Course Title: Facilitate the interests and rights of clients

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2017

Course Code: LAW5734C

Course Title: Facilitate the interests and rights of clients

School: 365T Global, Urban and Social Studies

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4363 - Certificate IV in Community Services

Course Contact: Bronwyn Tanti

Course Contact Phone: 9925 9079

Course Contact Email: bronwyn.tanti@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 100

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 assist clients to identify their rights, voice their needs and concerns and realise their interests, rights and need.

This course applies to workers of all levels in a range of health or community services settings who provide services using a human rights based approach and have direct interaction with clients.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CHCADV001 Facilitate the interests and rights of clients

Element:

1. Facilitate the realisation of client interests, rights and needs

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Discuss the rights and responsibilities of all parties with client

1.2 Provide client with researched, relevant and timely information on their rights and responsibilities

1.3 Assist clients to identify their own interests, rights, needs, choices and responsibilities

1.4 Identify when rights are infringed or not being met

1.5 Provide client with information on available options for meeting their rights and needs and assist them to identify their preferred option

Element:

2. Advocate in accordance with client preferences and requests to optimise client outcomes

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Undertake an assessment to identify client’s ability to advocate for self

2.2 Initiate, negotiate and implement relevant strategies for addressing client rights and needs in collaboration with the client

2.3 Identify potential barriers as well as resources

2.4 Identify and contact the most appropriate individuals and/or organisations and represent the client to optimise outcomes for the client

2.5 Ensure information is kept in confidence unless authorisation is given to release it

   

 

Element:

3. Provide ongoing support to clients

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Support and encourage clients to exercise their rights and personal preferences without compromising their safety and that of others

3.2 Consult with supervisor, other support workers and the service about interests, rights and needs of clients in a way that upholds their rights and supports their reasonable expectations

3.3 Identify situations of risk or potential risk and refer appropriately

3.4 Apply work practices to minimise potential for harm to clients, self and others

3.5 Conduct all activities in accordance with legal, organisation and duty of care requirements

Element:

4. Support clients making a complaint

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Discuss organisation and legal complaints mechanism and ensure client is aware of rights and responsibilities

4.2 Assist client in lodging a complaint

4.3 Monitor process and provide ongoing support and information to client

Element:

5. Review progress

Performance Criteria:

5.1 Discuss progress and outcomes with the client and collaborate on further action as necessary

5.2 Ensure follow up and links to other services as required and in accordance with client preferences

5.3 Obtain feedback and identify opportunities for improvement to own work and action as appropriate


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

Classes where information is shared through talks and discussions, and workshops where exercises are conducted to apply learning. Time is spent during classes for students to work on group and individual assessment tasks.


Teaching Schedule

Week 1

Understanding advocacy

·         Advocacy principles and values

·         Rights, interests and needs

·         Different types of advocacy and their functions

Week 2

Identifying a client’s rights, interests and needs

·         Working with clients to identify their rights, interests and needs

·         Providing information and making referrals

Week 3

Supporting client’s self-advocacy

·         Assessing a client’s ability to self-advocate

·         Promoting dignity of risk while balancing duty of care requirements

Week 4

Supporting clients to make complaints

·         Discussing organisational and legal complaints mechanisms

·         Assisting clients in lodging a complaint

Week 5

Assessment workshop and role plays

·         Role play discussion and practice

·         Students participate in assessed role plays

Week 6

Representing the interests of a client or client group

·         Identifying and working within organisational representation frameworks

·         Seeking support and developing alliances

Week 7

Developing strategies to promote interests

·         Identifying ways to communicate and promote interests to meet objectives and priorities

·         Determining impact of strategies and how to measure success

Week 8

Implementing strategies and negotiating outcomes

·         Communicating interests to stakeholders

·         Identifying and dealing with conflict

·         Negotiating outcomes

Week 9

Evaluating outcomes

·         Collecting feedback and information to analyse outcomes

·         Adjusting strategies

·         Reporting outcomes and strategy updates

Week 10

Assessment workshop and presentations

·         Presentation practice

·         Students communicate and promote to the class their clients’ interests

·         Students evaluate others’ strategies

 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

Assessment task 1: Group assessment

Assessment task 2: Individual assessment

Assessment task 3: Online quiz


Assessment Tasks

Assessment task 1: Role pay case studies to identify clients’ rights, interests and needs.

Assessment task 2: Provide advocacy services for clients and evaluate the effectiveness of strategies.

Assessment task 3: Complete one online, self-paced quiz on the key issues and concepts relating to facilitating clients’ rights and interests and providing advocacy services.


