CHCADV005 Provide systems advocacy services

Assessment Task 1: Workplace Project – Issue Identification

TASK SUMMARY

For this task, you are required to conduct research and consult with stakeholders in the workplace to identify an issue that represents a breach of the human rights of a particular client or group. You will then complete an issue identification report. 

A template has been provided below for you to fill out and submit. It is highly recommended that you read through each section of the template so you know what you need to address. It may also give you a better idea of which clients you can work with and write about – as some clients may not address all of the criteria in the template. 

RESOURCES AND EQUIPMENT REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THIS TASK:

Personnel

• Access to clients
• Access to workplace personnel, such as colleagues and your supervisor

Resources

• Access to your workplace.
• Microsoft Word or another word processing program
• A computer or laptop
• The internet
• Access to the learning materials and resources
• Access to any relevant workplace documentation to assist you with your work
• Access to workplace policies and procedures

Template

• Issue identification report template

STUDENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR TASK 1

For this task you are required to conduct research and gather information to identify an issue that represents a breach of the human rights of a particular client or group (such as those with mental health issues or the ATSI community, for example). This will involve:

• Conducting research to identify issues
• Consulting with relevant stakeholders to identify issues

You may work directly with the clients and stakeholders involved or be supporting a senior staff member or supervisor. You may be employed at the service or be on a work placement.

Research

You must refer to a range of sources during your research, such as: 

• Internal documents, such as client feedback or evaluations, processes and procedures, reports, etc.
• External sources, such as reports, media releases, formal inquiries and submissions from other agencies or organisations that relate to the issue you’ve identified or to identify an issue. Here you want to know if other agencies or organisations are experiencing the same issue, or whether someone else has identified or addressed this issue.
• Relevant government policy legislation, regulations and codes of practice.
• Your own knowledge and experiences.
• Stakeholders that you must consult with include colleagues, clients, carers, internal agencies (such as your organisation’s Advisory Committee) or other relevant stakeholders.

Consultation 

It is expected that as part of your consultation you will: 

• Obtain feedback from those directly or indirectly affected by service delivery (stakeholders) to identify gaps in service delivery and where improvements can be made
• Determine the culturally-specific needs of the affected client or group for these services, and to compare to current practice to identify gaps in cultural competence

Use the Issue Identification Report template below to document information gathered during your research and consultation activities. 

Each section in the template provides guidance as to what you must discuss. Provide clear and detailed responses to each item. You must reference your sources of information. 

Remember privacy and confidentiality principles when completing your report. Refer to clients using terms such as Client A, Client 1 and so on. Do not include any information in you report that could identify your client (such as location, their workplace, names of places frequented by the client, etc.).

Once you have completed your report, ask your supervisor to confirm that you have gathered your information through research and consultation in the manner described by asking them to sign the bottom of the report. 

Assessment Task 2: Workplace Project – Change Committee and Project Plan

TASK SUMMARY

During your work placement, you must form a change committee and schedule and attend an initial meeting to define the issue 

Once this is completed, you will prepare a project plan for systemic change.

PART A: WORKPLACE PROJECT – FORM A CHANGE COMMITTEE

SUMMARY OF PART A

For this task you must form a change committee, then schedule and attend the initial meeting to define the issue identified in Assessment Task 1.

RESOURCES AND EQUIPMENT REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THIS TASK:

Personnel

?   Access to workplace personnel, such as colleagues and your supervisor

Resources

• Access to your workplace.
• Microsoft Word or another word processing program
• A computer or laptop
• The internet
• Access to the learning materials and resources
• Access to workplace policies and procedures
• Access to any relevant workplace documentation to assist you with your work

STUDENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR TASK 2 – PART A

1. Form a change committee 

In consultation with your workplace supervisor, form a change committee with a minimum of four members. 

This committee could be made up of colleagues, supervisors, managers and/or carers within your organisation or across organisations, and representatives of relevant community groups or government agencies where possible. 

At least one committee member must be a client or representative of the client/group, or the representative of a community action/working group who will represent the needs and interests of the client/group.

Those involved in the change committee must be directly or indirectly affected by the issue/s you have identified, or have the knowledge and expertise to provide relevant information or advice, and will support you in your cause.  

The responsibilities of the committee will be to:

• Attend at least two committee meetings for the duration of the campaign
• Provide input into the issue and solutions for change
• Consult with individuals and/or groups affected by the issue
• Develop a mission statement for the committee
• Develop project goal/s
• Develop strategies and an action plan for change
• Consult with community groups to obtain support
• Consult with government agencies to advocate for change
• Identify service improvements required within your organisation to address the issue ? Identify how coordination of services across organisations can be improved ?      Campaign for change using media where appropriate.

