Course Title: Work with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2020

Course Code: HWSS6073C

Course Title: Work with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness

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 describes the skills and knowledge required to work with people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless, including women and children experiencing family violence. You will develop an understanding of the housing issues that face your clients, including how the system of housing has developed in Australia, the legal and ethical implications of homelessness, and be able identify services and outreach programs available for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. 

This course is clustered with three (3) other courses:

  • CHCMHS005 Provide services to people with co-existing mental health and alcohol and other drugs issues
  • CHCCSM004 Coordinate complex case requirements
  • CHCCCS019 Recognise and respond to crisis situations


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CHCSOH001 Work with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness

Element:

E1. Address issues associated with people who are experiencing homelessness or risk of becoming homeless

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Be aware of own personal values and attitudes regarding homelessness and take these into account when planning and implementing work activities

1.2 Identify barriers in accessing safe, secure housing for people in specific circumstances experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless

1.3 Where appropriate, ensure opportunities are provided for the person to participate in service planning and support activities

1.4 Assess the personal safety of those experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless, including young homeless to ensure they are not in an unsafe situation and report and refer appropriately

1.5 Assess issues impacting on the person’s homelessness risk or situation and modify the approach to service delivery

1.6 Work with the person to identify and discuss potential solutions to complex issues raised, including referral to appropriate services and personnel

1.7 Provide advice and assistance on housing options

 

Element:

E2. Support and advocate for people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Advocate and negotiate for services in conjunction with the person and according to the person’s needs

2.2 Support the person to advocate and/or negotiate on their own behalf and to deal with discrimination

2.3 Negotiate and create access pathways to support services and the full range of social and private housing providers

2.4 Use a range of advocacy techniques that take into account differing cultural backgrounds, are age appropriate and gender sensitive

2.5 Advocate within the community to facilitate addressing issues on behalf of people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless

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

In-class activities:

  • teacher directed group activities/projects
  • peer teaching
  • group discussion
  • class exercises 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  Cluster and unit content discussion / Assessment requirements & due dates For discussion and class work. Ask: What does homelessness mean in Australia? How are people classified as homeless?’ Who are the homeless? Why are they homeless? How to recognise and challenge social attitudes and personal values regarding homelessness Structural causes that allow and maintain homelessness Issues impacting groups & sub-groups, i.e. youth, women & children, refugee/asylum, disability, older persons - consider the complex social issues impacting on these groups Gender experience of homelessness – Family violence Risk and contributing factors of homelessness Where do we find out information about housing services? Guest presenter: housing worker Research activity for housing services Media and homelessness – how does the media contribute to this issue? Look at positive and negative media input  
 Workshop 2 The financial counselling context – where this skills/knowledge fits into your role as Financial Counsellor Industry speaker/s Advocacy – how advocacy works within housing context Issues involved in advocating and negotiating for housing support/services with client – process for this, importance of collaboration Collaborative practices – how to support client Advocacy techniques – working with culture, age, gender (review CHCADV001) Advocating within community to address wider issues – how this fits into Financial Counselling agenda – look at case studies


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

Your knowledge and understanding of course content is assessed through:

  • demonstrations of skills and knowledge using case studies  
  • assignments/questions requiring written responses.


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.   Assessment task 1 Case study scenarios and written questions Assessment task 2 Written questions with video Assessment task 3 Case study scenarios and written questions Assessment task 4 Written questions Assessment task 5 Case study scenarios Assessment task 6 Written questions Assessment task 7 Simulated activity and Reflective writing Assessment task 8 Group Project - in-class assessment   You should refer to the assessment plan which is available on Canvas for details of each assessment task and for detailed assessment criteria.


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: rmit.edu.au/students  

Course Overview: Access Course Overview