The object of research is the professional training of future social workers.
The research subject is the future specialists’ preparation in the social sphere to work in alternative forms of care.
The purpose of the study: theoretical justification and experimental verification of the content, forms and methods of future social workers preparation to work in alternative forms of state children’s custody.
The urgency of deinstitutionalization of the state system of guardianship and transformation of services for orphans and children deprived of parental care is substantiated in the dissertation. Based on the analysis of scientific sources, the essence of the concepts «guardianship», «alternative forms of state guardianship» is analyzed and the defined concepts are clarified. Alternative forms of state custody for children as a social phenomenon are characterized. It is noted out that the main purpose of an orphan or a child deprived of parental care being in alternative forms of state care is to develop her personal, social, professional skills that will enable her to become a full member of society in the future: to acquire positive social status, master a decent profession, create family, raise children. The classification of alternative forms of state custody for children (adoption, guardianship (care), foster family, family-type orphanage, small group home and foster care was further developed. Peculiarities of functioning of alternative forms of family upbringing are characterized, their positive and negative features are determined. It was found out that development of the system of social care for orphans and children deprived of parental care is slow in Ukraine due to various reasons of socio-political, socio-economic and psychological-pedagogical nature.
Normative-legal bases, maintenance and features of specialists of social sphere in alternative forms of the state guardianship are investigated. The potential of a social sphere specialist during work in alternative forms of guardianship (care) is outlined. The professional readiness of a future social worker to work in alternative forms of child custody as an important integrative quality and stable personal characteristics of the future specialist, which is manifested in his ability to carry out effective professional activities in alternative forms of child custody and is the result of his training for this type of activities at higher education institution. It was found out that the process of professional training of a future social worker involves gradual acquisition of professionally significant characteristics, mastery of professional knowledge and skills, role functions.
The structure of professional readiness of future social workers for the specified type of activity (personal (traits, properties), theoretical (knowledge), practical (habits and skills) components) is determined and criteria (personal, knowledge, active) are specified, their indicators and levels (reproductive (low), productive (medium) and creative (high)) of professional readiness of future social workers to work in alternative forms of child care are determined.
The requirements for the formation of content of professional training of future professionals to work in family forms of education are characterized in the dissertation; specific principles of this training (human-centeredness, rational use of resources, balanced decisions, individual and social significance) are singled out; defined pedagogical conditions (formation of positive motivation of students to master professionally significant knowledge, skills and abilities in the chosen specialty; professional orientation of the educational process; educational and methodological support of educational components).
The content of training of future social workers to work in alternative forms of state custody of children is substantiated; the training program was experimentally studied. Peculiarities of using interactive technologies (differentiated and integrated learning), active forms and methods, interactive classes, individual workshops, conferences, round tables, information lectures, problem lectures, lectures-visualizations, lectures with planned mistakes, practice-oriented meetings with specialists, presentations of research projects, competitions, games, thematic days, trainings, consulting, festivals, charity events, projects, video lectures, thematic weeks, etc.) of professional training of future specialists are outlined.
Key words: orphans; children deprived of parental care; institutional care and education; deinstitutionalization; alternative forms of state guardianship and custody; social work; socio-pedagogical work; social worker; professional training; institution of higher education.