2. Prepare for the initial committee meeting

Prepare and distribute an email to all committee members to schedule and invite them to attend the first meeting. Include information about the purpose and function of the committee, with an agenda of topics to be discussed.

The purpose of the initial meeting will be to:

• Present the research you gathered in the previous activity for exploration and comment
• Define an issue that represents a breach or potential breach to the rights and interests of a particular client or group, and which will become the focus of your campaign
• Develop a project goal– what are you going to do? What policy change do you want to effect?
• Develop strategies to campaign for change – how are you going to achieve your goal?
• Identify key internal and external stakeholders that will be involved or invited to participate in the campaign
• Develop a project plan that identifies how strategies will be implemented, and outlines the roles, responsibilities and tasks of each member. Review the Project Plan template (Part B) before the meeting, so that you fully understand what needs to be included in the Plan.

You must submit a copy of this email to your assessor. 

3. Conduct the initial meeting according to its purpose and prepare the project plan

Appoint a committee member to record the meeting via minute note taking. Your workplace supervisor must sign off on the meeting minutes. You must submit a copy of the meeting minutes to your assessor.  

4. Complete the committee checklist 

Complete the change committee checklist below and submit to your assessor. 

PART B: WORKPLACE PROJECT – PROJECT PLAN

SUMMARY OF TASK 2: PART B

For this task, you must prepare a project plan for systemic change. This task requires you to: 

• Develop a project plan
• Develop an action plan, outlining strategies
• Develop a communication plan
• Make a submission to management for the resources identified in your project plan
• Identify and document how your proposed goal and strategies are linked to broader government policy
• Identify the actual and potential barriers and areas of conflict that might hinder your progress towards achieving your goal/s
• Identify and document the media tools you can access and use to campaign your cause

RESOURCES AND EQUIPMENT REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THIS TASK:

Personnel

• Access to workplace personnel, such as colleagues and your supervisor.

Resources

• Access to your workplace
• Microsoft Word or another word processing program
• A computer or laptop
• The internet
• Access to the learning materials and resources
• Access to any relevant workplace documentation to assist you with your work. ? Access to workplace policies and procedures 
• Access to any relevant workplace documentation to assist you with your work.

Template

• Project Plan Template (SD Project Plan) 

STUDENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR TASK 2 – PART B

1.  Project plan

For this part of the task, you will need to complete the following project plan as indicated in each section. A template has been provided for you to fill out, which includes questions and/or prompts to guide you as to what is required. You can write on the hard copy template provided or you can type out your responses if you feel you may not have enough space or want to write more. There is no word limit for each entry – just ensure that you provide as much detail as possible so that your assessor is able to determine that you have met the requirements of the task.

Your project plan must include the following:

• Mission statement. Write a mission or policy statement: what is the purpose of the committee? What does the committee want to achieve?
• Project title.
• Background/context. Identify the background or context for this proposed change.
• Project goals. Write a SMART project goal. What does the committee want to achieve or change? What are you working for?
• Project outcomes. What is the desired result? How will service delivery be improved? How will coordination between services be improved? Who will benefit? How will they benefit?
• Committee members. List the committee members, including their name, current role and their function in the committee. The function of each committee member will be directly related to established purpose of the committee, and planned strategies and actions.
• Key stakeholders. Identify and list the internal and external stakeholders who are affected by this issue and/or can support your cause in some way. It is expected that you have already contacted each stakeholder to obtain his or her support or to raise awareness of your cause. Stakeholders may include:

• You must develop at least three strategies that will help you to achieve your goal/s. Note the following conditions:

−    At least one strategy must be aimed at improving service delivery across the organisation to address the identified issue or need

−    At least one strategy must be aimed at improving coordination between services across organisations and agencies, such as to ensure that gaps in service delivery can be coordinated with other organisations

1. Action Plan 

Complete the action plan template provided, outlining:

• At least one strategy to improve service delivery
• At least one strategy aimed at improving coordination between services across organisations and agencies.
• At least one strategy to develop working relationships with other services and community groups to promote and advocate improved linkages and service coordination

1. Communication Plan 

3.  Communication Plan

Use the communication plan template provided to document how you will communicate with each stakeholder, including frequency, method of communication (such as a meeting), and the purpose of the communication.

Include here the opportunities you pursued to advocate, mediate and negotiate through community organisations and government agencies.

4. Required Resources

You must make a submission to management for the resources identified in your project plan that you will need when you implement the project. You are expected to argue your case for obtaining the necessary resources. 

Complete the resources required template to identify and document:

• The required resources
• The cost of these resources
• For human resources, the approximate time required of each human resource
• The benefit of utilising each resource to achieving the overall project goal

5. Links to government policy

In this section, you need to identify and document how your proposed goal and strategies are linked to broader government policy.

