Course Title: Facilitate the interests and rights of clients

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2024

Course Code: LAW5734C

Course Title: Facilitate the interests and rights of clients

School: 535T Social Care and Health

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4432 - Certificate IV in Community Services

Course Contact: Melinda Brown

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4580

Course Contact Email: Melinda.Brown@rmit.edu.au

Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 100

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 assist clients to identify their rights, voice their needs and concerns and realise their interests, rights and needs.

This unit applies to workers of all levels in a range of health or community services settings who provide services using a human rights based approach and have direct interaction with clients.

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:	CHCADV001 Facilitate the interests and rights of clients
Element:	1. Facilitate the realisation of client interests, rights and needs
Performance Criteria:	1.1 Discuss the rights and responsibilities of all parties with client 1.2 Provide client with researched, relevant and timely information on their rights and responsibilities 1.3 Assist clients to identify their own interests, rights, needs, choices and responsibilities 1.4 Identify when rights are infringed or not being met 1.5 Provide client with information on available options for meeting their rights and needs and assist them to identify their preferred option
Element:	2. Advocate in accordance with client preferences and requests to optimise client outcomes
Performance Criteria:	2.1 Undertake an assessment to identify client’s ability to advocate for self 2.2 Initiate, negotiate and implement relevant strategies for addressing client rights and needs in collaboration with the client 2.3 Identify potential barriers as well as resources 2.4 Identify and contact the most appropriate individuals and/or organisations and represent the client to optimise outcomes for the client 2.5 Ensure information is kept in confidence unless authorisation is given to release it
Element:	3. Provide ongoing support to clients
Performance Criteria:	3.1 Support and encourage clients to exercise their rights and personal preferences without compromising their safety and that of others 3.2 Consult with supervisor, other support workers and the service about interests, rights and needs of clients in a way that upholds their rights and supports their reasonable expectations 3.3 Identify situations of risk or potential risk and refer appropriately 3.4 Apply work practices to minimise potential for harm to clients, self and others 3.5 Conduct all activities in accordance with legal, organisation and duty of care requirements
Element:	4. Support clients making a complaint
Performance Criteria:	4.1 Discuss organisation and legal complaints mechanism and ensure client is aware of rights and responsibilities 4.2 Assist client in lodging a complaint 4.3 Monitor process and provide ongoing support and information to client
Element:	5. Review progress
Performance Criteria:	5.1 Discuss progress and outcomes with the client and collaborate on further action as necessary 5.2 Ensure follow up and links to other services as required and in accordance with client preferences 5.3 Obtain feedback and identify opportunities for improvement to own work and action as appropriate

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

Learning activities will include:

Practical demonstrations
Online Discussion Forums, Groupwork and Quizzes
Analysis/critique of relevant reading material
Workshops, group discussion
Peer learning
Guest lecture/presentation
Research activities
Group activities/projects
Simulated workplace activities

Teaching Schedule

 WeekTopicAssessment

Week 1	Understanding rights and advocacy History of Human Rights What are rights? What is advocacy?	Overview of Assessment tasks provided
Week 2	Rights within the Community Advocacy principles and values Different types of advocacy Rights within the community Rights within agencies
Week 3	Identifying clients' interests and rights Understanding rights, interests and needs Working with clients to  identify their rights, interests and needs. Communicating with clients Rights as a client Responsibilities as a worker
Week 4	Working in collaboration with clients Assessing a clients' ability to self-advocate Initiating and negotiating strategies for addressing clients' interests and rights Representing clients to achieve outcomes
Week 5	Interview Skills when Meeting a client Confidentiality & Mandatory reporting Explaining rights and responsibilities  Contracting phase Identifying issues (getting the story) Listening skills
Week 6	Working in Collaboration with clients workshop Rapport Building techniques Implementing and practicing collaboration techniques Collaboration role plays to identify interests and rights
Week 7	Overview of Assessments Guest Speaker Exploration of AST1- Role play Overview of AST2- Knowledge questions
Week 8 (online)	Providing Ongoing support Supporting clients and providing encouragement to exercise rights and preferences Assessing risk and promoting dignity of risk while balancing duty of care requirements
Week 9	Supporting clients to make complaints Discussing organisational and legal complaints mechanisms Assisting clients in making complaints Exploring options when the complaint isn't heard/resolved
Week 10	Supporting clients to make complaints Assessment task 1 workshop Practice time for AST1
Week 11 (online)	Reviewing progress and outcomes Reviewing progress and outcomes in collaboration with clients Following up on support and referrals Seeking feedback on own performance and making improvements
Week 12	AST1 Role play practice session
Week 13-16	AST1 Role plays-  in class assessment	AT1 due - Support a client through a complaints process
Week 17	Unit review and evaluation Guest Speaker
Week 18	Make-up roleplays	AT2 due - Knowledge Questions
	* Course Schedule may change at teachers discretion

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

References

Other Resources

Learning materials will be provide in canvas

Overview of Assessment

There are two individual assessment tasks consisting of role plays, and short answer questions. 

Assessment Tasks

You will be given two (2) attempts for each assessment to demonstrate the required knowledge and skills. A third (3rd) attempt can only be offered after discussions between teacher and the Program Coordinator and is not automatic. Resubmissions beyond two (2) attempts are at the discretion of the teacher and/or coordinator.

 

 

Assessment task 1: Role play

This practical assessment task requires you to demonstrate your skills working with one client over multiple interactions. The contact relates to finding out what the clients needs are in relation to making a complaint. In the assessment, you monitor the situation and assist the client to make a complaint according to process. You will also work to link the client with appropriate supports. In these role-plays you will work with another student taking a turn each in the role of the client or the support worker.

 

Assessment task 2: Knowledge Assessment

The objective of this task is to demonstrate your knowledge in relation to facilitating client interests and rights. This is a written assessment task in which you will respond to 17 short answer questions. This task will be completed in your own time. 

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