Course Title: Identify and respond to children and young people at risk

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2014

Course Code: HWSS5734C

Course Title: Identify and respond to children and young people at risk

School: 360T Education

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4326 - Certificate IV in 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

Fiona Dean: Teacher
Ph: 9925 4650
fiona.dean@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 30

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 address duty of care requirements, working within an ethical framework and applying relevant legislation, policies and procedures in responding to children and young people.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CHCCHILD401B Identify and respond to children and young people at risk

Element:

1. Implement work practices which support the protection of children and young people

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Identify children and young people at risk of harm by observing signs and symptoms, asking non-invasive questions, being aware of protective issues and using child protection procedures where appropriate
1.2 Respond to disclosure, information or signs and symptoms in accordance with accepted standards, techniques, and legislative obligations
1.3 Comply with lawful instructions, regulations and duty of care in all work activities
1.4 Routinely employ child focused work practices to uphold the rights of children and young peoples to participate in decision-making where it is age appropriate
1.5 Employ communication and information gathering techniques with children and young people in accordance with current recognised good practice
1.6 Ensure decisions and actions taken are within own level of responsibility, work role and legislative requirements
1.7 Maintain own knowledge and skills as required to work effectively and participate in practice supervision processes
1.8 Maintain confidentiality as appropriate
1.9 Provide an appropriate response as determined by organisation procedures, legal and work role obligations

Element:

2. Report indications of possible risk of harm

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Accurately record relevant specific and general circumstances surrounding risk of harm in accordance with organisation procedures, ethics and legal requirements
2.2 Promptly report risk of harm indicators accordance with statutory and organisation procedures
2.3 Work collaboratively with relevant agencies to ensure maximum effectiveness of report

Element:

3. Apply ethical and nurturing practices in work with children and young people

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Protect the rights of children and young people in the provision of services
3.2 Identify and seek supervision support for issues of ethical concern in practice with children and young people
3.3 Develop ethical and nurturing practices in accordance with professional boundaries when working with children and young people
3.4 Recognise indicators for potential ethical concerns when working with children and young people
3.5 Respond to unethical behaviour of others by reporting to the appropriate person


Learning Outcomes


This course applies to workers involved in delivering services to children and young people including: community services, health, policing, juvenile justice, recreation, family services, education, alcohol and other drugs work and mental health


Details of Learning Activities

The student learning experience will be facilitated through participation in a range of activities:
Group discussion
Guest speakers
Oral and/or written questions on "What if?" scenarios
Individual and group projects- Completion of Projects will include negotiated independent study time and practical work relevant to the unit of competency.
Realistic simulations and role play
Practical demonstrations and direct observation of actual work and simulated work practice
Oral Presentations

Your program consists of a combination of learning activities through a range of delivery methods including: face to face teaching, online activities and Directed Study and you are expected to participate in professional placement. You work independently 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.


Teaching Schedule

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.
Semester 1
Week 1-4
Rights of the Child : Ethical approaches incorporating the conventions on the rights of the child, and human rights
Distinguishing between legal and ethical problems
Statutory and policy requirements relating to job role
Organisation guidelines and policies for responding to risks of harm to children and young
people
Identifying risk, identifying children and young people at risk: signs and symptoms cause and effect
Duty of Care responsibilities

Discussion, Q&A activities, Evidence Guide

Week 5-8
Identifying risk, identifying children and young people at risk: signs and symptoms cause and effect
Different types of abuse
Impact of rick of harm
Responding to disclosure, information or signs and symptoms in accordance with accepted
standards, techniques, and legislative obligations
Applying indicators of abuse to make judgements relating to risks of harm

Discussion, Q&A activities,
Project1 – Research/Q&A

Week 9-12
Employing child focused work practices, upholding rights of children and young peoples
Communication and information gathering techniques appropriate when working with children and young people
Decision making and actions taken within work role
Maintaining confidentiality as appropriate and reporting indications of possible risk of harm

Discussion, Q&A activities

Week 13-16
Issues involved in reporting indications of possible risk of harm
Responding to children and young people at risk
Using child focused work practices to support young people
Accurately recording relevant specific and general circumstances surrounding risk of harm
and in accordance with organisation procedures, ethics and legal requirements

Discussion, Q&A activities
Scenarios/Q&A

Week 17-18
Reflecting on own experiences responding to children at risk

Progress interview – review folio of assessments e.g : Evidence Guide, Project 1 , Evidence of practical experience identifying and responding to children and young people at risk, e.g Observation/Demonstration, Third party, Oral Presentation (oral and/or written)


Semester 2

Week 1-4

Work collaboratively with relevant agencies, ensuring maximum effectiveness of reporting
Common legal issues relevant to work undertaken with children and young people
Developing and applying ethical and nurturing practices
Protecting the rights of children and young people in the provision of service

Discussion, Q&A activities, Evidence Guide
Week 5-8
Issues arising assisting and responding to children at risk
Ethical decision making and ethical obligations
Recognising indicators for potential ethical concerns and applying principles of legal requirements and ethical obligations when working with children and young people
Discussion, Q&A activities,

Week 9-12
Identifying and seeking supervision support for issues of ethical concern in practice with
children and young people
Strategies to assist in responding to unethical behaviours
Responding to unethical behaviour of others by reporting to the appropriate person

Discussion, Q&A activities
Project 2 - Scenarios/Q&A/Oral presentation

Week 13-16
Providing appropriate response to indications of risk of harm
Working within a legal and ethical framework
Reporting and documenting relevant to work health and safety (WHS) guidelines

Discussion, Q&A activities

Week 17-18
Reflecting on own experiences responding to children at risk

Assessment interview – review folio of final assessments e.g : Evidence Guide, Project 1 and 2, Evidence of practical experience identifying and responding to children and young people at risk, e.g Observation/Demonstration, Third party, Oral Presentation (oral and/or written)


 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

TEXTS AND EQUIPMENT
There are no set texts in this unit. 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 City/Brunswick Library)
• 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
• Work-based 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 charter (http://mams.rmit.edu.au/kh6a3ly2wi2h1.pdf) 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 which are described and referenced in a single document: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=ln1kd66y87rc
 


Assessment Tasks

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
• Project 1 - Oral and/or written question and answer assignment / Workbooks
• Project 2 – Individual or group project
• Scenarios (oral and/or written task)
• Presentation of a portfolio of evidence which may comprise documents, and/or photographs and/or video and audio files
• 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.


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant Unit of Competency. These are available from the course contact person (stated above).

Course Overview: Access Course Overview