Course Title: Identify and respond to children and young people at risk

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2015

Course Code: HWSS6015C

Course Title: Identify and respond to children and young people at risk

School: 365T Global, Urban and Social Studies

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5331 - Diploma of Youth Work

Course Contact: Dianne Mackay

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4454

Course Contact Email: dianne.mackay@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Iren Citler

iren.citler@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 40

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

In this course you will develop the skills and knowledge required to support and protect children and young people who are at risk of harm. This work occurs within legislative and policy frameworks and carries a duty of care responsibility.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CHCPRT001 Identify and respond to children and young people at risk

Element:

1. Implement work practices which support the protection of children and young people

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Identify children and young people at risk of abuse or neglect by observing signs and symptoms, asking open and non-leading questions, being aware of protective issues and using child protection procedures where appropriate

1.2 Respond to disclosure, information or signs and symptoms in accordance with state legislative responsibilities and the service policies and procedures

1.3 Routinely employ child-focused work practices to uphold the rights of the child and encourage them to participate in age-appropriate decision-making

1.4 Employ communication and information-gathering techniques with children and young people in accordance with current recognised good practice

1.5 Ensure decisions and actions taken are within own level of responsibility, work role, state legislation and service policies and procedures
 

Element:

2. Report indications of possible risk of harm

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Accurately record relevant specific and general circumstances surrounding risk of harm in accordance with state legislation, service policies and procedures and ethics

2.2 Promptly record and report risk-of-harm indicators, including the circumstances surrounding the risk of harm according to service policies and procedures

2.3 Ensure writing in reports is non-judgemental

2.4 Work collaboratively with relevant agencies to ensure maximum effectiveness of report
 

Element:

3. Apply ethical and nurturing practices in work with children and young people

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Protect the rights of children and young people in the provision of services

3.2 Identify and seek supervision support for issues of ethical concern in practice with children and young people

3.3 Employ ethical and nurturing practices and observe professional boundaries when working with children and young people

3.4 Recognise and report indicators for potential ethical concerns when working with children and young people
 


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

The learning activities for this course will include the following:

  • Case study analysis
  • group discussion
  • media clips


Teaching Schedule

The teaching schedule for this course are as follows:

Week 1 Implement work practices which support the protection of children and young people

Implement work practices which support the protection of children and young people, including:
• complying with regulations, legislations and duty of care responsibilities
• employing child-focused work practices to uphold the rights of children and young people
• maintaining confidentiality
• providing appropriate responses in the protection of children and young people
• read and interpreted the procedures for reporting children at risk in line with organisational expectations and legislative requirements.
 

Week 2 - Report indications of possible risk of harm

Knowledge of:
• indicators of the different types and dynamics of abuse as they may apply to age, gender, disability, culture and sexuality
• child protection legislation in the relevant state or territory
• United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
• impact of risk of harm
• duty of care responsibilities
• trauma-informed care
 

Week 3 - Apply ethical and nurturing practices in work with children and young people

Ethical considerations including:
• approaches that incorporate the conventions on the rights of the child, and human rights
• obligations as defined by the job specification and employing organisation
• obligations as stated in relevant codes of practice, licensing, accreditation registration to professional bodies, service agreements
• principles of ethical decision-making
• overview of legal system and how it pertains to the job role, in particular:
• child protection system, including reporting protocols, responses to reporting and interagency policies
• state/territory requirements and processes for notifying suspected abuse and reporting process
• statutory and policy requirements relating to job role
• organisation standards, policies and procedures.
 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

Additional resources will also be available in ‘Blackboard’. A set of readings will be made available to you including journals and texts that may support you in the program.


Overview of Assessment

To demonstrate competency in this course you will need to complete all of the following pieces of assessment to a satisfactory standard. You will receive written feedback on all assessment (refer to MyRMIT for assessment criteria).

Assessments will include:

Assessment

Assessment Type

Assessment one

Written response to questions     75-100 words per question

Assessment two

Role play working with a client or presentation of an organisation's policy

(10 minutes)

Assessment three

Work Integrated Learning - WIL work placement and assessment tasks

 

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or the Disability Liaison Unit if you would like to find out more.

A student charter http://www.rmit.edu.au/about/studentcharter summarises your responsibilities as an RMIT student as well as those of your teachers.

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions which are available for review online: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=c15i3ciaq8ca


Assessment Tasks

There are two assessment tasks for this course:

Assessment Task 1 Build a Risk Assessment.

  • Students will be required to complete a table which will demonstrate their ability to build a risk assessment


Assessment Task 2 Case Study. 

Read through case provided.
Person at risk: Develop a scenario that includes reasons for dying and living, a plan and existing resources. Counsellor to use all the skills learnt to conduct an intervention. You are expected to recognise warning signs, ask about suicide, explore ambivalence, conduct a risk assessment, develop a safe plan and refer to professionals where appropriate. 

As part of your assessment, it is expected that you will cover each of the points listed below

Explore warning signs (thoughts, feelings, behaviours, reactions)
Ask about suicide (direct, clear question)
Uncover reasons for living (strengthen links to safety and life)
Conduct a risk review (current plan, past attempts, lack of support, drug and/or alcohol abuse, mental health history, presence of severe psychological pain)
Develop a safe plan (disable each risk factor)
Link individual with informal and formal supports
Explore and seek to understand any barriers to accepting help
Ensure compliance with all laws, relevant ethical guidelines that affect duty of care


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant course. These are available from the Program Co-ordinator.

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

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

Other Information

Assessment Tasks Submission Cover Sheet
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 the plagiarism implications.

Attendance
It is strongly advised that you attend all workshops 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 by teacher on your work. This feedback also includes suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your competency. Information regarding student feedback can be found at: 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. The Student progress policy can be found at:
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=vj2g89cve4uj1

Special consideration Policy (Late Submission)
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. Information regarding application for special consideration can be found at: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=g43abm17hc9w

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

A Police Check and Working with Children Check – This course requires both documents before placement can begin
 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview