Unit rationale, description and aim
In an increasingly complex context for the human services, many people need help to manage a range of personal and structural problems. Individuals might, for example, experience a range of mental health problems, disability, issues of homelessness and poverty, with related family problems including child protection. Working with such individuals and their families requires an understanding of the complexity of need, and how complex needs can be addressed to get good outcomes for clients. The purpose of this unit is to develop competence in assessment and intervention for people with complex needs. This unit aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills to work with people who have complex needs.
Campus offering
No unit offerings are currently available for this unitLearning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Understand the nature, extent and impact of a rang...
Learning Outcome 01
Demonstrate critical, logical and reflective think...
Learning Outcome 02
Articulate and deal with the ethical dilemmas that...
Learning Outcome 03
Apply a framework for assessment and intervention ...
Learning Outcome 04
Write and speak in clear, correct language appropr...
Learning Outcome 05
Content
Topics will include:
- Models of complexity of need.
- Case management models for assessment and practice.
- Specific contextual problems and issues: disability, alcohol and other drugs, ageing, family violence and abuse.
- Gender, sexuality and ageing as dimensions of human need.
- Ethics of case management
Assessment strategy and rationale
The assessment strategy is based on the use of case studies to demonstrate the interactions among various aspects of complexity of need. We will use individual cases as a stimulus for searching the research literature to identify knowledge for practice, and the way that various knowledge bases contribute to an overall understanding of complexity. The first case study encourages students to explore and understand complexity, while the second case study addresses the need for intervention. The oral presentation provides a focus for developing understanding and sharing and testing that understanding in the classroom. It will focus on one specific aspect of complexity and how the knowledge base around that specific aspect of complexity contributes to an overall understanding of the individual and their family.
Intensive and multi-mode assessment of this unit will be transparently equitable with on campus mode offerings as endorsed by the relevant Course Implementation Committee.
Overview of assessments
Case Study One: Enables students to build an unde...
Case Study One: Enables students to build an understanding of complexity.
30%
Oral Presentation: Students are required to deliv...
Oral Presentation: Students are required to deliver a 15 minute presentation to the class on a specific aspect of complexity. Enables students to demonstrate critical, logical and reflective thinking skills and demonstrate their ability to speak in clear, correct language appropriate to the discipline
30%
Case Study Two: Enables students to translate inf...
Case Study Two: Enables students to translate information from theory to practice and identify service approaches to working with people with complex needs.
40%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This unit involves 150 hours of learning with 36 hours of face-to-face lectures and tutorials. Teaching and learning strategies for this unit will include guest lectures, small group discussions and case studies.
Lectures will provide detailed content about models of complexity of need and case management and an exploration of specific contextual problems and issues: disability, alcohol and other drugs, ageing, family violence and abuse, gender and sexuality. Ethical frameworks and how to professionally work through ethical dilemmas will also be presented.
Tutorials will incorporate case scenarios for the students to practice their application of theory to practice and prepare for their unit assessments. Students will be expected to take responsibility for their learning and to participate actively in class discussions.
This unit may also be offered on or off campus in intensive mode or multi-mode for sponsored / special cohorts, with the learning and teaching strategies being equitable with on campus mode offerings as endorsed by the School Curriculum Implementation Committee.