Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2022

Course Code: EMPL7098C

Course Title: Reflect on and improve own professional practice

Important Information:

Please note that this course may have compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching activities.  

To participate in any RMIT course in-person activities or assessment, you will need to comply with RMIT vaccination requirements which are applicable during the duration of the course. This RMIT requirement includes being vaccinated against COVID-19 or holding a valid medical exemption.  

Please read this RMIT Enrolment Procedure as it has important information regarding COVID vaccination and your study at RMIT: https://policies.rmit.edu.au/document/view.php?id=209.  

Please read the Student website for additional requirements of in-person attendance: https://www.rmit.edu.au/covid/coming-to-campus  

  

Please check your Canvas course shell closer to when the course starts to see if this course requires mandatory in-person attendance. The delivery method of the course might have to change quickly in response to changes in the local state/national directive regarding in-person course attendance.  

School: 535T Social Care and Health

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5345 - Diploma of Community Services (Case Management)

Course Contact: Melinda Brown

Course Contact Phone: 9925 4580

Course Contact Email: melinda.brown@rmit.edu.au

Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 120

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 skills and knowledge required to evaluate and enhance own practice through a process of reflection and ongoing professional development.

This unit applies to workers in all industry sectors who take pro-active responsibility for their own professional development.

This course is delivered and assessed in a cluster with:-

• CHCDEV002 Analyse impacts of sociological factors on clients in community work and services

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:	CHCPRP003 Reflect on and improve own professional practice
Element:	1. Reflect on own practice
Performance Criteria:	1.1 Undertake self-evaluation in conjunction with supervisors and/or peers 1.2 Reflect on and recognise the effect of values, beliefs and behaviour in practice 1.3 Share two-way, open and evaluative feedback with co-workers or peers 1.4 Actively seek and reflect on feedback from clients, organisations or other relevant sources
Element:	2. Enhance own practice
Performance Criteria:	2.1 Determine improvements needed based on own evaluation and feedback from others 2.2 Identify potential support networks both internal and external to the organisation 2.3 Seek specialist advice or further training where need is identified 2.4 Recognise requirements for self-care and identify requirements for additional support 2.5 Devise, document and implement a self development plan that sets realistic goals and targets
Element:	3. Facilitate ongoing professional development
Performance Criteria:	3.1 Access and review information on current and emerging industry developments and use these to improve practice 3.2 Assess and confirm own practice against ethical and legal requirements and opportunities 3.3 Identify and engage with opportunities to extend and expand own expertise 3.4 Regularly participate in review processes as a commitment to upgrading skills and knowledge

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 has a blended delivery.  Classes are delivered face to face with some online sessions. Types of learning activities include: 

• practical demonstrations
• online Discussion Forums, Groupwork and Quizzes
• analysis/critique of relevant reading material
• workshops, group discussion
• group activities/projects
• peer learning
• guest lecture/presentation
• research activities
• independent project based work
  
• simulated workplace activities

Teaching Schedule

Course Schedule                    Reflective  Practice                                                                                          Semester 1 & 2 2022/2023
Week	Topic	Assessment due dates
Week 1	Course Overview Overview of course – Content, Assessments, Placements. Intro to Sociology What makes Sociology : Introduction to Sociology as field of study Historical context Sociological Imagination: Linking Private lives to public issues
Week 2 Online	Online class Sociological Analysis What is a Sociological Analysis Undertaking a Sociological Analysis Reading – Haralambos Chapter 1 Discussion board
Week 3	Sociology and social theory Space, Place and Time - the self in relation to society Socialisation and Social Structures Studying society and social behaviour Understanding the role and function of major institutions in Australian society
Week 4	Excursion: First Peoples exhibition at Bunjilaka Cultural Centre – Melbourne Museum
Week 5	Self directed learning (no face to face class) Bunjilaka First People’s response discussion board Readings – Closing the Gap
Week 6 Online	Online class Functionalism What is Functionalism? History A Theoretical overview Functionalism Functionalism assumptions Functionalism and Change A critique of Functionalism
Week 7	Marxism Guest Speaker History A Theoretical overview of Marxism Capitalism and Social inequality
Week 8	Self directed Learning (no class) Political and economic theory Narrated PowerPoint on Marxism Reading – Haralambos Chapter 2
Week 9	Feminist Theories Guest Speaker History A Theoretical overview of Feminism Feminism and Community Work
Week 10 (Online)	Deviance, Crime and Social Control Sociology and Deviance Labelling theory Sociological theories of crime
Week 11	Analysing the impact of social and cultural issues Understanding the ways major institutions in Australian society can impact clients Identifying the effects and consequences of inequality on clients Understanding the impacts of long-term unemployment and associated issues Identifying factors associated with age and their impact on clients Prepare for and commence Assessment Task 1 in class
Week 12	Placement preparation and information
Week 13 Online	Online Working with consumers and colleagues Determining needs and clarifying the social and cultural factors impacting clients Recognising the effect of values, beliefs and behaviour Ensuring client participation and engagement Advising, referring or providing clients with access to services	Assessment task 1 Due
Week 14 Online	Placement preparation and information
Week 15	Environmental Sociology Guest Speaker What is Environmental Sociology? History Relationship between society and the environment. Impacts of climate change on Community Work
Week 16	Sociology  Review and Revision What has been learnt so far? What are its practical applications for placement
Week 17 Online class	Online class Narrated Powerpoint – Getting ready for Placement and job readiness Student support workshop
Week 18 Online class	Online class Assessment Support workshop
End of Year  Break	End of Year  Break	End of Year  Break
Week 19	Intro to Reflective Practice Implementing reflective practice to improve performance What is Reflective Practice? History of Reflective Practice Different Models Practical application
Week 20 Online class	Online Student support Class Discuss Assessment Task 2
Week 21	Placement preparation and information – Melinda Brown
Week 22	Assessing practice and seeking feedback Assessing practice against role requirements, industry practice and standards, and ethical and legal requirements Seeking and analysing feedback Self-Care and Supervision
Week 23 Online class	Online - Student support Class
Week 24	Conducting training needs analysis Conducting a training needs analysis Identifying your preferred learning style Preparing and implementing a personal development plan  (links to AT4) Preparing a personal development plan Implementing and monitoring the plan
Week 25	Assessment Task 4 Finalise Assessment Task 4 in class
Week 26	Self directed learning – Students to research placement options	Assessment task 4 Due
Week 27	Online - Assessment support Class
Week 28	Post Placement workshop Sharing placement experiences Reflecting on practice while on placement
Week 29 Please note the teaching schedule  may be adjusted at teachers discretion if needed	Catch-up and Review	Assessment Task 2 & 3 Due

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

References

Other Resources

Overview of Assessment

Assessment tasks include;

• Case study analysis
• Reflective practice report
• Workplace supervisors report 
• Professional development plan

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1: Case study Scenario demonstrating students knowledge knowledge of the sociological factors affecting a family.

Assessment Task 2: This assessment  is completed in your Work Integrated Learning Placement. The Reflective Practice report demonstrates students ability to use a structured process to reflect on and improve their own practice.

Assessment Task 3: This assessment  is completed in your Work Integrated Learning Placement. The Placement Supervisors Report will provide evidence of your 100 hour placement and also reflect on your experiences.

Assessment Task 4: This assessment  is completed in your Work Integrated Learning Placement. The Personal Development Plan demonstrates students ability to create a personal development plan that includes goals, timeframes and ways of measuring progress.

Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix is located 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: www.rmit.edu.au/students

Course Overview: Access Course Overview