Course Title: Maintain legal and ethical work practices

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2014

Course Code: HWSS5750C

Course Title: Maintain legal and ethical work practices

School: 365T Global, Urban & Social Studies

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5247 - Diploma of Community Development

Course Contact : Mandy Morrison

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 99254065

Course Contact Email:mandy.morrison@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 70

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

In this course you will explore the knowledge and skills required to maintain the application of legal and ethical work practices by monitoring, coordinating and promoting their importance in providing community services and supporting duty of care requirements.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CHCCS502C Maintain legal and ethical work practices

Element:

1. Promote the importance of applying legislation and common law relevant to work role

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Identify and explain legal responsibilities and obligations relating to identified work role/s
1.2 Identify and explain key statutory and regulatory requirements relating to identified work role/s
1.3 Encourage staff to clarify and fulfil duty of care responsibilities in the course of practice, to accept responsibility and be accountable for own actions and to maintain confidentiality in line with organisation guidelines
1.4 Identify and promote opportunities for staff to involve clients in decision-making and to seek client agreement prior to service provision

Element:

2. Monitor application of organisation policies and practices

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Monitor work performance to ensure organisation policies, protocols and procedures are appropriately and consistently addressed
2.2 Provide information and support to initiate and contribute to the review and development of policies and protocols in line with work role
2.3 Clarify scope of work for staff to address requirements of position specifications and role responsibilities
2.4 Provide clarification for any uncertainty with regard to scope of practice in line with organisation requirements and legal and ethical guidelines
2.5 Monitor work instructions provided to staff to ensure their clarity and appropriateness in line with organisation requirements and legal and ethical guidelines

Element:

3. Monitor ethical work practices
 

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Monitor service delivery to ensure client rights are protected and services are delivered to clients with respect for diversity of personal values, beliefs and attitudes
3.2 Monitor staff ability to use effective problem solving techniques when exposed to competing value systems
3.3 Identify potential ethical issues and ethical dilemmas in the workplace and discuss with staff to ensure maintenance of ethical work practices
3.4 Use codes of ethics to recognise and report unethical conduct according to established protocols

Element:

4. Take corrective action when client rights and interests
are not being protected
 

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Ensure client and/or their advocate/s are supported to identify and express their concerns
4.2 Instigate and monitor referral of client and/or their advocate/s to advocacy services as appropriate
4.3 Manage client complaint/s in line with organisation policy and protocols
4.4 Take action in line with organisation protocols to address witnessed signs or evidence consistent with financial, physical, emotional, sexual abuse and/or neglect of the client
4.5 Work with an understanding and appreciation of the role and responsibilities of legal guardians

Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this course you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate competency in the above elements


Details of Learning Activities

You will be involved in learning activities in a day long workshop. A guest speaker will be contributing to the learning activities which will include group discussions and group participation in the resolution of an ethical dilemma. Reflection on your own work context is a significant aspect of this course and you will be given opportunities to discuss and think about your own practice.


Teaching Schedule

There are 18 full day worksops + 1 evening class scheduled for this program. This unit will be covered in Workshop 8
Workshop Title Date Explanatory Notes Unit of competency
  8 Legal and ethical frameworks and community development work

 

April 10th 2014

 

 You will explore legal, ethical, policy and legislative frameworks relevant to a community development context, with specific attention to monitoring your own work practices in relation to conforming to ethical practice. CHCCS502C: Maintain legal and ethical work practices


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

None required


References


Other Resources

Preparatory reading material and/or youtube recordings will be made available prior to workshops (where relevant). Where the teacher has used a powerpoint presentation during the workshop, these resources and other learning activities and handouts will be made available to enroled students post the workshop via electronic methods.


Overview of Assessment

The assessment activities for this course require you to demonstrate your knowledge and application of skills in relation to the legal and ethical legislative & policy frameworks which provide guidelines for ethical community development practice.


Assessment Tasks

Assessment for this course is based on 3  specific tasks:

  • A written report demonstrating your awareness and understanding of current legislation and it’s relevance to your job role as a community development worker together with demonstration of how the policies & procedures of your workplace provide an ethical framework for your practice.
  •  A quiz which assesses your general knowledge on relevant aspects of the Australian legal system
  • Written responses using an ethical checklist to a dilemma presented in the workshop


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant Unit of Competency. These are available from the Program Coordinator.

This program is delivered in accordance with competency-based assessment, grades include:

CA: Competency Achieved
NYC: Not Yet Competent
DNS: Did Not Submit for assessment

Other Information

Assessment Tasks Submission Cover Sheet
You must complete a submission cover sheet for every piece of submitted work, including online submissions. This signed sheet acknowledges that you are aware of the plagiarism implications.

Attendance
It is strongly advised that you attend all workshops in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to gain the competency.

Feedback
You will receive verbal and written feedback by teacher on your work. This feedback also includes suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your competency. Information regarding student feedback can be found at: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=9pp3ic9obks7

Student Progress
Monitoring academic progress is an important enabling and proactive strategy to assist you to achieve your learning potential. The Student progress policy can be found at:
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=vj2g89cve4uj1

Special consideration Policy (Late Submission)
All assessment tasks are required to be completed to a satisfactory level. If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension. Information regarding application for special consideration can be found at: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=g43abm17hc9w

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. For more information on this policy go to Academic Integrity Web site: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=kw02ylsd8z3n

Course Overview: Access Course Overview