Course Title: Advanced Practice with Families, Children and Adolescents

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Advanced Practice with Families, Children and Adolescents

Credit Points: 12


Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

HWSS2189

City Campus

Postgraduate

365H Global Studies, Soc Sci & Plng

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2012

Course Coordinator: Dr Susie Costello

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 3234

Course Coordinator Email:susan.costello@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

In this course you will explore a range of intervention methods to facilitate positive outcomes with families in complex situations.  This course is designed to enable you to develop your awareness of the politics of case management and a range of relevant theories. You will investigate the application of different casework and assessment approaches and modes of intervention, including strength based approaches (e.g. narrative; solution focused; cognitive behavioural therapy;) and case management supervision and debriefing. You will also explore workplace issues of worker care and supervision, risk management and inter-agency and interdisciplinary partnerships.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

The course fosters development of the following graduate capabilities:

  • Demonstrate advanced knowledge and practice skills to work with and for vulnerable families
  • Apply knowledge and practice skills in a manner that confronts structural disadvantage arising from cultural and religious difference, patriarchy, racism, disability, age and discrimination on the basis of sexual preference
  • Promote reflexive, ethical, respectful, accountable and transparent family support practice processes
  • Show a commitment to engage in life-long learning and on-going professional development


On completion of the course you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate mastery of the relevant types of intervention
  • Explore the core principles, processes and skills, with a critique of their usefulness and potential harm in practice with families in complex situations and diverse backgrounds
  • Distinguish between different intervention methods, and develop your own preferred style of practice within casework, group and community work
  • Develop and demonstrate appropriate inter-organisational and intra-organisational communication skills
     


Overview of Learning Activities

The course involves intensive sessions comprising didactic material, workshops and readings. In the workshops, you will have the opportunity to engage actively in experiential learning exercises via videos, role plays, exploration of case material, self reflection and discussion in small and large groups. We invite you to bring de-identified case examples for class discussion and problem solving. You are invited to take turns playing the worker, client and observers who give feedback as you work with your colleagues in response to case scenarios.


Overview of Learning Resources

You will be given access to a wide range of resources from the student portal, myRMIT, and RMIT Library resources


Overview of Assessment

Assessment tasks are directly linked to the stated objectives and outcomes. Assessment in the course will be both theoretical and practical in nature, with a particular focus on applied approaches to case management and family intervention and the underlying theories. A range of formative and summative assessment tasks will be experienced in the course (for example, video documentation of simulated family interviews, portfolios, referrals and court reports or class presentations).