Course Title: Plan and conduct group activities

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2014

Course Code: EMPL5720C

Course Title: Plan and conduct group activities

School: 365T Global, Urban & Social Studies

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5330 - Diploma of Community Services Work

Course Contact : Zaina Nehme

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4552

Course Contact Email:zainaindira.nehme@rmit.edu.au

Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Julian Silverman: +61 3 9925 4578
Anne Fitzpatrick: +61 3 9925 0329

Nominal Hours: 50

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

Not applicable.

Course Description

This course describes the knowledge and skills required to participate in, establish and lead a range of informal and formal groups in a variety of settings. This course may be applied to group work in a range of community service settings.

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:	CHCGROUP403D Plan and conduct group activities
Element:	1. Address resourcing issues for group activities
Performance Criteria:	1.1 Plan group activities, including consideration of: - the purposes, defined according to the identified needs of the client group - the human, financial and physical resources required 1.2 Where required resources are not immediately and readily available, make appropriate submissions to potential sources of assistance and resources 1.3 Ensure formal submissions meet requirements of funding guidelines and organisation principles and practice
Element:	2. Coordinate a group planning process
Performance Criteria:	2.1 Actively seek opportunities for collaborative planning and promotion of group activities with clients and solicit, analyse and prioritise information about group's needs and expectations 2.2 Negotiate the purpose of group activities with the group in a manner that gives sufficient time and space for individuals to articulate their ideas and wishes and create opportunity for input to ownership of group processes 2.3 Translate purpose of proposed group activity into a set of aims and objectives 2.4 Analyse potential impact on group operation of the values and beliefs of both worker and client and clarify with those involved in planning and implementing group activities 2.5 Deal with contributions and suggestions to group planning processes so as to promote continued participation 2.6 Design group strategies that promote effective group operation and take into account specific characteristics of clients who will participate in the activity or program
Element:	3. Manage group processes including responding to conflict
Performance Criteria:	3.1 Promote opportunities for open dialogue and active listening between group members 3.2 Encourage and model sensitivity to participants, regardless of their gender, culture, ethnicity, subculture, sexuality and ability 3.3 When conflict threatens or arises: - implement strategies to prevent it within own role, power and capacity - identify and reinforce the outcomes of positive conflict - clarify and confirm relevant principles and practices of conflict resolution and seek agreement to implement them - encourage acknowledgment of respective rights and responsibilities and perceptions of all participants within the conflict situation 3.4 Offer opportunity to all participants for debriefing, support, mediation, consultation and facilitation throughout conflict resolution processes
Element:	4. Evaluate group activities
Performance Criteria:	4.1 Ensure aims and objectives of the group activity provide the basis for evaluation and feedback 4.2 Seek feedback from all group participants on leadership style, group process, achievement of objectives, other achievements and areas for development 4.3 Document evaluation data according to organisation procedures and distribute to relevant people

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

All courses and learning activities will be supported and complemented by RMIT’s learning management tool "Blackboard". Other essential learning activities will take place during the workshops, and you will also be required to undertake independent studies. Some of the learning activities that you will undertake are: practical skills based training sessions involving staff presentations, small group activities, working through hypothetical situations to develop skills in promoting ommunity based leadership, negotiation, delegation of tasks and developing a team based approached two planning, managing and evaluating community development initiatives.

 
 

Teaching Schedule

This unit has been grouped for delivery and is part of a cluster called: Working in Community. The other units forming this cluster are: CHCCD514B Implement community development strategies, CHCLD514B Analyse impacts of sociological factors on clients, community work and services, CHCPOL403C Undertake research activities, CHCAD504B Provide advocacy and representation services. The delivery schedule for this cluster is found below:

Class	Topic	Content	Unist and Elements of Competency
1	Working in community	Understanding Community and Community Development Implement Community Development strategies Understanding Advocacy What is group work? An introduction to Sociological factors	CHCCD514B E1. Work with individuals and groups to identify issues. CHCGROUP403D E2. Coordinate a group planning process CHCLD514B E1. Identify social and cultural issues impacting on Australian society.
2	Sociological Factors and impact on the community	Sociological factors in Australian society FourCorners – On the brink video - Newstart and living in poverty Impact of Sociological factors (e.g.: unemployment, housing, poverty) Impact of sociological factors on the community Impact of sociological factors on services	CHCLD514B: E1. Identify social and cultural issues impacting on Australian society. E2. Analyse impact of social and cultural factors E3. Monitor impact of social and cultural factors on community work and services
3	Research Methodology	What is research? Research process and strategies Values and Ethics in research Research – needs analysis, quantitative and qualitative data Library Research Strategies Journal Critique Literature Review	CHCPOL403C: E1. Prepare a research plan E2. Implement appropriate research strategies E3. Organise and analyse information E4. Report the findings of the research
4	Implement Community Development Strategies	Community development and group work x 1 Types and theories of community development	CHCCD514B: E2. Work with groups to establish cooperative processes. E3. Support group processes and skills development
5	Group Work and Group Processes	Group work skills Stages of group processes Group rules and privacy and confidentiality Project team, manage conflict and project teams Developing your project concept with the group Write up your project	CHCGROUP403D E1. Address resourcing issues for group activities E2. Coordinate a group planning process E3. Manage groups processes including responding to conflict E4. Evaluate group activities
6	Advocacy	Community development and group work x 2 Planning a project with the community Community consultation Consulting with your organisation and local organisations to support the project – developing partnerships Defining project outcomes	CHCAD504B E1. Establish the representative role and process E2. Participate in decision-making forums E3. Negotiate outcomes and liaise with key people
7	Community Development Group Work	Community development and group work x 3 Community capacity building – skills development through project work Community based leadership, negotiation, delegation, a team approach Managing community development projects Project evaluation and dissemination	CHCCD514B E2. Work with groups to establish cooperative processes. E3. Support group processes and skills development E4. Reflect on practice
8	Community Development and Advocacy	Advocacy – understanding the issues impacting on the community and community services delivery, including policy development and – bringing about change to reflect the communities’ interests Individual and systemic advocacy Representing the community, representing the organisation Working with local organisations and networks in the community services industry to bring about change	CHCAD504B E1. Establish the representative role and process E2. Participate in decision-making forums E3. Negotiate outcomes and liaise with key people E4. Evaluate effectiveness of strategies
9	Presentations	Presentation on research and its relation to your project

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

No prescribed textbook required.

References

Other Resources

You will be provided with the resources and tools for learning in this course. These resources will also be available through Blackboard. You will also have access to the resources in the library. 

Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course is based on completing a plan for a group work activity, demonstration of group work skills and evaluation of your group work activity. You will also be assessed through completing written responses to a group work scenario involving conflict resolution and you will be required to provide written feedback on classmates presented activities.

Assessment Tasks

CLUSTERING
This unit has been clustered (grouped) for assessment with the units CHCCD514B Implement community development strategies and CHCPOL403C Undertake research activities.

For this unit (CHCGROUP403D Plan and conduct group activities) you will be required to complete the relevant sections of one assessment tasks as described below:

Community Development Project: for this task you will undertake specific assessment activities as part of the overall community development project assessment. Specifically, you will complete a written task addressing questions relating to how you are able to undertake activities, including; work with individuals and groups to identify issues and establish cooperative processes in developing solutions, building the capacity of groups to undertake project work and finally to reflect upon the strengths and challenges you face in your own practice.

Note: Further details of how assessment tasks are mapped to individual units of competency are available from the Program Coordinator.

Assessment Matrix

This program in 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