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

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2022

Course Code: HWSS6073C

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

Important Information:

Please note that this course may have compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching activities.  

To participate in any RMIT course in-person activities or assessment, you will need to comply with RMIT vaccination requirements which are applicable during the duration of the course. This RMIT requirement includes being vaccinated against COVID-19 or holding a valid medical exemption.  

Please read this RMIT Enrolment Procedure as it has important information regarding COVID vaccination and your study at RMIT: https://policies.rmit.edu.au/document/view.php?id=209.  

Please read the Student website for additional requirements of in-person attendance: https://www.rmit.edu.au/covid/coming-to-campus  

  

Please check your Canvas course shell closer to when the course starts to see if this course requires mandatory in-person attendance. The delivery method of the course might have to change quickly in response to changes in the local state/national directive regarding in-person course attendance.  


School: 535T Social Care and Health

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.




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.


Teaching Schedule

Course Schedule: Homelessness                                                                       Semester 1: 2022

Week

Topic

Week 1

Intro to homelessness

  • What is meant by homelessness
  • Homelessness in Australia
  • Victorian Statistics
  • Covid & Homelessness

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 2

ONLINE

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

Outreach

Home visits

Homelessness & the extreme weather

Week 3

-Priority Housing

-Shower Bus

-Assessment forms for housing

-Assessment overview (Maram risk Assessment)

Providing advice and assistance on housing options

  • Working with client to help identify solutions
  • Researching housing options
  • Providing appropriate and relevant information

Week 4

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 5

Negotiating for services

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

Week 6

Assessment workshop - Homelessness Role Plays

  • Finalising assessments and work on Role plays
  • Review of topics
  • Reflection on learning and applied tasks

 

Week 7

Assessment Task 4 & Unit Review

  • Prepare and undertake Assessment Task 4 in class

 

Week 8

ONLINE

Assessment marking & Student support

 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

Assessment Task 1: Role-play

Assessment Task 2: Role-play

Assessment Task 3: Role-play

Assessment Task 4: Short Answer Questions 





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: Short Answer Questions  evidencing students knowledge of the homelessness service sector


Assessment Matrix

A marking rubric for each assessment task 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