Course Title: Work with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2020

Course Code: HWSS6073C

Course Title: Work with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness

School: 375T Vocational Design and Social Context

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4363 - Certificate IV in Community Services

Course Contact: Melinda Brown

Course Contact Phone: 9925 4580

Course Contact Email: melinda.brown@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 85

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

This course describes the skills and knowledge required to work with people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless, including women and children experiencing family violence.

This course applies to work in a range of roles at any level within a community services and health context.

This course will be delivered via distance learning in Semester 2, 2020.

This course is delivered as a cluster with:

CHCMHS001 Work with people with mental health issues.

 


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CHCSOH001 Work with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness

Element:

1. Address issues associated with people who are experiencing homelessness or risk of becoming homeless

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Be aware of own personal values and attitudes regarding homelessness and take these into account when planning and implementing work activities

1.2 Identify barriers in accessing safe, secure housing for people in specific circumstances experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless

1.3 Where appropriate, ensure opportunities are provided for the person to participate in service planning and support activities

1.4 Assess the personal safety of those experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless, including young homeless to ensure they are not in an unsafe situation and report and refer appropriately

1.5 Assess issues impacting on the person’s homelessness risk or situation and modify the approach to service delivery

1.6 Work with the person to identify and discuss potential solutions to complex issues raised, including referral to appropriate services and personnel

1.7 Provide advice and assistance on housing options

Element:

2. Support and advocate for people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Advocate and negotiate for services in conjunction with the person and according to the person’s needs

2.2 Support the person to advocate and/or negotiate on their own behalf and to deal with discrimination

2.3 Negotiate and create access pathways to support services and the full range of social and private housing providers

2.4 Use a range of advocacy techniques that take into account differing cultural backgrounds, are age appropriate and gender sensitive

2.5 Advocate within the community to facilitate addressing issues on behalf of people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless


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

  • class exercises to review discussions/lectures
  • practical demonstrations
  • Blog/Wiki or other online discussion and participation
  • analysis/critique of relevant reading material
  • workshops
  • design activities or projects
  • group projects
  • peer learning
  • guest lecture/presentation
  • peer teaching
  • group discussion
  • research
  • independent project based work
  • group activities/projects
  • ‘workshopping’ of student projects including peer/lecturer feedback
  • visits to galleries and events
  • practical placement
  • simulated workplaces.

Note: All learning activities are delivered via remote learning in Semester 2, 2020.


Teaching Schedule

Week Topic Assessment due dates 
Week 1

Introduction to mental health in Australia

  • The arena in Australia, different contexts
  • Mental health myths and facts
  • The relationship between mental health and homelessness
  • The homeless experience: case scenario
 
Week 2

Mental health sector values and principles

  • Understanding the values of the mental health sector and the principles underpinning service provision
  • Holistic approach and recovery oriented practice
  • Social inclusion
 
Week 3

Understanding mental health issues from the consumer perspective

  • Mental health illnesses and disorders
  • Mental health in adulthood and older people
  • Adolescent and childhood mental health
 
Week 4

Communicating effectively with clients

  • Developing and maintaining respect, hope, trust and self-direction
  • Working in a way that reflects and prioritises the person’s right to self-define and direct their own recovery
 
Week 5

Empowering clients

  • Empowering clients to develop strategies that support recovery
  • Promoting dignity of risk and supporting individual choice
  • Overcoming effects of prejudice and discrimination
 
Week 6

Demonstrating recovery oriented practice

  • working with clients in practice
  • working with clients at risk of homelessness and who experience mental health issues
 
Week 7

In class Assessment - Role Plays

  • Participating in assessment role plays
Assessment Task 1&2  Mental Health - Due 23rd August
Week 8

Assessing a client’s homelessness risk or situation

  • Types of assessment tools and understanding homelessness risk criteria
  • Gathering information and requesting information from other sources
  • Identifying barriers to accessing accommodation services
  • Reporting children at risk of homelessness
 
Week 9

Providing and adapting service to meet needs

  • Determining how current service provision need to be adapted
  • Adapting service provision to meet needs
  • Making referral to relevant providers
Assessment Task 1&2  Mental Health - Due 23rd August
Week 10

Providing advice and assistance on housing options

  • Working with client to help identify solutions
  • Researching housing options
  • Providing appropriate and relevant information
Assessment Task 2
Week 11

Advocating for and with clients

  • Helping the client to advocate for themselves with government agencies and service providers
  • Advocating within the community to address homelessness and tenancy issues
 
Week 12

Negotiating for services

  • Working with or negotiating on behalf of clients
  • Negotiation techniques
  • Helping to create access to support services
 
Week 13

Assessment workshop

  • Finalising assessments and work on Assessment 3
  • Review of topics
  • Reflection on learning and applied tasks
Assessment Task 1, 2 & 3 Role plays Homelessness
Week 14

Catch up & Unit Review

 

Assessment 4 quiz Homelessness


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

N/A


Overview of Assessment

Assessment Task 1: Role-play

Assessment Task 2: Role-play

Assessment Task 3: Role-play

Assessment Task 4: Quiz 

 

 

 


Assessment Tasks

Assessment task 1: Role play demonstrating students skills working with 1st client who is at risk of homelessness

Assessment task 2: Role play demonstrating students skills working with 2nd client who is at risk of homelessness

Assessment task 3: Role play demonstrating students skills working with 3rd client who is at risk of homelessness

Assessment task 4: Quiz evidencing students knowledge of the homelessness service sector

 


Assessment Matrix

A marking rubric for each assessment t ask is located on Canvas. 

Other Information

Please refer to the RMIT student page for extensive information about study support, assessment, extensions, appeals and a range of other matters: rmit.edu.au/students

 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview