In 1991 the authority of the social educator with regard to administrating prescribed drugs was clarified. The social educator was given the same authority as nurses except for work in somatic hospitals and acute wards of psychiatric hospitals. This has led to a strengthening of the medical subject field as a whole to enable the social educator to contribute to providing satisfactory service to different client groups in the medical/nursing field among others.

Circular 1-41/98 concerning the rights for and limitations and control in the use of force and compulsion etc.towards mentally retarded individuals also has significance for the training. This applies both to emphasis on alternative measures and methods which can prevent the use of force and to ethical reflection and knowledge of the legislation and existing rules for specific casework. All these perspectives are incorporated in the new frame programme and are included in this course of training.

Rogaland College for Social Educators is the only one of its kind which is privately owned. The College is owned and run by Det Norske Diakonforbund (The Norwegian Association of Deacons), and its operations are based on Christian values. The College was originally closely connected to Nærlandheimen, the central institution for the mentally retarded, but it has now developed into an administrative and professional independent college. Throughout the years, the College has developed close links with other colleges, especially those for social educators and other private schools run according to Christian values. The College has also built up cooperations with several colleges and institutions abroad, and is gradually developing a comprehensive range of professional services for the region including courses, taking on special assignments, and post-secondary and further education.

1.2    The Social Educator’s expertise and field of work

Social Educators provide assistance for and cooperate with handicapped persons who can make use of the expertise which characterizes their occupation – habilitation and rehabilitation skills, the pedagogical approach, and the help they offer in coping with daily life. The scope of knowledge of the social educator has to a large degree been developed through their work with the mentally handicapped. The systematics and breadth which are a mark of this work have proved to have great transfer value to other groups of disabled person. With an education which combines both health and social subjects, the social educator is well qualified to work with those with senile dementia, mental illness, problems with drug and alcohol abuse, complex disabilities etc.

The services are in general provided as a result of long-term and direct contact with those who need such care, but some tasks must also be taken on more indirectly through handling the case in question, planning and changing the frame conditions, and cooperating with other bodies.

Social educators carry out their activities in many different workplaces. They help people with functional problems in schools, at work and during leisure time. Their largest employer is the social and health sector of the municipalities, where a large part of the work is carried out in the form of home-based services. Social educators are also to be found attached to county municipalities, government institutions and guidance services, as well as being