Course Title: Reflect on and improve own professional practice

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2025

Course Code: EMPL7098C

Course Title: Reflect on and improve own professional practice

Important Information:

Please note that this course has compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching and assessment activities.

School: 535T Social Care and Health

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4432 - Certificate IV in Community Services

Course Contact: Sunil Lad

Course Contact Phone: 9925 4109

Course Contact Email: sunil.lad@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.


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 is delivered face to face. Demonstration of skills and knowledge is conducted during face to face workshops.


Teaching Schedule

Course Schedule: Reflect on and improve own professional practice

Semester 2: 2025

Week

Topic

Week 1

Introduction to Professional Practice: developing a professional identity.

Overview of course (unit)

Professional Identity

Defining Reflective Practice

Why we engage in reflective practice.

  • Values and Ethics in Practice
  • Code of conduct
  • ACWA code of ethics and Practice Guidelines
  • Networking

Overview of all assessment tasks

Week 2

Worker Rights, Boundaries, and Ethical Practice

  • Worker Rights and Responsibilities

  • Duty of Care

  • Professional Boundaries

  • Ethical Practice

  • Ethical Decision-Making Processes

Week 3

Reflective Practice Models

  • Types of models (Gibbs and Kolb)
  • Models in action
  • giving and receiving feedback

Professional Development

  • Participate in professional development
  • Choosing learning opportunities

Ways of learning

  • Journal writing
  • Learning styles
  • Personal Development Plans

Assessment Task 2: Professional Practice Questions/Personal Development Plan

Week 4

Self-care and Supervision

  • The importance of Self Care
  • Vicarious Trauma/Compassion fatigue/Burnout
  • Importance of supervision
  • Supervision models
  • Preparation time for Assessment Task 1: Case studies

Week 5

Assessment Task 1: Case study presentation and peer feedback - in class presentations

 Assessment Task 1: Case study presentation and peer feedback/ Written reflection


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

There are two individual assessment tasks consisting of case study analysis and short answer questions.


Assessment Tasks

Assessment task 1: Students will present a case study to a group of student peers and answer a series of questions relevant to the case study. Each student will be required to collect feedback from their peers after their presentation. Students will employ Reflective practice skills to complete a written piece on the case scenario task and incorporate the feedback received from group members.

Assessment task 2: Students will be required to create a personal development plan relevant to the Community Services Sector that includes goals, timeframes, and ways of measuring their progress. Students will be asked to reflect on the process of considering their personal and professional development.


Assessment Matrix

A marking rubric for each assessment task is located 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