workers and management.
- Completion rate (2001)
Educator assistant training: 81 %
Social and health service helper training: 76 %
Social and health service assistant training: 80 %
- Rooms / overnight accommodation
The college has a number of rooms available for pupils on the basic course.
- Economy
The budget is about 53 million Danish crowns of which about 15 million Danish crowns are the proceeds of commercial interests from the Department for Continuing Education and Training.
- Library
It is possible for pupils, participants in courses and employees to loan from the library. The borrower’s medical insurance card is used as a library ticket. The library offers:
- Books (about 4.000 titles)
- Journals (about 75 subscriptions)
- Danish Newspapers (Politiken, Nordjyske, Jyllandsposten)
- Different CD-ROM products
- Dictionaries, manuals, law books
- Movies (about 1200 titles)
- Talking books
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Training programmes
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Basic Course
The Basic Course lasts 20 weeks but can be extended to up to 40 weeks. It is also possible to participate in an observation work placement.
| Introduction |
2 weeks |
Vocational subjects:
Health studies
Social studies
Educational theory with psychology
Activity studies |
3 weeks
3 weeks
3 weeks
3 weeks
|
Basic subjects:
Danish (level F)
Natural sciences (level F)
English (level F) |
2 weeks
2 weeks
2 weeks |
Evaluation is a test in either Danish, English or natural sciences.
Level of attainment marks are given for all other subjects.
The Basic Course can be applied for by young people under 25 years of age with either a basic school education or a need to prepare them for further training professionally, socially and personally.
Admission to the Basic Course requires 9th grade in a Danish school.
Pupils are selected for admission by a special team at the college and the team looks for the following qualifications within the applicants:
-
Interest in the Basic Course and the social and health sector in general
-
Interest in positive co-operation with other people
-
Interest in further personal development
-
Social understanding
Pupils do not receive a salary during training, but they can apply for a student grant according to relevant Danish regulations.
Pupils have to pay 600 Danish crowns to cover photocopies during the Basic Course. In addition to this they have to pay a smaller amount for a school study trip etc. It is possible to borrow the relevant books from the college.
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Social and health service helper
The training lasts 14 months and alternates between theoretical periods (25 weeks) and work placements (30 weeks).
The training gives the pupils the ability to work as social and health service helpers or to apply for social and health service assistant training.
A social and health service helper works with practical and personal healthcare, elementary nursing tasks and motivating and encouraging citizens with activities in citizens’ homes, at nursing homes, at day centres or activity centres.
Vocational subjects:
Health studies
Social studies
Educational theory with psychology
Activity studies |
3 weeks
3 weeks
3 weeks
5 weeks |
Basic subjects:
Danish (level D)
Natural sciences (level E)
English (level E)
Optional subjects |
4 weeks
3 weeks
2 weeks
1 week |
Evaluation is a test in one vocational subject or a test in either Danish or Natural Sciences. Level of attainment marks are given for all other subjects.
Admission requires one of the following:
-
Completed Basic Course
-
9th grade in a Danish school and at least another one-year education
-
9th grade in a Danish school and at least 1 year of work experience
-
Similar or other experience acquired abroad
Pupils are selected for admission by a special team at the college and the team also looks for the following qualifications within the applicants:
-
Interest in the training and the social and health sector in general
-
Interest in positive co-operation with other people
-
Interest in further personal development
-
Social understanding
Pupils receive a salary during training. Beyond this pupils have to pay for books and other training material.
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Social and health service assistant
The training last 1 year and 8 months and alternates between theoretical periods (33 weeks) and work placements (44 weeks).
The training gives the pupil the ability to work as a social and health service assistant or to apply for further training as nurse, midwife, social worker, occupational therapist or physiotherapist.
A social and health service assistant works in the citizen’s home, in hospitals, within psychiatry or at day care centres, activity centres and the like. They are primarily occupied with basic health and nursing care, cooperation with other professionals, caring for and motivating citizens with activities and coordinating as well as teaching.
Vocational subjects:
Health and nursing studies
Medicine
Social studies
Educational theory with psychology
Culture and activity studies |
6 weeks
4 weeks
4 weeks
4 weeks
3 weeks |
Basic subjects:
Danish (level C)
Natural sciences (level C)
English (level D)
Optional subjects |
3 weeks
4 weeks
2 weeks
2 weeks |
Evaluation is a test in one vocational subject and a test in either Danish or Natural Sciences. Level of attainment marks are given for all other subjects.
Admission requires one of the following:
-
Completed social and health service helper training or a similar training
-
Work experience or theoretical knowledge matching social and health service helper training
-
Similar or other experience acquired abroad
Pupils are selected for admission by a special team at the college and the team also looks for the following qualifications within the applicants:
-
Interest in the training and the social and health sector in general
-
Interest in positive co-operation with other people
-
Interest in further personal development
-
Social understanding
Pupils receive a salary during training. Beyond this pupils have to pay for books and other training material.
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Educator assistant training
The training last 1 year and 8 months and alternates between theoretical periods (52 weeks) and work placements (26 weeks).
If the applicant has experience with educational work it is possible to be admitted to the educator assistant training programme for pupils with a dispensation. This training lasts 42 weeks and does not include work placements.
The training gives the pupils the ability to work as educator assistant, day carer, institution helper or care aide. It also gives the ability to apply for further training as an educator. An educator assistant works at day institutions, in after-school clubs, in sheltered accommodation for younger citizens, in youth clubs or in private homes. They are primarily occupied with communication and cooperation, motivating and encouraging children and young people with activities and basic educational work.
| Introduction |
2 weeks |
| Optional subjects |
2 weeks |
Vocational subjects:
Educational theory with psychology
Culture and activity studies
Health studies
Information technology and communication |
10 weeks
10 weeks
5 weeks
4 weeks
|
Basic subjects:
Danish (level C)
Social studies (level C)
English (level E) |
8 weeks
7 weeks
2 weeks |
Vocational subjects:
Educational theory with psychology
Culture and activity studies
Social studies
Health studies |
9 weeks
9 weeks
5 weeks
5 weeks |
Basic subjects:
Danish (level C)
Optional subjects |
8 weeks
4 weeks |
Evaluation is a test in one vocational subject and a test in either Danish or social studies. Level of attainment marks are given for all other subjects.
-
Admission requires one of the following:
-
Completed Basic Course
-
9th grade in a Danish school and at least another one-year education
-
9th grade in a Danish school and at least 1 year of work experience
-
Similar or other experience acquired abroad
Pupils are selected for admission by a special team at the college and the team also looks for the following qualifications within the applicants:
-
Interest in the training and the social and educational sector in general
-
Interest in positive co-operation with other people
-
Interest in further personal development
-
Social understanding
Pupils receive a salary during training. Beyond this pupils have to pay for books, other training material and for a school study trip.
All pupils must pass an individual final examination. The examination is oral and is based on a written project report.
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Work placement abroad
Internationalisation is on the agenda in the Danish education system and also at “Skolen i Hammer Bakker”. Pupils therefore get the opportunity to take one or more work placements in one of the EU countries or Norway, Island, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
Work placement abroad can give the pupil experiences for life – both professional and personal. She/he meets another culture and experiences how other social and health systems are built up.
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Teaching
The basic teaching is based on problem-based learning (PBL). In this way the theoretical content of the training is acquired by working with interdisciplinary ways of presenting a problem, which is closely connected with practice.
The pupils’ own questions and problems form the basis of learning. Learning becomes an active and responsible process where former knowledge and experience are in focus. Pupils develop both personal and professional competences.
The training is widely based on group work combined with class teaching. The teacher becomes an initiator and this means giving theoretical introductions and presenting problem-oriented themes. The teacher also has to guide, motivate and support groups as well as individuals in the learning process.
Introductory adult training (FVU) / Teacher for pupils with reading difficulties
The college offers introductory adult training with maximum 12 pupils per class. The training is specially arranged for pupils engaged in social and health service helper training and educator assistant training. This way it supports and complements the ordinary training.
The college also offers assistance from a teacher for pupils with reading difficulties. The training is organised individually and can take place as individual training or in small groups. The pupils are helped regarding:
- Study and reading skills (methods to understand and remember the things that are read)
- Annotation technique and keeping log book (short and clear wording)
- Written expression (training in getting thoughts on paper)
- Oral expressions (training in saying what is on the pupils mind – even though - she/he is nervous)
- Reading test (clarify reading, writing and word levels)
- Examination exemption (slow and insecure pupils who still need extra examination time and help after finishing the reading test and reading training)
- Reading and writing aids
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Contact
”SOSU Nord”
Storemosevej 19
9310 Vodskov
Telephone no. + 45 72 21 81 00
E-mail: sosunord@sosunord.dk |
”SOSU Nord”
Jellingvej 5
9230 Svenstrup
Telephone no. + 45 72 21 81 00
E-mail: sosunord@sosunord.dk
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”SOSU Nord”
Hedevold 11
9800 Hjørring
Telephone no. + 45 72 21 81 00
E-mail: sosunord@sosunord.dk |
“SOSU Nord”
The Department for Continuing Education and Training
Viren 15
9310 Vodskov
Telephone no. + 45 72 21 81 00
E-mail: kuc@sosunord.dk |
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