Course Title: Reflect on and improve own professional practice

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2024

Course Code: EMPL7098C

Course Title: Reflect on and improve own professional practice

School: 535T Social Care and Health

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5432 - Diploma of 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: 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.

This unit is delivered and assessed in a cluster with CHCDEV005 Analyse impact of sociological factors on clients in community work and service

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 has a blended delivery.  Classes are delivered face to face with some online sessions. Types of learning activities include: 

• practical demonstrations
• online Discussion Forums, Groupwork and Quizzes
• analysis/critique of relevant reading material
• workshops, group discussion
• group activities/projects
• peer learning
• guest lecture/presentation
• research activities
• independent project based work
• group activities/projects
• simulated workplace activities

Teaching Schedule

Course Schedule                    Reflective and Effective Practice                                                                                          Semester 1 & 2 2024 - Semester 3 2025
SEMESTER 1 2024
Week	Topic	Assessment due dates
Week 1	Course Overview Overview of course – Content, Assessments, Placements. Intro to Sociology What makes Sociology : Introduction to Sociology as field of study Historical context Sociological Imagination: Linking Private lives to public issues
Week 2 Online	Online class Sociological Analysis What is a Sociological Analysis Undertaking a Sociological Analysis Reading – Haralambos Chapter 1 Discussion board
Week 3 Online	Online class Sociology and social theory Space, Place and Time - the self in relation to society Socialisation and Social Structures Studying society and social behaviour Understanding the role and function of major institutions in Australian society
Week 4 PWS	Placement preparation and information – Melinda Brown Excursion: First Peoples exhibition at Bunjilaka Cultural Centre – Melbourne Museum
Week 5	Bunjilaka reflections Reflections on Excursion Bunjilaka First People’s response discussion board Readings – Closing the Gap Sociological Walk
Week 6 Online	Online class Functionalism What is Functionalism? History A Theoretical overview Functionalism Functionalism assumptions Functionalism and Change A critique of Functionalism
Week 7 Online	Online class Marxism Guest Speaker History A Theoretical overview of Marxism Capitalism and Social inequality
	Mid Semester break
Week 8	Feminist Theories Guest Speaker (Kerry Davies) History A Theoretical overview of Feminism Feminism and Community Work
Week 9 Online	Online class Political and economic theory Political and economic theory Narrated PowerPoint on Marxism Reading – Haralambos Chapter 15
Week 10 Online	Online class Deviance, Crime and Social Control Sociology and Deviance Labelling theory Sociological theories of crime
Week 11 PWS	Placement preparation and information
Week 12	Analysing the impact of social and cultural issues Understanding the ways major institutions in Australian society can impact clients Identifying the effects and consequences of inequality on clients Understanding the impacts of long-term unemployment and associated issues Identifying factors associated with age and their impact on clients Assessment 1 (commence in class)
Week 13 Online	Online class Working with consumers and colleagues Determining needs and clarifying the social and cultural factors impacting clients Recognising the effect of values, beliefs and behaviour Ensuring client participation and engagement Advising, referring or providing clients with access to services Prepare for and commence Assessment Task 1 in class	Assessment task 1 Due
Week 14 Online	Environmental Sociology What is Environmental Sociology? History Relationship between society and the environment. Impacts of climate change on Community Work
Week 15	Sociology and social change What is social change What is its relevance to Community Services Social change and Imagination
Week 16 PWS	Placement preparation and information
Week 17 Online class	Online class Sociology  Review and Revision What has been learnt so far? What are its practical applications for placement
Week 18 Online class	Online class Intro to Reflective Practice Implementing reflective practice to improve performance What is Reflective Practice? History of Reflective Practice Applying / Implementing reflective practice to improve performance Different Models Practical application (Placement Assessments 2)
Mid-Year Break	Mid-Year Break	Mid-Year Break
	SEMESTER 2 2024
Week 19 PWS	Placement preparation and information
	SEMESTER 2 2024
Week 20 (RP-Wk2)	Assessing practice and seeking feedback Assessing practice against role requirements, industry practice and standards, and ethical and legal requirements Seeking and analysing feedback
Week 21 (RP-Wk3)  Online	Online class Supervision Self-Care and Supervision Placement support if needed
Week 22  (RP-Wk4) Online	Online class Conducting training needs analysis Conducting a training needs analysis Identifying your preferred learning style Preparing and implementing a personal development plan  (links to AT4) Preparing a personal development plan Implementing and monitoring the plan
Week 23 (RP-Wk5)  Online	Online class Post Placement workshop Sharing placement experiences Reflecting on practice while on placement Careers Counselling Visit	Assessment task 2,3,4 Due
	Please note teachers may make changes to syllabus  at their discretion if needed

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

References

Other Resources

Course Overview: Access Course Overview

Overview of Assessment

There are four individual assessment tasks consisting of case study analysis, 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: Case study Scenario demonstrating students knowledge knowledge of the sociological factors affecting a family.

Assessment Task 2: This assessment  is completed in your Work Integrated Learning Placement. The Reflective Practice report demonstrates students ability to use a structured process to reflect on and improve their own practice.

Assessment Task 3: This assessment  is completed in your Work Integrated Learning Placement. The Placement Supervisors Report will provide evidence of your 100 hour placement and also reflect on your experiences. Please note these hours form half of your placement requirements, as you will need to complete a further 100 hours for the Case Management unit (CHCCSM013) - total of 200 hours. 

Assessment Task 4: This assessment  is completed in your Work Integrated Learning Placement. The Personal Development Plan demonstrates students ability to create a personal development plan that includes goals, timeframes and ways of measuring progress.

Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix is located in canvas at the end of each assessment task.

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