Course Title: Work effectively in the community sector
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2015
Course Code: HWSS8117C
Course Title: Work effectively in the community sector
School: 365T Global, Urban & Social Studies
Campus: City Campus
Program: C4329 - Certificate IV in Disability
Course Contact : Renee Costa
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 0886
Course Contact Email:renee.costa@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Mary Collins - Teacher, Disability and Community services Work programs (03) 99254598, mary.collins@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
Not applicable
Course Description
This course describes the skills and knowledge required to work effectively in a community work or service delivery setting with communities, clients, carers, staff, visitors, suppliers and others to meet established work requirements.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
CHCCS411C Work effectively in the community sector |
Element: |
1. Work ethically |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Follow ethical guidelines in decision-making in all work undertaken with an awareness of potential ethical complexity in own work role |
Element: |
2. Communicate effectively in a community work or service delivery setting |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Develop, review and revise personal skills in communication as an ongoing priority to address work role requirements |
Element: |
3. Work effectively within the community services system |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Develop knowledge of different sectors involving community work and/or service delivery and how inter-relationships between these sectors affect own work |
Element: |
4. Demonstrate commitment to relevant values and philosophy underpinning work in the sector |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Demonstrate consideration and understanding of the underpinning values and philosophy of the sector and the work area |
Element: |
5. Maintain work standards |
Performance Criteria: |
5.1 Identify relevant organisation policies and procedures relating to awards, standards and legislative requirements of own work role and clarify any uncertainties with appropriate personnel |
Element: |
6. Take responsibility for personal skill development |
Performance Criteria: |
6.1 Seek advice from appropriate persons on areas for skill and knowledge development |
Element: |
7. Reflect on own practice |
Performance Criteria: |
7.1 Undertake self-evaluation in conjunction with supervisors and/or peers |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate your competency in the above elements.
Details of Learning Activities
In this course you will participate in classroom sessions in semester 1 that explore the community services sector, legal and policy frameworks, and its values and principles. There will be an overview of the types of supports provided to groups including people with disabilities, the elderly and aged care, mental health, youth work and dual diagnosis.
The course assessment tasks include satisfactory completion of the 200 hours of Field Placement. In semester 2 you will participate in scheduled 1-1 appointments with the Certificate IV in Disability teacher responsible for Field Placement to review your progress in the field placement, identify any supports needed to complete field placement and coordinate appointments with your field placement agency supervisor.
Teaching Schedule
Class | Topic |
1 | Course introduction - what is the "community sector"? Values, principles and ethics of the sector |
2 | Contemporary approaches to working in the community sector |
3 | Duty of Care and the law of negligence in disability services and the community sector. |
4 | Duty of Care and the law of negligence |
5 | The disability service sector - Disability Service Standards, Quality Frameworks, codes of ethics. |
6 | Monitoring disability services - the Disability Services Commissioner, the Senior Practitioner, the Office of the Public Advocate, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal |
7 | Communication in the community services sector - verbal, written, electronic, visual, stakeholders including clients, families, colleagues |
8 | The language we use: non-judgemental, un-emotive, privacy and confidentiality |
9 | Mid semester break - no class |
10 | Working in the accommodation sector or home based supports - when the client’s home is your workplace. |
11 | The disability sector and the industrial landscape - awards, agreements, working conditions, position descriptions, qualifications |
12 | Field Placement preparation - student placements, requirements of students, RMIT, field placement agencies. OHS considerations, use of mobile phones and other electronic devices. Field placement assessment tasks |
13 | Field Placement |
14 | Field Placement |
15 | Field Placement |
16 | Field Placement Review - In class assessment task |
17 | The community sector - aged care, youth and family, mental health, alcohol and other drugs(AOD). When your client doesn’t need a disability worker |
18 | Your values, beliefs and practices - what is their place in your work, and ethical approach - reviewing the course. |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
During sessions you will be directed to government, non-government and industry sources of information such as the Department of Human Services website which includes current legislative and policy documents from the disability, youth and family and public housing sectors.
Overview of Assessment
Assessment is ongoing throughout the course. Assessment will incorporate a range of methods to assess performance and the application of knowledge and skills and will include a number of assessment tasks.
Assessment Tasks
There are four assessment tasks for this course:
- Field Placement - Written record and reflection of participation and activities on 3 week block placement. The daily record will describe what you have done, the journal will reflect on those events, the people your role, your reactions and responses etc.
- In-class - A post placement structured review and class discussion on the placements you and your fellow students have undertaken.
- Short answer questions on the nature of disability support work, conditions of employment, responsibilities and challenges, community and disability agency services, values and practices.
- Field Placement - satisfactory completion of requirements including: 200 hours supervised practice, 2 Third Party Reports
Assessment Matrix
A detailed assessment matrix will be available from the course teacher.
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
Course Overview: Access Course Overview