Diploma of Community Services

About This Qualification

This qualification reflects the roles of community services, case management and social housing workers involved in the managing, coordinating and/or delivering of person-centred services to individuals, groups and communities.

Course Accreditation

This course is nationally recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).

Entry Requirements

There are no formally prescribed course entry requirements for this qualification; however, the most common pathway into the programme is after completion of CHC42015 Certificate IV in Community Services and more commonly will come from existing workers.

In order to enrol in this course;

• Learners studying this qualification need to have sound communication skills and will undertake a Language, Literacy, and Numeracy test prior to commencing the training if required.
• This programme has been designed to be delivered through online delivery and students must be informed of the timetable on enrolment and must maintain the required student study hours.
• Domestic students must pass an ACSF based LLN assessment at Learning (ACSF Level 3+), reading (ACSF Level 3+), writing (ACSF Level 3+), oral communication (ACSF Level 4) and numeracy (ACSF Level 3+) or possess an Australian Year 12 matriculation certificate or an AQTF Certificate IV or above.
• There is also a mandatory work placement requirement of 100 hours for this qualification. ACSE has signed agreements in place with providers in the community sector, to allow the facilitation of this component to occur.

Resources Required

All students will need access to:

• Appropriate IT equipment, including a personal computer or tablet able to open and access the LMS and Student Portal
• Internet connection
• MS Word, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint. A copy of Microsoft Office 2010 or later. Student and teacher copies of Office 365 are available for free at https://products.office.com/en-au/student/office-in-education?ICID=OfficeCatPage_SE_Officeforstudents-_feature-business-111717-en_AU Only a valid school or student email is required to access the product.
• Microsoft Windows 2010. This can also be accessed as an upgrade using the educational link above.

Course Delivery

The CHC52015 Diploma of Community Services is delivered predominantly online, using the e-learning platform built into the Student Management System. Students will be required to complete 100 hours of work placement which must be done in a work environment. Evidence of this can be submitted by portfolio (workplace sign off logbook), third-party verifiable report or workplace contact by a trainer/assessor.

All students are provided with an induction to the course, to outline the learning and assessment processes, support services and other relevant information, prior to commencement.

Online (Distance Learning):

Students using this mode study completely self-paced, accessing all learning, support and assessment material via the Student Portal and Learning Management System.

Students will complete all reading and learning and assessment in the LMS and submit unit by unit for grading and feedback. Each student will have access to their nominated trainer via the LMS and both parties can easily communicate via the message function built into the LMS.

Trainer/Assessors will mark and award unit or element competency through the LMS and students can view their feedback and results in their portal.

Students studying online should commit to at least 12 hours of study per week as a guide over the 12-month period to maintain a constant rate of progression.

General

All students will need access to:

• Appropriate IT equipment, including a personal computer or tablet able to open and access the LMS and Student Portal
• Internet connection
• MS Word, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint. A copy of Microsoft Office 2010 or later. Student and teacher copies of Office 365 are available for free at https://products.office.com/en-au/student/office-in-education?ICID=OfficeCatPage_SE_Officeforstudents-_feature-business-111717-en_AU Only a valid school or student email is required to access the product.
• Microsoft Windows 2010. This can also be accessed as an upgrade using the educational link above.

Students will be allocated an online trainer/assessor who they need to communicate with regularly throughout the duration of their training. The online trainer/assessor is there to:

• Provide guidance and tuition
• Check on progress at least once a month and for a total of one hour per unit at a minimum (phone, email, Skype, Google Hangouts).
• Mark assessments and provide feedback.
• Be a point of contact for grievances or personal problems that may be experienced.

Students will be required to complete formative activities and summative assessment as they progress, using the Learner Guides, Assessment Workbooks and Learner Exercise Files provided to them. Aside from the IT and Software requirements mentioned previously, all other learning material is provided to the student.

Students will submit work through the Student Portal or email to their trainer/assessor for marking. Submitted work will be marked within 5 days and feedback provided and results entered by the trainer/assessor using the trainer portal.

Trainers will also contact students on a regular basis to provide support and assistance. During the contact trainers will provide support and encouragement and discuss:

• relevant course content and concepts
• learning opportunities
• feedback on submissions
• any issues the student is experiencing
• assessment requirements
• student progress
• course delivery schedule
• work placement related matters

Students will be provided opportunities for Formative assessment during delivery. Trainers provide feedback to students on areas for improvements to facilitate the development of appropriate knowledge and skills and prepare them for summative assessment.

The trainer may provide additional learning material where gaps are identified in the participant’s underpinning knowledge. The training staff will take all feasible steps to adjust delivery methodologies and materials to cater for individual learning needs.

