Course Title: Maintain legal and ethical work practices

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2015

Course Code: HWSS5723C

Course Title: Maintain legal and ethical work practices

School: 360T Education

Campus: Brunswick Campus

Program: C5290 - Diploma of Education Support

Course Contact : Robyn Blaikie

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4838

Course Contact Email:robyn.blaikie@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Jacqui Rumble jacqueline.rumble@rmit.edu.au

Soosan Kian soosan.kian@rmit.edu.au  9925 9183

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

No specific pre-requisite and co-requisite.

Course Description

This course describes 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 clients 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


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


Details of Learning Activities

This unit is part of Diploma of Education Support program. You will study this unit with several other units on the same day. Your program consists of face to face teaching, Directed Study and you are expected to participate in professional placement. It is highly recommended that students attend at least 85% of class time as crucial learning activities, assessment task preparation some assessment tasks are completed in class. You are not required to attend to complete Directed Study, however you are expected to complete all work given and will at times be required to show evidence that the work has been completed in this unit. Directed Study is a very important part of your program. An outline of your Directed Study will be given by your teacher and is published in the Weekly Program Delivery Plan.The student learning experience will be facilitated through participation in a range of activities: 


  • Group discussion 

  • Research assignments

  • Guest speakers

  • Oral and/or written questions on "What if?" scenarios

  • Realistic simulations and role play
  • Practical demonstrations and direct observation of actual work and simulated work practice
  • Oral Presentations
  • Individual and group projects - Completing the projects will include negotiated independent study time and practical work relevant to the unit of competency. 

  • Professional placement


Teaching Schedule

Program Dates: 09/2015 TO 19/6/15

Easter Break 2 April- 7 April 2015

Mid semester break 7 April - 10 April 2015

Labor Day 9 March

This unit will be delivered weekly. The times will be outlined in the program delivery plans which are updated each week.
Please note: While your teacher will cover all the material in this schedule, the weekly order is subject to change depending on class needs and availability of speakers and resources. Should the teaching schedule change students will be advised via blackboard.
Library Orientation & an RMIT Online Systems Information Session will be scheduled during the first two weeks of your program. Information about student services, rights and responsibilities is contained in your student diary.
 

Semester 1

Week CHCCS502C Maintain legal and ethical work practices Element Assessment  Tasks
1 Introduction to unit including assessment requirements.  What makes an ideal ES Officer? Role statement? 1  
2  Types of tasks ES staff members are asked to complete. Work instructions. UN Declaration of the Rights of the Child. Principles and practices for upholding the rights of children and young people
 

 1

2

 
 3

 School’s value systems and policies

 2  
 4

 Code of Ethics. Ethical work practices to ensure rights of students, families and staff

 2

3

Minor Progress Reflection task (in-class)
 5  Duty of care principles

 1

2

3

 
 6  Mandatory Reporting. Situations that necessitate a school making a report

 1

2

4

 
 7  Procedures for making complaints.  Ensuring parents, students & stff rights are protected so that they can express concerns to an impartial audience

 1

2

3

4

 
 8  Problem solving stratagies

 3

4

 
 9

 Role-playing - complaint & problem solving scenarios

 3

4

Completion of on-line module due
Copies of Certificates to be submitted.
 10  Role-playing - complaint & problem solving scenarios

 3

4

 
 11  Governmental laws & organisational impacts on education

 1

2

 
 12  Review key terms - ethics, morality, responsibility, obligation, equality and equity

 1

2

3

4

 
 13  Finalise Reflective Journals

 1

2

 
 14

 Review structure & assessment requirements for Legal & Ethical work practices paper

 

  Reflective Journal Parts A&B due
 15

 Feedback on reflective journals

Providing information and support to staff in regards to application of legal and ethical work practices

 

 1

3

 
 16

 Discussion, Q&A activities

 

 1

3

Legal and ethical work paper due
 17

 Feedback on Legal and ethical paper

 

 1

3

 
 18

Evaluation of unit and reflection

 

   


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

TEXTS AND EQUIPMENT

There are no set texts in this course. RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through handouts, our online systems and access to facilities and relevant software. You will also have access to the library resources. It is recommended that you bring:

• Display folder with plastic sleeves
• Highlighter pens
• Notebook or loose leaf paper
• Headphones (use your own or they can be purchased from the Brunswick Library very cheaply)
• USB (Memory stick)
 


Overview of Assessment

You must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of the competencies in order to be deemed competent. Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of each competency in a flexible manner over a range of assessment tasks. You may be assessed by:
• Direct observation of actual and simulated work practice
• Oral or written questioning
• Assignments and projects
• Presentation of a portfolio of evidence which may comprise documents, and/or photographs and/or video and audio files
• Review of products produced through work-based or course activities
• Third-party feedback from a work supervisor/employer
Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or online discussions, through individual and group feedback on practical exercises and by individual consultation.
 

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or the Disability Liaison Unit if you would like to find out more. 
An assessment policy summarises your responsibilities as an RMIT student as well as those of your teachers. Your courses assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies and procedures see http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment
 


Assessment Tasks

Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of each competency in a flexible manner over a range of assessment tasks.

Assessment One

Minor progress reflection task (Week 4)

Assessment Two 

Completion of Professional Learning Module Certificate on-line  (Week 9)

Assessment Three

Reflective Journal  Part A)  Weekly Report of ethical issue   Part B)  On line entries to class blog (Week14)

Assessment Four

Maintain Legal and Ethical work practices paper Part A)  Question & Answer Part B)  Scenario based written problems (Week16)

Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or online discussions, through individual and group feedback on practical exercises and by individual consultation.
Assessment tasks in this course are either formative or summative. Formative tasks provide the basis for ongoing feedback and can be considered essential building blocks for the more substantial summative assessment tasks. Summative assessment tasks in this unit are assessed using the following competency based results:
CC – Competency credit
CA – Competency achieved
NYC – Not Yet Competent
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.

All assessment tasks including electronically recorded student work will be kept by the University for student feedback and to meet government requirements.

All Assessment tasks should be submitted by the deadline. If an extension is required you must ask your teacher for one before the due date.

Resubmissions:
If you are found to be Not Yet Competent in a Course Assessment Task you will be allowed one resubmission only. Your teacher will provide feedback regarding what you need to do to improve and will set a new deadline for the resubmission. The highest grade you will receive if your resubmission is successful is ‘CA’


Assessment Matrix

The assessment mapping demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant Unit of Competency and with the critical aspects of assessment for each unit. The assessment mapping grids for units will be available on Blackboard for students to access.


 

Other Information

Attendance - The major learning experience involves participating in face to face classes. It is strongly advised that you attend all sessions in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to gain the competency. www.rmit.edu.au/policies/academicprogress

Feedback - Monitoring academic progress is an important enabling and proactive strategy to assist you to achieve your learning potential. Students will be asked to attend mid semester interviews with relevant teachers and Program Coordinator.

Special Consideration - 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. Please see the RMIT website for further information. www.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/extension

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism - RMIT University has a strict policy on plagarism and and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.http://www.rmit.edu.au/students/academic-integrity

Course Overview: Access Course Overview