Course Title: Access evidence and apply in practice

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2014

Course Code: MIET6288C

Course Title: Access evidence and apply in practice

School: 365T Global, Urban & Social Studies

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5318 - Diploma of Community Services (Alcohol, other drugs and mental health)

Course Contact : Xenia Girdler

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4660

Course Contact Email:xenia.girdler@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Iren Citler
iren.citler@rmit.edu.au
9925 4914

Nominal Hours: 55

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 knowledge and skills required to access and judiciously use the current best practice and evidence to guide decisions for improving client outcomes.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CHCPOL501A Access evidence and apply in practice

Element:

5.Integrate and maintain change in practice

Performance Criteria:

5.1Develop strategies to implement and maintain change in practice
5.2Communicate proposed changes to relevant stakeholders and secure agreement
5.3Provide relevant others with necessary information and training
5.4Integrate changes into standards of practice, according to accepted strategies according to organisation requirements
5.5Monitor the process and outcomes
5.6Report results and findings according to organisation requirements

Element:

1.Prepare to gather appropriate evidence

Performance Criteria:

1.1Assess the need for change in current practice
1.2Identify and apply appropriate strategies to define the problem and/or the desired outcome
1.3Determine desired outcome indicators
1.4Determine the level of evidence appropriate to the issue
1.5Determine the quality, relevance and strength needs of the evidence
1.6Determine plan to access, critically appraise and incorporate evidence results into practice

Element:

2.Research and assess evidence-based best practice

Performance Criteria:

2.1Gather appropriate evidence from a range of sources
2.2Determine relevance, reliability and currency of evidence
2.3Assess the strength of the evidence base in the context of applicability to the work setting
2.4Assess the feasibility, benefits and risks associated with the evidence

Element:

3.Develop possible practice changes

Performance Criteria:

3.1Identify the proposed changes to current practice, based on evidence
3.2Identify tensions between evidenced based practice and client wants and choices
3.3Develop a plan for implementing proposed changes, including resources and timeframes
3.4Develop risk management plan for the proposed changes
3.5Determine the outcome indicators for the proposed changes
3.6Plan for changed practice in a context of client and staff confidentiality and safety

Element:

4.Implement and evaluate changes in practice

Performance Criteria:

4.1Secure informed consent from clients and others involved in the implementation
4.2Conduct practice according to implementation plan
4.3Conduct evaluation of the changed practice
4.4Report findings of the changed practice according to organisation policy and procedures


Learning Outcomes


By completeting this course and associated assessments you will gain the skills and knowledge necessary to apply current evidence-based best practice to your work with complex-care clients.


Details of Learning Activities

The course is made up of a mixture of: workshops facilitated by leading industry experts, small group assignments and work-based reflections and assessments which encourage experiential learning. This range of learning and assessment methods is a deliberate attempt to harness and utilise your diverse skill base and current capacity to work in the sector. Guest facilitators and speakers will be brought in from a wide range of disciplines and service areas to enhance your learning. Areas to be covered will include: clinical and non-clinical assessment and management, culturally sensitive practice, counselling and support, forensic services and pharmacotherapy. There will also be opportunities for you to share your knowledge and expertise via small group work and larger group presentations. Trainers and facilitators will be required to draw on the wide-ranging skills and expertise of the leaner group – thus ensuring material is relevant and meaningful.


Teaching Schedule

You will be provided with a comprehensive workshop schedule at the beginning of the Diploma program. However, in overview, the face-to-face workshops are held one evening per week - for three hours duration. each workshop will touch upon the importance of accessing current research to inform our practice. In addition there will be workshops looking at current evidence and research into complex care. Therefore, this course will taught within a context of complex care and reflective of the sector’s requirements.


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

Learning resources such as unit reading and unit references will be provided to all students via their program folders and also placed within the blackboard site as required.


Overview of Assessment

This course will be assessed via a major research assignment examining a current evidence-based principle of practice. This task has two main components - the written research and a complimentary role-play exercise.


Assessment Tasks

There are three major assessment tasks which meet the critical aspects of the nineteen (19) units of competency which make up the Diploma of Community Services. All assessments within this course are designed to complement learner’s work within the community services sector.

Research Project:
You will undertake a research activity to provide evidence to support your choice of underpinning principle of practice. You will be required to explore how it is applied when working with clients who experience both AOD (Alcohol and Other Drug) and Mental Health issues. You will be required to identify opportunities for the implementation or change within the current professional practice and apply these principles to your work with your case study.

To be marked as competent in this assessment task you must demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of:

How to undertake research
Principles guiding ethical gathering of information
Evidenced based best practice
And their ability to:
Identify practices requiring change
Communicate with stakeholders
Gather and analyse evidence
Identify possible practice changes based on evidence


Assessment Matrix

A matrix is available on blackboard and via your coordinator.

This program in delivered in accordance with competency-based assessment, grades include:

CA: Competency Achieved
NYC: Not Yet Competent
DNS: Did Not Submit for assessment
 

Other Information

Cover sheet for Submissions
You must include a completed submission coversheet for every piece of submitted work, including online submissions. This signed sheet acknowledges that you are aware of the plagiarism implications.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.
Academic Integrity: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=kw02ylsd8z3n

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.

Feedback
You will receive verbal and written feedback on your work. This feedback also includes suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.
Student feedback at RMIT: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=9pp3ic9obks7

Student Progress
Monitoring academic progress is an important, enabling and proactive strategy to assist you to achieve your learning potential.
Student progress policy: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=vj2g89cve4uj1

Special consideration policy (late submissions)
All assessment tasks are required to be completed to a satisfactory level. If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension.
Special consideration, appeals and discipline: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qkssnx1c5r0y

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy go to Academic Integrity: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=kw02ylsd8z3n

Course Overview: Access Course Overview