Weekly webinars will be hosted by a trainer/assessor and will be conducted as interactive sessions. The webinar will be hosted on Google Hangouts or GoToMeeting. Webinar content will then be posted on the ACSE website.

Course Duration

The duration of the course is 12 months self-paced, including all learning and assessment activities. However, it is anticipated that the course length will vary with regard to individual client’s level of expertise and time dedicated to studying.

As a guide, given the total number of units in the programme is 16, students should aim to complete and be assessed in 1 unit every 3 weeks. To do this, students will be required to study at least 12 hours a week or 48 hours a month. A detailed breakdown of the day to day programmes and the schedule is contained in the ‘ACSE Calendar 2018’ located on the shared drive at C:\Users\Dropbox\Administration Files\Training Calendar

Course Units

To achieve this qualification, the candidate must demonstrate competency in 16 units of competency:

• 8 core units
• 8 elective units consisting of:
  • at least 6 units from the electives listed in the qualification package guidelines
  • up to 2 units from the electives listed in the qualification package, any endorsed Training Packages or accredited courses – these units must be relevant to the work outcome

Any combination of electives that meets the rules above can be selected for the award of the Diploma of Community Services. Where appropriate, electives may be packaged to provide a qualification with a specialisation.

Packaging for each specialisation:

• at least 4 Group A electives must be selected for award of the Diploma of Community Services (Case Management)
• at least 3 Group B electives must be selected for award of the Diploma of Community Services (Social Housing)
• all Group C electives must be selected for award of the Diploma of Community Services (Statutory & forensic child, youth & family welfare)

1. CHCCCS007 Develop and implement service programmes
2. CHCCOM003 Develop workplace communication strategies
3. CHCDEV002 Analyse the impacts of sociological factors on clients in community work and services
4. CHCDIV003 Manage and promote diversity
5. CHCLEG003 Manage legal and ethical compliance
6. CHCMGT005 Facilitate workplace debriefing and support processes
7. CHCPRP003 Reflect on and improve own professional practice
8. HLTWHS004 Manage work health and safety
9. CHCCCS004 Assess co-existing needs
10. CHCCSM004 Coordinate complex case requirements
11. CHCCSM005 Develop, facilitate and review all aspects of case management
12. CHCCSM006 Provide case management supervision
13. CHCCSM007 Undertake case management in a child protection framework
14. CHCAGE001 Facilitate the empowerment of older people
15. CHCDIS008 Facilitate community participation and social inclusion
16. CHCPRP001 Develop and maintain networks and collaborative partnerships

Course Materials

You will be provided access to learning materials including:

• Learners Guides
• Assessment Workbooks
• Case Studies
• Simulated Work Environment
• Other resources including videos and reference material
• Assessments
• Additional assessment resources

Payment Options

$120

All learning materials included; no additional costs.

Cost includes the issue of the SafeWork NSW Statement of Training for General Induction and the actual Whitecard which will be posted to you by SafeWork NSW within 60 days. Your Statement of Training is also valid for 60 days and this enables you to commence work on site before your card arrives.

Refund Policy

As a condition of Enrolment and prior to signing any Enrolment paperwork, we require you to read our Refund Policy in full. This is to ensure you understand your rights with regard to obtaining a refund and any timelines that prescribe whether that can occur or not and the level of refund you may be entitled to.

Assessment

To successfully complete the course, you will be required to submit a range of formative and summative assessment items at pre-determined intervals where possible. These include:

• Underpinning Knowledge reading and written responses
• Case study reading and written responses
• Journal and Ledger entry workbooks
• Practical projects
• Demonstration or observation (via video submission or digital media, mainly for RPL applicants)
• Presentation (via video submission as an alternative assessment mechanism)

Assessment is used to provide candidates with feedback on their progress and to measure their skills and knowledge against the training qualification requirements.

Assessment timelines will be provided on enrolment as part of your enrolment information package.

Training Award - Outcome

Students who obtain a competent result for all 8 core units and 8 electives, will receive CHC52015 Diploma of Community Services

or

Students who do not obtain a competent result in the 8 core units and 8 electives, will receive a Statement of Attainment toward CHC52015 Diploma of Community Services only.

Upon completion of the CHC52015 Diploma of Community Services qualification, graduates will carry out the roles of community services, case management and social housing workers involved in the managing, coordinating and/or delivering of person-centred services to individuals, groups and communities.

Career Pathways

Occupational titles may include:

• Community Care Manager
• Care Team Leader
• Family Services Coordinator
• Support Facilitator (Community Services)
• Community Development Worker (Social Housing)
• Housing Manager
• Family Support Worker
• Welfare Support Worker
• Senior Youth Worker
• Intervention Worker