Assessment Matrix

Students will be given an assessment marking guide for reference at the time that the assessment tasks are distributed.

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

Cover Sheet for Submissions

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 implications of plagiarism.

Attendance

It is strongly advised that you attend all sessions in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to gain the competency.

Applying for an Extension

Extension of time for assessment tasks may be granted where circumstances beyond your control prevent submission by the published due date. Speak with your teacher or course coordinator regarding applying for an extension.

Applying for Special Consideration

If you are seeking an extension of more than seven calendar days (from the original due date) you must lodge an Application for Special Consideration form, preferably prior to, but no later than two working days after the official due date. Late applications will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances. For information about Special Consideration and how to apply, see:

http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity means honesty and responsibility in scholarship through respecting the work of others whilst having the freedom to build new insights, new knowledge and ideas. RMIT University upholds the values of academic integrity as fundamental to the scholarship undertaken by all members of its community. Whenever you refer to another person’s research or ideas (either by directly quoting or paraphrasing them) you must acknowledge your source.

If you are even in doubt about how to properly cite a reference, consult your lecturer or the academic integrity website: http://www.rmit.edu.au/academicintegrity

The RMIT library provides tools to assist with your referencing http://www1.rmit.edu.au/library/referencing

Plagiarism and Collusion

Plagiarism and collusion constitute extremely serious academic misconduct, and are forms of cheating. You are reminded that cheating, whether by fabrication, falsification of data, or plagiarism, is an offence subject to University disciplinary procedures. Plagiarism is the presentation of the work, idea or creation of another person as though it is your own. It is a form of cheating and is a very serious academic offence that may lead to expulsion from the University. Plagiarised material can be drawn from, and presented in, written, graphic and visual form, including electronic data, and oral presentations. Plagiarism occurs when the origin of the material used is not appropriately cited. Plagiarism is not acceptable.

Examples of plagiarism include:

  • Copying sentences or paragraphs word-for-word from one or more sources, whether published or unpublished, which could include but is not limited to books, journals, reports, theses, websites, conference papers, course notes, etc. without proper citation;
  • Closely paraphrasing sentences, paragraphs, ideas or themes without proper citation;
  • Piecing together text from one or more sources and adding only linking sentences;
  • Copying or submitting whole or parts of computer files without acknowledging their source;
  • Copying designs or works of art and submitting them as your original work;
  • Copying a whole or any part of another student's work; and
  • Submitting work as your own that someone else has done for you.
  • Enabling Plagiarism: the act of assisting or allowing another person to plagiarise or to copy your own work is also an offence.

For further information, please see the RMIT Plagiarism Policy – http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=sg4yfqzod48g1 (unresolved) – and the RMIT Student Conduct Regulations – http://www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=r7a7an6qug93

Plagiarism Software

The originality verification software Turnitin may be used in this course. For details, see: http://www.turnitin.com

Complaints Procedure:

RMIT University is committed to providing a harmonious study and work environment for all students and staff. The University recognises your right to raise concerns about academic, administrative or support services without recrimination and has policies and procedures to assist in the resolution of complaints.

Most issues are resolved at the local level and you are encouraged to take steps to resolve your issue locally. The student complaint procedure details steps to take if your problem is not resolved or you believe the response you received is unreasonable.

Student Complaints Policy: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/policies/studentcomplaintspolicy

Student complaints Procedure: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=i1lexipvjt22

Student Complaints Form: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/v4ujvmyojugxz.pdf

Police Checks

Students must obtain their own police check by the due date and pay the associated costs. Students who do not obtain a required police clearance by the due date shall not be able to undertake a practical placement or work experience activity that requires a Police Check.

The University shall not be obligated to organise a placement for a student who does not wish to obtain a Police Check.

Where required by the workplace, students shall provide a copy of their police check on request.

If a student is rejected by a workplace on the basis of a Police Check, the following actions shall occur, as appropriate:

-               advise the student of the outcome; and

-               discuss placement options with the student; and/or

-               provide program and career counselling.

RMIT will not store Police Checks on student files.

Early Termination of Placement

Under section 6 of the WIL Procedure, a placement may be ended early by the host organisation or School due to the student’s conduct and/or performance during the placement.

Possible reasons for such decisions may include, but are not limited to-

  • failure to follow processes required for safety
  • breach of client or patient confidentiality
  • failure to comply with the instructions of supervisors
  • or other unprofessional behaviour

Where a placement ends early, a meeting will be convened to discuss the sequence of events that led to the termination. This meeting will precede any consideration of a student’s progress by the Progress Panel (if applicable) or Program Assessment Board

 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview