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

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2024

Course Code: HWSS8154C

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

School: 535T Social Care and Health

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4423 - Certificate IV in Mental Health

Course Contact: Jennifer Furby

Course Contact Phone: +61399258310

Course Contact Email: jennifer.furby@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 50

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 unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to work with people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless, including people experiencing domestic and family violence.

This unit applies to individuals who work in a range of community services and health roles.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CHCSOH013 Work with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness

Element:

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

Performance Criteria:

1.1. Reflect on 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 and secure housing for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless.

1.3. Provide opportunities for people to participate in service planning and support activities.

1.4. Assess personal safety of people experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless and report and refer those in unsafe situations according to organisational policies and procedures and legislative requirements.

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

1.6. Work with person to identify and discuss potential solutions to complex issues raised, including referral to key agencies, 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 person according to person’s needs.

2.2. Support person to advocate and negotiate on their own behalf and deal with discrimination.

2.3. Negotiate and create access pathways to support services and social and private housing providers.

2.4. Select and use advocacy techniques appropriate and sensitive to cultural background, age and gender.

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


This course is structured to provide students with the optimum learning experience in order to demonstrate the skills and knowledge required to effectively in the above elements.  


Details of Learning Activities

Classes where information is shared through talks and group discussions, and exercises are conducted to apply learning. Time in class, will also be spent working on applied assessment tasks.  


Teaching Schedule

Course Schedule: Homelessness                                                                       Semester 2: 2024

 

Week

Topic

Assessment due dates 

Week 1

Introduction to homelessness 

  • 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

 

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 

  • The importance of Outreach 
  • What is Outreach 
  • Outreach Models 
  • Resources 
  • Home visits 
  • What is the purpose of home-visits 
  • Safety considerations 
  • Outreach principles 

Homelessness & the extreme weather

 

 

Week 3

 

 Providing advice and assistance on housing options 

  • Working with client to help identify solutions 
  • Researching housing options 
  • Other resources and supports 

Prepare for role plays 

 

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

    Negotiating for services

    • Working with or negotiating on behalf of clients
    • Negotiation techniques
    • Helping to create access to support services
    • Prepare Assessment Task 4 in class

 

Week 5

 

Assessment workshop - Homelessness Role Plays Assessment Task 1 & 2

 Assessment Task 1 & 2 Practical

Week 6

Assessment workshop - Homelessness Role Plays Task 1 & 2

 

 

Due: Assessment Task 4 Knowledge

 Assessment Task 1 & 2 Practical

 

Week 7

 Assessment workshop - Homelessness Role Plays Task 3

Assessment Task 3

 

 

Week 8

Assessment workshop - Homelessness Role Plays Task 3 (If required)

Assessment Task 4 and Unit Review

 

 

 

 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

he University Library has extensive resources and provides subject specialist expertise, research advice, help with referencing and support through: 
The learning Lab 
www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/learning-lab 
The Study Support Hub 
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/study-support-hub 
English for uni workshops 
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/workshops/english-uni-workshops 


Overview of Assessment

There are four individual assessment tasks consisting of an online quiz and role plays. 

In order to achieve competency in this unit, you must be marked as satisfactory for each assessment task.

Students are allowed two submissions per assessment.  Any further resubmissions is at the discretion of the teacher and coordinator.

Assessment tasks include:   

Task 1: Role play 1    

Task 2: Role play 2

Task 3: Role play 3 

Task 4: Online quiz 


Assessment Tasks

Task 1: Role play 1  - This practical assessment task is a role-play and requires you to demonstrate your skills working with a client who is at risk of homelessness 

Task 2: Role play 2 - This practical assessment task is a role-play and requires you to demonstrate your skills working with a client who is at risk of homelessness 

Task 3: Role play 3 - This practical assessment task is a role-play and requires you to demonstrate your skills working with a client who is at risk of homelessness 

Task 4: Knowledge Questions (Online quiz)- You are required to demonstrate your knowledge and learning from this unit


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant unit of competency. 

The assessment matrix is in Canvas, at the end of each assessment task. 

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