Course Title: Maintain legal and ethical work practices

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2015

Course Code: HWSS5750C

Course Title: Maintain legal and ethical work practices

School: 365T Global, Urban & Social Studies

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5331 - Diploma of Youth Work

Course Contact : Jennifer Brooker

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4115

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


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Trevor Bayley

trevor.bayley@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 70

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 legal and ethical work practices required to work in the youth work and community services sector, including duty of care requirements.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CHCCS502C Maintain legal and ethical work practices

Element:

1. Promote the importance of applying legislation and common law relevant to work role

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Identify and explain legal responsibilities and obligations relating to identified work role/s
1.2 Identify and explain key statutory and regulatory requirements relating to identified work role/s
1.3 Encourage staff to clarify and fulfil duty of care responsibilities in the course of practice, to accept responsibility and be accountable for own actions and to maintain confidentiality in line with organisation guidelines
1.4 Identify and promote opportunities for staff to involve clients in decision-making and to seek client agreement prior to service provision
 

Element:

2. Monitor application of organisation policies and practices

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Monitor work performance to ensure organisation policies, protocols and procedures are appropriately and consistently addressed
2.2 Provide information and support to initiate and contribute to the review and development of policies and protocols in line with work role
2.3 Clarify scope of work for staff to address requirements of position specifications and role responsibilities
2.4 Provide clarification for any uncertainty with regard to scope of practice in line with organisation requirements and legal and ethical guidelines
2.5 Monitor work instructions provided to staff to ensure their clarity and appropriateness in line with organisation requirements and legal and ethical guidelines
 

Element:

3. Monitor ethical work practices

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Monitor service delivery to ensure client rights are protected and services are delivered to clients with respect for diversity of personal values, beliefs and attitudes
3.2 Monitor staff ability to use effective problem solving techniques when exposed to competing value systems
3.3 Identify potential ethical issues and ethical dilemmas in the workplace and discuss with staff to ensure maintenance of ethical work practices
3.4 Use codes of ethics to recognise and report unethical conduct according to established protocols
 

Element:

4. Take corrective action when client rights and interests are not being protected

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Ensure client and/or their advocate/s are supported to identify and express their concerns
4.2 Instigate and monitor referral of client and/or their advocate/s to advocacy services as appropriate
4.3 Manage client complaint/s in line with organisation policy and protocols
4.4 Take action in line with organisation protocols to address witnessed signs or evidence consistent with financial, physical, emotional, sexual abuse and/or neglect of the client
4.5 Work with an understanding and appreciation of the role and responsibilities of legal guardians
 


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

This course learning activities will be supported and complimented by RMIT’s on line learning management tool “Blackboard. Other essential learning activities take place during the workshops, and you will also be required to undertake independent studies. Some learning activities that you will undertake in the workshops are:
• Class discussion
• Documentary viewing and discussion
• Group work projects
• Questioning
• Reflections and reviewing own legal and ethical work practice
 


Teaching Schedule

The teaching schedule for this course is as follows:

Week 1

  • Introduction to Unit
  • Learning intentions – Overview of Skills and Knowledge required
  • Workplace and work role context
  • Legal and Ethical practice in a youth work context
  • Statutory and regulatory requirements
  • Common Law
  • Duty of Care
  • Responsibilities of the role/Boundaries
  • Client centred decision making
  • Application and monitoring
     

Week 2

  • Reflection on learning intentions and knowledge gained from previous session
  • Ethics: Definition and work context
  • YACVIC Code of Ethics: work role implications
  • Policies, procedures and protocols – What are they, why are they important, importance of policy frameworks in community work
  • Professionalism:
  • Practice Standards
  • Strength Based Practice
  • Reflective practice and journal writing: Learning, monitoring, reviewing, planning.
  • Advocacy work and peak bodies
  • Access and Equity Consideration

Week 3

  • Reflection on learning intentions and knowledge gained from previous session
  • Group Presentations: Assessment Task
     


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

Assessment for this course will include class-based activities designed to support the development of knowledge and skills required to apply legal and ethical work practices. Duty of care requirements specific to working within the community services sector are a strong focus for this course and assessments will reflect this focus. Assessments will include knowledge quizzes, case study scenario analysis, written/oral questions.


Assessment Tasks

There are two assessment tasks for this course:

1. Class room based presentation: (a) Key legislation and common law impacting on work role. (experiential)
(b) Access and Equity Considerations
(c) Monitoring and Continuous improvement of work practice. (Continuous improvement plan)

2. Participate in classroom discussions and group work activities.  Due April 15th 2015
 


Assessment Matrix

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

Other Information

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 the plagiarism implications.

Attendance: The major learning experience involves studio based exercises, demonstration and production. 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 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. Special consideration, appeals and discipline information regarding applications 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. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy go to : 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