For example: how does your proposed change align to existing government policy? It is important that management and stakeholders understand how they’re contributing to the ‘bigger picture’ by supporting your cause.

6. Constraints

Identify the actual and potential barriers and areas of conflict that might hinder your progress towards achieving your goal/s. Propose methods for overcoming barriers and areas of conflict, including how you might negotiate or mediate to overcome these barriers or areas of conflict.

7. Media plan

Identify and document the media tools you can access and use to campaign your cause. You must identify relevant print and electronic media that will assist you to promote your cause. Note that it is not a requirement of this assessment that you pursue media opportunities, however, you are expected to know which media tools will be useful for your campaign.

8.  Implement the project plan

• Submit the project to committee members and key stakeholders for their approval.
• Update the project plan as required and implement the project.
• As part of implementation, it is expected that you will execute your Communication Plan and Action Plan.
• You will be expected to document your consultation activities in the next Assessment task as part of your Progress Report. Thus, communicating with committee members and key stakeholders to effect change is a crucial aspect of implementation.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR TASK 2:

• Project Plan
• Action Plan
• Communication Plan
• Resources Plan
• Government Policy Plan
• Solving Barriers Plan ¨ Media Plan

Assessment Task 3: Workplace Project – Progress Report and FAQ

TASK SUMMARY  

This task is divided into two parts:

Part A – For this task you are required to meet with the committee to review the progress of the Project plan. After the meeting, you will be required to prepare a progress report. 

Part B – You must to prepare a FAQ based on your experiences that can be distributed to others in the organisation who are considering undertaking advocacy work or want to develop their advocacy skills and knowledge. 

PART A: WORKPLACE PROJECT – PROGRESS REPORT  

SUMMARY OF TASK 3: PART A

For this task you are required to meet with the committee to review the progress of the Project plan. After the meeting, you will be required to prepare a progress report. 

RESOURCES AND EQUIPMENT REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THIS TASK:

Personnel

?   Change committee members (clients and stakeholders) 

Resources

• Access to your workplace.
• Microsoft Word or another word processing program
• A computer or laptop
• The internet
• Access to the learning materials and resources
• Access to workplace policies and procedures
• Access to any relevant workplace documentation to assist you with your work

Template

• Progress report template (SD Progress Report)

STUDENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR TASK 3: PART A

For this assessment task, you must prepare a progress report to document the progress towards achieving stated goals in your project plan and ultimately systemic change.

Prepare a progress report to identify successes and setbacks, and opportunities for improvement. 

A template has been provided for you to fill out, which includes questions and/or prompts to guide you as to what is required. You can write on the hard copy template provided or you can type out your responses if you feel you may not have enough space or want to write more. There is no word limit for each entry – just ensure that you provide as much detail as possible so that your assessor is able to determine that you have met the requirements of the task.

To prepare this report, you must: 

• Meet with the committee to review progress
• Report on your communication with relevant stakeholders as per the Communication Plan in the Project Plan
• Identify successes and setbacks
• Identify required changes to project
• Identify opportunities for improvements
• Develop or modify strategies based on progress

PART B: WORKPLACE PROJECT – FAQ

SUMMARY OF TASK 3: PART B

You are now required to prepare a FAQ based on your experiences that can be distributed to others in the organisation who are considering undertaking advocacy work or want to develop their advocacy skills and knowledge.

RESOURCES AND EQUIPMENT REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THIS TASK:

Resources

• Access to a computer, printer, Internet and email software (if required)
• Access to Microsoft Word (or a similar program)
• Access to a workplace environment (this may be a service for workplace placement purposes or your own workplace)
• Access to workplace policy and procedures

Template 

• FAQ Template

STUDENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR TASK 3: PART B

For this assessment task, you will prepare a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) based on your experiences that can be distributed to others in your organisation who are considering undertaking advocacy work or want to develop their advocacy skills and knowledge. 

A template has been provided for you to fill out, which includes questions. You can write on the hard copy template provided or you can type out your responses if you feel you may not have enough space or want to write more. There is no word limit for each entry – just ensure that you provide as much detail as possible so that your assessor is able to determine that you have met the requirements of the task.

Answer the following questions to complete this FAQ document. 

Unit (CHCADV005) Competency Reflective Practice Journal

Reflect on your practice as a CHC53315 Diploma of Mental Health student and identify how you have met this unit competency:

Students need to write down what tasks were carried out. What resources/equipment/aids that you found most useful. What students learned to meet the unit of competency?  Please note your responses on the lines provided below.

A journal is a confidential record of your activities and reflections. When writing your journal, don’t be too concerned with neatness, grammar and punctuation, but rather focus on being spontaneous, open and honest in your reflections. Your journal entries should not just be lists of what you did each shift but how you felt, what you learned and how you could improve.