Course Title: Facilitate the interests and rights of clients

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2025

Course Code: LAW5734C

Course Title: Facilitate the interests and rights of clients

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: Bella Kelly

Course Contact Phone: 9925 4109

Course Contact Email: bella.kelly@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

Course Schedule: Facilitate the interests and rights of clients Semester 2: 2025
Week	Topic	Assessment Due date
Week 1	Understanding rights and advocacy What are rights? History of Human Rights Rights within the community Rights within agencies What is advocacy? Advocacy principles and values Different types of advocacy and their functions	Overview of Assessment tasks provided
Week 2	Identifying clients’ interests and rights Understanding Rights, interests and needs Working with clients to identify their rights, interests and needs Discussing options to meet rights and providing information Interview Skills when meeting a client Rapport building techniques Confidentiality (mandatory reporting) Explaining rights and responsibilities Identify Issues (get the story) Listening skills
Week 3	Working in collaboration with clients workshop Implementing and practicing collaboration techniques Collaboration role plays to identify interests and rights Advocating alongside and on behalf of clients Assessing a client’s ability to self-advocate Initiating and negotiating strategies for addressing client interests and rights Representing clients to achieve outcomes Students to form groups to prepare for Assessment Task 1
Week 4	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	Assessment task 2a due-Short answer questions
Week 5	Supporting clients to make complaints Discussing organisational and legal complaints mechanisms Assisting clients in lodging a complaint Role play practice time
Week 6	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 improvement Unit review and evaluation	Assessment Task 2b due Short answer questions
Week 7	Assessment task 1- Role play in class
Week 8	Assessment task 1- Role play in class	Assessment 1 due
Week 9	Make up assessments
Course Schedule may change at teachers discretion*

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

References

Other Resources

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

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

You are required to attend a minimum of 80% of all classes to successfully complete each unit and all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview