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Transition to Human Services Practice

Unit code: SWB315
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs

Availability
Semester Available
2013 Semester 1 Yes
2013 Semester 2 Yes

Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

This capstone unit recognises that you are about to transition from university to human services practice and that you will need to sustain your professional and educational development. Accordingly, this final semester unit provides a dual platform for transition to practice and ongoing professional development.

Aims

The aims of this unit are to ensure that your practice incorporates the ACWA Code of Ethics; that you have well developed understanding of the roles and expectations of a human services practitioner (as articulated by the ACWA Core Competencies); that you have an ongoing commitment to engage in critical and reflective practice and a commitment to professional development and lifelong learning.

Objectives

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. evidence competency for practice against the ACWA Core Competencies (GVS1 - 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 1.9);

  2. apply the ACWA Code of Ethics to human services practice (GV2 - 2.6); and

  3. demonstrate specific plans for continuing professional development (GVS4 - 4.5, 4.6, 4.7).


Learning outcomes link to:
ACWA Competencies: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 4.1, 4.4, 6.2, 7.1

Content

Drawing primarily on ACWA Core Competencies and Code of Ethics the unit includes:

Direct Practice

  • The Human Services Professional

  • Team Leadership and Service Management

  • Organisational Development and System Change

  • Policy Analysis

  • Professional Development

  • Critical and Reflective Practice, including self care

    • Approaches to Teaching and Learning

    There will be three on-campus workshops supporting online learning activities including ePortfolio development, case work scenarios, simulated interviews with peers and a range of discussion forums focusing on the transition to practice. You will participate in individual and collaborative learning activities which will incorporate an array of contemporary information, communication and presentation technologies including Blackboard functionalities, Blogs, Wikis, VoIP and where relevant social networking tools.

    Assessment

    The assessments are designed to support your personal and professional reflections and assist you in synthesising your experiences, knowledge, skills and values into the transition to human service practice and independent continuing education. The assessments require you to transform your initial Professional Learning Plan [PLP] and continuing ePortfolio into a statement relating to Professional Competencies for Human Services Practice and to present and defend your claim for fitness to practice before a panel of expert human service educators and practitioners.Feedback will be provided to you throughout the semester with opportunities to present drafts on the Professional Competencies for Human Services Practice and ePortfolio. Generic advice will be provided by the use of relevant online technologies. Further feedback will be given on simulated interviews in preparation for the final presentation to the panel of expert human service educators and practitioners.

    Assessment name: Portfolio
    Description: Professional Competencies for Human Services Practice and EPortfolio - you will be required to evidence your competency to practice as an accredited human service practitioner through your Professional Competencies for Human Services Practice document and EPortfolio. This assessment acts as your supporting material when you present your claim for fitness to practice before the panel of expert human service educators and practitioners.
    Relates to objectives: 1, 2 and 3
    Internal or external: Internal
    Group or individual: Individual
    Due date: Week 8

    Assessment name: Interview
    Description: You are required to present and justify your claim for fitness for practice before a panel of expert human service educators and practitioners.

    Pass/Fail with resubmit opportunities
    Relates to objectives: 1, 2 and 3
    Internal or external: Internal
    Group or individual: Individual
    Due date: Final Weeks

    Academic Honesty

    QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

    A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

    Resource materials

    Text:
    Australian Institute of Welfare and Community Workers. (1999) Code of Ethics http://www.ACWA.org.au/content/code-ethics

    Australian Institute of Welfare and Community Workers. (2011). Core competency Requirements. http://www.ACWA.org.au/content/core-competencies

    Web based resources:
    Students will have access to range of online materials.

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    Risk assessment statement

    There are no particular risks associated with this unit.

    Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

    Last modified: 09-Apr-2013