Topic outline

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  General

  

  Work Effectively in the Community Sector

  (CHCCS411A)

  

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  Welcome

  Welcome and congratulations, you are now enrolled in the online delivery of Work Effectively in the Community Sector. This unit is intended to be completed independently and at your own pace. Please ensure that you complete all the required activities and presentations.

  This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to work effectively in a community work or service delivery setting with communities, clients, carers, staff, visitors, suppliers and others to meet established work requirements.

  On completion of this unit you will be expexted to:

  • work ethically
  • communicate effectively in a community work or service delivery setting
  • work effectively within the community services systems
  • demonstrate commitment to relevant values and philosophy underpinning work in the sector
  • maintaining appropriate work standards
  • take responsiblity for personal skills development
  • reflect on own practice
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  Introduction to Community Service Industry

  

  In this learning topic we will be exploring what is the Community Services Industry (CSI). In particular we will be looking at the structure of the industry and who our target groups are. We will be looking at the roles of various organisations and how we can show respect for workers from different sector. We will also look briefly at current issues facing people and the sector. The CSI can appear very large and complicated, even to workers.

  Think about the following questions:

  • If you or a family member needed help, would you know where to go?
  • How do most people find out about the services that are available to them?

  The issues these questions raise show the need for workers to have an understanding of the CSI and how to work effectively within the community services system.

  Please start by reviewing the information in this topic by clicking on the link below. Once you have done this you will need to read the pdf file and complete the self review quiz before you can proceed to topic 2.

  • Quiz 1 - Introduction to the Community Services Industry

    Not available until the activity Chapter 5 - Social Welfare is marked complete.
  • Session 3 Work effectively in the community sector File
  • Session 6 Work effectively in the community sector File
  • Session 1 File
  • Session 2 File
  • Session 4 File
  • Session 5 File
  • Session 7 File
  • Session 8 File
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  Work Ethically

  Ethics is not an easily defined term. At its highest level, ethical behaviour consists of universal principles underlining our rules of behaviour.

  

  Ethics is a set of moral values held by an individual or group. According to the Collins dictionary: values are the moral principles or accepted standards of a person or group. 

  We all bring to our chosen area of work our own beliefs and values. We may need to modify some of these beliefs in order to work comfortably and for the benefit of our clients in the work setting. 

  While this section will focus on ethical issues related to the CSI, you need to be aware of personal values and how they might impact on your work as they are so closely related to ethics.

  Start this topic now by selecting the link below and working through the information on each page.
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  Maintain work standards

  By the end of this topic you will be able to identify your own responsibilities and role within the workplace and accurately follow your organisation's procedures relevant to that role. You will be able to understand the purpose of the accreditation process, quality improvement practice and their application to work. Finally you will know your responsibilities in relation to mandatory notification as a community services worker.

  As workers in the Community Services Industry it is important that we are able to identify relevant organisation policies and procedures and procedures relating to awards, standards and legislative requirements that direct our work roles and responsibilities. It is also important that we understand the necessity to clarify any uncertainties with appropriate personnel.

  Start this topic now by selecting the link below and working through the information on each page.
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  Reflect on own practice

  In this learning topic we will be looking at our ongoing ability to reflect on and develop our capability to meet professional standards. This includes the ability to self-evaluate our knowledge and skills, seek and reflect upon feedback from supervisors and co-worker and in turn provide feedback to co-workers, seek opportunities for supervision and incorporate what we learn into improved practice. A part of improved practice is professional development.

  In this topic we will also be looking at how we can participate in appropriate professional development activities on an ongoing basis, including:

  • Maintaining and developing further our own skills and knowledge
  • Being open to learning new ideas and techniques
  • Sharing workplace information with others.

  Before you start:

  Sometimes it is hard to listen to feedback on our performance. It can be easy to get defensive and try to shift the responsibility elsewhere. But if we truly are committed to providing best practice then we need to be aware of our strengths and the areas that need further development.

  So before you start this topic ask yourself "how open am I to learning new ideas and techniques?"

  Start this topic now by selecting the link below and working through the information on each page.