Course Title: Facilitate the financial counselling process
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2021
Course Code: BAFI5232C
Course Title: Facilitate the financial counselling process
School: 375T Vocational Design and Social Context
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5360 - Diploma of Financial Counselling
Course Contact: Jo Wallwork
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 3983
Course Contact Email: mary-josephine.wallwork@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Nominal Hours: 85
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 skills and knowledge required to assess and respond to the immediate and ongoing needs of clients in the context of a strengths-based and client-focused financial counselling model.
This course is clustered with two (2) other courses:
- CHCFIN002 Identify and apply technical information to assist clients with financial issues
- CHCFIN003 Develop and use financial counselling tools and techniques
These three courses are delivered and assessed together.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
CHCFIN001 Facilitate the financial counselling process |
Element: |
E1. Respond to initial client contact |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Obtain informed consent from client to enter into a financial counselling process 1.2 Identify and address any conflicts of interest and/or other ethical considerations 1.3 Identify appropriateness of financial counselling on the basis of routine client information collected and analysed 1.4 Clarify with client the role of financial counsellor and expectations of the representative agency 1.5 Explain rights and responsibilities of client and counsellor in the financial counselling process 1.6 Clarify client expectations and needs to ensure their issues and motivations are suited to financial counselling 1.7 Make an appropriate referral with client consent if client need is identified as outside scope of own work role 1.8 Explain confidentiality policy of the representative agency |
Element: |
E2. Assess client's financial situation |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Collect information on client’s financial and extended situation including relevant personal issues that may impact on this situation 2.2 Examine and analyse the material with client to identify areas for further investigation 2.3 Seek additional information as required, including the status and validity of contracts 2.4 Highlight important features of the client’s financial position 2.5 Assist client to identify areas where they want to take action 2.6 Identify and discuss client’s legal rights and responsibilities 2.7 Make technically sound and substantiated assessment of client issues |
Element: |
E3. Discuss options with the client |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Work with the client to establish a list of concerns 3.2 Proactively identify areas for possible action and prioritise to reflect client’s concerns 3.3 Provide information regarding client responsibilities and rights in relation to individual debts and overall financial situation 3.4 Discuss with client, options and potential consequences |
Element: |
E4. Develop an action plan in partnership with client |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Work with the client to prioritise areas for action immediately and in the longer term 4.2 Assist client to identify workable strategies to address their financial concerns 4.3 Assist client to develop their own action plan to address their circumstances 4.4 Discuss need for advocacy or negotiation by client and/or financial counsellor 4.5 Write and maintain a client service plan which identifies the assessed issues, the client and financial counsellor strategies and responsibilities |
Element: |
E5. Provide and evaluate ongoing support |
Performance Criteria: |
5.1 Identify areas for ongoing support and opportunities for specialist referral to other agencies or professionals 5.2 Identify range of support services able to be provided by the organisation and others 5.3 Work through with the client, the roles and responsibilities of client and counsellor in the support framework 5.4 Implement processes to evaluate effectiveness of support provided to the client by the financial counsellor 5.5 Revise support services in the light of evaluation feedback 5.6 Terminate the financial counselling process in line with organisation procedures and professional role requirements and provide referrals as agreed with client |
Element: |
E6. Maintain client records as required in a financial counselling agency |
Performance Criteria: |
6.1 Implement processes to keep accurate records of financial counselling sessions in accordance with organisation and privacy requirements 6.2 Record appropriate file notes and retain relevant documentation taking into account professional and legal requirements 6.3 Maintain confidentiality of records in accordance with professional and legal requirements 6.4 Secure client records for storage, archiving and destruction as per organisation and privacy requirements 6.5 Prepare and maintain statistical records in line with organisation requirements 6.6 Enter and maintain electronic databases as required by an organisation |
Element: |
E7. Reflect on practice |
Performance Criteria: |
7.1 Implement professional supervision in accordance with policy and procedures of the professional association and the organisation 7.2 Maintain knowledge of current industry information and best practice in financial counselling and utilise in professional practice 7.3 Undertake professional development activities to meet State, organisation and industry requirements 7.4 Ensure reflective practice is consistent with relevant codes of practice and ethical guidelines |
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. By applying these skills and this knowledge you will be able to analyse and use technical and legal information and develop the appropriate written tools and resources to assist individuals to understand their rights and make informed decisions about financial issues within the context of a strengths-based and client-focused financial counselling model.
Details of Learning Activities
In-class (campus-based and online classroom) activities:
- teacher directed group activities/projects
- peer teaching
- group discussion
- class activities to review discussions/lectures
- role play activities
Out-of-class activities:
- independent project-based work online and other research
- independent study
Teaching Schedule
| Workshop 1 |
Introduction to Financial Counselling The work and Role of the Financial Counsellor - Part 1: Ethical considerations Confidentiality Conflict of Interest Informed Consent Responsibilities of Financial Counsellor Rights of the Client Financial Counselling Model Skills Required by a Financial Counsellor Service Delivery |
| Workshop 2 |
Part 1: Responding to Initial Client Contact Initial Response Skills for a Financial Counselling Interview Initial Interview Client Files Confidentiality Supervision and Reporting |
| Workshop 3 |
Part 2: Responding to Initial Client Contact Initial Response Skills for a Financial Counselling Interview Initial Interview Client Files Confidentiality Supervision and Reporting |
| Workshop 4 |
Part 1: Assessing the Clients Financial Situation Review Income Sources Clients Living Expenses Identify Types of Debt Statement of Financial Position Asset & Liability Statements Analysing the Results |
| Workshop 5 |
CHCFIN001/FIN002/FIN003 Part 2: Assessing the Clients Financial Situation Review Income Sources Clients Living Expenses Identify Types of Debt Statement of Financial Position Asset & Liability Statements Analysing the Results Fines Presentation |
| Workshop 6 |
External Dispute Resolution Debt Collection Legislation & Guidelines Options Consequence of Non Payment Credit Reporting |
| Workshop 7 |
External Dispute Resolution Debt Collection Legislation & Guidelines Options Consequence of Non Payment Credit Reporting |
| Workshop 8 |
Identify appropriate referral and support services Collect and develop resources to provide to clients Resources and referrals
|
| Workshop 9 |
Developing an Action Plan & Monitor Progress (provide ongoing support) Client Termination National Hardship Register Centrelink to present to class Micro-finance: Good Shepherd to present re NILS, STEP UP, etc |
| Workshop 10 | Final in-class assessment – bringing all parts together & incorporating Counselling Assessment – demonstrating the full financial counselling interview (two days) |
| Please note: this outline is a guide to the sessions delivered. Changes may need to be made to accommodate industry presenters. Also, each Workshop is held over two days. |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
Overview of Assessment
Your knowledge and understanding of course content is assessed through:
- Knowledge Questions
- 220-hour work placement in a financial counselling service
Assessment Tasks
This course is assessed in accordance with competency-based assessment. To demonstrate competency in this course you will need to complete the following assessment tasks to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback from the teacher when you have completed the assessment tasks. You should refer to the assessment plan which is available on Canvas for details of each assessment task and for detailed assessment criteria.
Assessment tasks for this cluster:
- Assessment task 1: Knowledge questions
- Assessment task 2: Knowledge questions
- Assessment task 3: Case study scenarios
Work placement assessments -
- Portfolio of Evidence (Task 4)
- Placement Booklet (Task 5)
Assessment Matrix
The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant unit of competency. These matrices are available with the assessment tasks on Canvas.
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