Course Title: Communicate and work effectively in health

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2009

Course Code: EMPL5516C

Course Title: Communicate and work effectively in health

School: 155T Vocational Health and Sciences

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4207 - Certificate IV in Optical Dispensing

Course Contact: Timothy Haigh

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4846

Course Contact Email: timothy.haigh@rmit.edu.au

Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 20

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to work effectively in a health setting with clients, staff, visitors, suppliers and others to meet established work requirements

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:	HLTHIR301A Communicate and work effectively in health
Element:	Communicate and work effectively in a health setting
Performance Criteria:	2.1    Develop, review and revise personal skills in communication as an ongoing priority to address organisation standards 2.2    Exercise caution in communicating personal information by oral and written means to ensure confidentiality of client and staff matters 2.3    Routinely apply workplace protocols and procedures in all workplace communication to support accuracy and understanding of information provided and received 2.4    Recognise individual and cultural differences and make any adjustments needed to facilitate the achievement of identified outcomes 2.5    Conduct interpersonal communication with clients and colleagues in a manner that enhances a client-centred approach to health care consistent with organisation standards 2.6    Take appropriate measures to resolve conflict and interpersonal differences in the workplace
Element:	Maintain professional work standards
Performance Criteria:	5.1    Identify relevant organisation policies and procedures relating to awards, standards and legislative requirements of own work role and clarify any uncertainties with appropriate personnel 5.2    Contribute to identifying and implementing improved work practices 5.3    Comply with relevant accreditation standards applying to work undertaken 5.4    Reflect understanding and focus on achieving organisation goals and objectives in all work undertaken 5.5    Respond positively to changes to improve work practices and procedures in accordance with organisation requirements 5.6    Issues requiring mandatory notification are identified and reported to supervisor and/or an appropriate authority
Element:	Practise high standards of personal hygiene
Performance Criteria:	3.1    Maintain personal hygiene with an understanding of risks associated with contamination and infection in a health setting 3.2    Wear personal protective equipment correctly according to organisation requirements 3.3    Safely dispose of infectious and/or hazardous waste material according to waste management policy and procedures 3.4    Report or initiate action within own area of responsibility to redress any potential workplace hazards
Element:	Promote a positive approach to health
Performance Criteria:	4.1    Clarify components of own role that contribute to maintaining an effective and client-centred approach to health 4.2    Promote an approach in which clients are included in shared decision-making as partners in health care where appropriate 4.3    Contribute to a workplace culture of promoting good health by sharing health information in line with organisation policy 4.4    Focus on preventing ill health and minimising risk in the workplace
Element:	Take responsibility for personal skill development
Performance Criteria:	7.1    Seek advice from appropriate persons on areas for skills/knowledge development 7.2    Identify options for accessing relevant skill development opportunities and initiate action in consultation with manager 7.3    Undertake designated skill/knowledge development and maintenance activities of the organisation including induction training 7.4    Identify and prioritise personal work goals in accordance with organisation requirements
Element:	Work effectively in the health care system
Performance Criteria:	6.1    Demonstrate respect for workers from different sectors and levels of the industry 6.2    Work with awareness of the roles of various organisations in the health care system in Australia 6.3    Maintain awareness of current issues influencing health care, including health issues for Indigenous Australians
Element:	Work ethically
Performance Criteria:	1.1    Follow ethical guidelines in decision-making in all work undertaken the health setting with awareness of potential ethical complexity in own work role 1.2    Reflect understanding and compliance with the principles of duty of care and legal responsibilities in all work undertaken 1.3    Refer any breach or non adherence to standard procedures or adverse event to appropriate personnel 1.4    Maintain confidentiality of any client matter in line with organisation policy and procedure 1.5    Show respect for rights and responsibilities of others through considered application of work practices 1.6    Reflect current working knowledge and understanding of employee and employer rights and responsibilities in all work undertaken 1.7    Recognise, avoid and/or address any conflict of interest

Learning Outcomes

Details of Learning Activities

1: Read each topic in the Learner Guide.  Upon completion of each topic, complete the self-assessment checklist from the Learner Guide.  Once you have done this, progress to the next topic.
2:  Complete the self-assessment quiz.  Please note, this is not an assessment task.  The self-assessment will check your level of understanding of the unit and provide you with feedback.
3: Refer to the Learning and Assessment Guide (LAG) items 1,2,3, secondary items 7, and 8.  Familiarise yourself with the content.

Teaching Schedule

Topic 1: Work ethically
Topic 2: Communicate effectively in a health setting
Topic 3: Practice high standards of personal hygiene
Topic 4: Promote a positive approach
Topic 5: Maintain professional work standards
Topic 6: Work effectively in the health care system
Topic 7: Take responsibility for own personal skill development

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

References

Other Resources

1. Learner guide HLTHIR301A
2. Learning and Assessment Guide – Year 1
3. Interpersonal skills for nurses and health care professionals  (e-book) and in print at 610.73014 W872 Bundoora Library
4. Communicating in the health and social sciences  


5. Writing skills in practice: a practical guide for health professionals

Overview of Assessment

Assessment may consist of examinations, quizzes, practical demonstration, work based assessment or simulation, submission of your learning and assessment guide and assignments.

Assessment Tasks

Before attempting any of the below assessment tasks ensure that you agree with all self-assessment checklists in the Learner Guide and that you have completed the online self-assessment quiz.

1.  Complete the online test titled HLTHIR301A.  This test consists of completing a series of 10 online questions.  These questions may consist of true or false, multiple choice, short answer questions etc.  In order to pass you need to answer seven or more correct (7 out of 10).  You must pass this prior to completing assessment task 2.

2.  Refer to your learning and assessment guide (LAG) and carefully read items 1,2,3, secondary items 7, and 8.  An RMIT University assessor will assess you on items 1,2,3, secondary items 7, and 8 during a work-based assessment and during your compulsory attendance at blocks in year one.  In addition your assessor will include a range of verbal questions to ask during these assessments.  In addition an RMIT University assessor may talk to your employer.

3.  At the end of the semester you will be required to complete a 60-minute online examination on the Learning Hub, which will be posted online for one week (you will be notified shortly).  Please note that this examination will cover HLTHIR301A, HLTOHS300A, HLTOPD401A, BSBCMN302A, BSBFLM403B and HLTOPD407A and you will only be allowed to attempt it once.  This examination will include short answers, true or false, multiple-choice, equations and other types of questions.  You will know at the end of this test if you have passed.  The pass mark is 70%.  

Please note that you will need to demonstrate competency in all 3 of these assessment tasks in order to achieve competency for this unit.

Assessment Matrix

Course Overview: Access Course Overview