Course Title: Support clients in decision-making processes

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2015

Course Code: HWSS6001C

Course Title: Support clients in decision-making processes

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

Iren Citler

iren.citler@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 120

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 support clients in planning a course of action. The basic counselling skills described in this course are intended for application in the context of delivering a range of community services. Assessment may require additional knowledge specific to a particular community services or health sector.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CHCCSL507B Support clients in decision-making processes

Element:

1. Assist clients in clarifying their aims and requirements

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Clearly explain to clients the policy on record-keeping and confidentiality
1.2 Encourage clients to identify and explore overall aims, requirements, and ideas for meeting them
1.3 Encourage clients to feel at ease and express themselves
1.4 Identify practical goals and requirements, and discuss with clients how these might be modified
1.5 Identify with clients potential courses of action for meeting individual aims and requirements
1.6 Where aims and requirements of clients cannot be met, refer clients to appropriate alternative sources of guidance and support
1.7 Identify indicators of client issues requiring referral and report or refer appropriately, in line with organisation requirements

Element:

2. Enable clients to explore possible courses of action

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Explore with clients factors which could influence the preference for and ability to achieve a course of action
2.2 Explore with clients features of and likely consequences of possible courses of action
2.3 Check client understanding of what is involved in each course of action
2.4 Help clients to assess advantages and disadvantages of each possible course of action, and their overall appropriateness for meeting particular client requirements
2.5 Encourage clients to decide on a course of action and to consider alternatives which could be used if necessary
2.6 Document decisions and agreed support within organisation guidelines


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

The learning activities for this course 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:

  • Role plays
  • Case study discussion
  • Questions and answers
  • Group work
  • Completion of assessment tools


Teaching Schedule

This course has been grouped for delivery and is part of a cluster called: Introduction to Counselling. The other courses forming this cluster is: CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

Class Topic Content
1 Background knowledge of the counselling process
  • Purposes of counselling
  • Meet and greet
  • Building a foundation/rapport and confidentiality
  • Become acclimatised to congruence/ unconditional positive regard/empathy
  • Different types of counseling and how each helps
2 Self-awareness
  • Trust based learning activity
  • Structured approach to counselling: explain counselling to clinician: roles and obligations
  • Duty of care
  • Framework
  • Collaboration
  • Empowerment
  • Closure
  • Clarifying the counseling process for client—their roles and expectations
3 Ethics, organisational policies and procedures
  • Policy—agency context
  • Purpose of confidentiality and policies and ethical conundrums
  • Gathering information
  • Introduction to forms— getting comfortable with intake, ITP/ISP and referral
4 Communication skills within a counselling framework
  • Communication skills: active listening, identifying issues, responding, and challenging.
     
5 The counselling relationship
  • The Counselling plan, methods and required resources
  • The counselling contract
  • The nature of the relationship
  • Alternative counselling:

• Group therapy
• Group support
• Community support
• Personal support

6 Procedures and policies
  • Clients rights
  • Grievances
  • Supervision and self-care
7 Applying counselling skills  
  • Practice Counselling Techniques
  • Practical Techniques (group and one-to-one)


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

No textbook required.


References


Other Resources

You will be provided with the resources and tools for learning in this course. This 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 ongoing and consists of progress reports based on a case study and participation in a role play where you will demonstrations counselling micro skills techniques.


Assessment Tasks

This course has been clustered (grouped) for assessment with the course CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework. For this cluster you will be required to complete the tasks below:

Assessment Task 1 - Case Study: This task is designed to capture your understanding of how to support a client, who may be experiencing complex issues within a structured counselling framework. This support will be provided as the client moves through different stages and encounters different issues in her life. Each stage will become available to you through handouts and via Blackboard at per-determined intervals. You will be required to document the support provided to the client at the level required, you will also need to demonstrate newly acquired counselling skills in group and one on one sessions. This major assessment task unfolds across the sessions.

Assessment Task 2 - Role Play (Counselling Session): for this tasks you will required to participate in a role play demonstrating micro counselling techniques while interviewing a client.


Assessment Matrix

This course 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