Diploma of Community Services Work

This qualification addresses work in roles that usually involve service delivery, either direct client work and/or community education or development projects.

Workers at this level operate at an advanced skill level and may also have responsibility for the supervision of other staff and volunteers.

Occupational titles may include:

Assessor

Family support worker

Case coordinator

Group facilitator / coordinator

Case worker or manager

Pastoral care counsellor

Client service assessor

Pastoral care manager

Community services worker

Program coordinator or manager

Community worker

Senior youth officer / chaplain

Coordinator

Social welfare worker

Coordinator family services

Support facilitator

Early intervention worker

Welfare worker


Subjects

PACKAGING RULES

18 units are required for award of this qualification including:

11 core units

7 elective units

A wide range of elective units is available, including:

Group A electives of which one must be selected

Group B electives of which one must be selected

Group C elective which is recommended for culturally aware and respectful practice

Other relevant electives listed below

Units of competency to address workplace requirements and packaged at the level of this qualification or higher in Community Services and/or Health Training Packages

Where appropriate, to address workplace requirements, up to 3 units of competency packaged at the level of this qualification or higher in other relevant Training Packages or accredited courses where the details of those courses are available on the TGA or other public listing

Core units

add topic CHCCD514B Implement community development strategies

add topic CHCCM503C Develop, facilitate and monitor all aspects of case management

add topic CHCCOM504B Develop, implement and promote effective workplace communication

add topic CHCCS500B Conduct complex assessment and referral

add topic CHCCSL501A Work within a structured counselling framework

add topic CHCCW503A Work intensively with clients

add topic CHCGROUP403D Plan and conduct group activities

add topic CHCLD415A Confirm client developmental status

add topic CHCLD514B Analyse impacts of sociological factors on clients in community work and services

add topic CHCORG428A Reflect on and improve own professional practice

add topic HLTWHS300A Contribute to WHS processes

Group A electives one unit must be selected

One of the following units must be selected

add topic CHCAD504B Provide advocacy and representation services

add topic CHCAD603B Provide systems advocacy services

Group B electives one unit must be selected

One of the following units must be selected

add topic CHCCS502C Maintain legal and ethical work practices

add topic CHCCS522B Address complex legal and ethical issues in professional practice
(Note pre-requisite CHCCS400C )

add topic CHCCSL508B Apply legal and ethical responsibilities in counselling practice

The importance of culturally aware and respectful practice

All workers undertaking community services work need foundation knowledge to inform their work with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and co-workers and with clients and co-workers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. This foundation must be provided and assessed as part of a holistic approach to delivery and assessment of this qualification. Specific guidelines for assessment of this aspect of competency are provided in the Assessment Guidelines for the Community Services Training Package.

Group C elective recommended for culturally aware and respectful practice

This qualification has been structured (through the Entry requirements) to provide a specific focus on culturally diverse clients. Where work also involves a specific focus on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients or communities, the following elective is recommended:

add topic HLTHIR404D Work effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people

Other relevant electives

Electives are to be selected in line with specified Packaging Rules. The following grouping of relevant electives is provided to facilitate selection and does not necessarily reflect workplace requirements. Electives may be selected from one or more groups. Employers may specify certain electives as required to address specific workplace needs.

Domestic and family violence electives

add topic CHCDFV402C Manage own professional development in responding to domestic and family violence

add topic CHCDFV404C Promote community awareness of domestic and family violence

add topic CHCDFV505C Counsel clients affected by domestic and family violence

add topic CHCDFV509D Work with users of violence to effect change

add topic CHCDFV510D Facilitate workplace debriefing and support processes

Settlement work electives

add topic CHCAD401D Advocate for clients

add topic CHCCM402E Establish and monitor a case plan

add topic CHCCS421B Undertake community sector work within own community

add topic CHCCS607E Coordinate in-service assessment and response to address client needs

add topic CHCSW401A Work effectively with forced migrants

add topic CHCSW402B Undertake bicultural work with forced migrants in Australia

Counselling and pastoral care electives

add topic CHCCSL502A Apply specialist interpersonal and counselling interview skills

add topic CHCCSL503B Facilitate the counselling relationship

add topic CHCCSL507B Support clients in decision-making processes

add topic CHCCSL509A Reflect and improve upon counselling skills (Note pre-requisites CHCCSL501A , CHCCSL503B , CHCCSL507B )

add topic PUADEFCH001B Provide pastoral care

add topic PUADEFCH002C Provide ethical and pastoral advice

Working with people with disabilities

add topic CHCDIS301C Work effectively with people with a disability

add topic CHCDIS302A Maintain an environment to empower people with disabilities

add topic CHCDIS322A Support community participation and inclusion

add topic CHCDIS400C Provide care and support

add topic CHCDIS404C Design procedures for support

add topic CHCDIS507C Design and adapt surroundings to group requirements

add topic CHCDIS509E Maximise participation in work by people with disabilities

add topic CHCDIS511A Coordinate services for people with disabilities

Working with children and young people

add topic CHCCHILD401B Identify and respond to children and young people at risk

add topic CHCCS521B Assess and respond to individuals at risk of suicide

add topic CHCYTH301E Work effectively with young people

add topic CHCYTH404E Support young people in crisis (Note pre-requisite: CHCYTH301E )

add topic CHCYTH506B Provide services for young people appropriate to their needs and circumstances

add topic CHCYTH608D Manage service response to young people in crisis

Working with people with mental health issues

add topic CHCCS521B Assess and respond to individuals at risk of suicide

add topic CHCMH408C Provide interventions to meet the needs of consumers with mental health and AOD issues

add topic CHCMH409A Facilitate consumer, family and carer participation in the recovery process

add topic CHCMH411A Work with people with mental health issues

add topic CHCMH504E Provide a range of services to people with mental health issues

Working with people with alcohol and other drug issues

add topic CHCAOD408B Assess needs of clients with alcohol and/or other drugs issues

add topic CHCAOD409E Provide alcohol and/or other drug withdrawal services

add topic HLTFA311A Apply first aid

add topic HLTFA412A Apply advanced first aid (Note pre-requisite: HLTFA311A )

Social housing electives

add topic CHCCH427B Work effectively with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness

add topic CHCCH428B Work effectively within the Australian housing system

add topic CHCCH522B Undertake outreach work

Administration and coordination electives

add topic CHCADMIN508B Manage limited budgets and financial accountabilities

add topic CHCADMIN604B Manage the finances, accounts and resources of an organisation

add topic CHCCD516B Work within organisation and government structures to enable community development outcomes

add topic CHCCS400C Work within a relevant legal and ethical framework

add topic CHCINF505D Meet statutory and organisation information requirements

add topic CHCORG506E Coordinate the work environment

add topic CHCORG525D Recruit and coordinate volunteers

add topic CHCPOL504B Develop and implement policy

add topic PSPMNGT605B Manage diversity

Evidence and research based practice

add topic CHCPOL403C Undertake research activities

add topic CHCPOL501A Access evidence and apply in practice

Community development electives

add topic CHCCD505E Develop community resources

add topic CHCCD508D Support community action

add topic CHCCD509C Support community leadership

add topic CHCCD606C Establish and develop community organisations

add topic CHCCD615A Develop and implement community development strategies

add topic CHCPOL505B Manage research activities

Community education electives

add topic CHCCD402B Develop and provide community education projects

add topic CHCCED311A Provide sexual and reproductive health information to clients

add topic CHCCED511A Develop, implement and review sexual and reproductive health education programs

add topic CHCCS414A Provide education and support on parenting, health and well being

add topic CHCPROM502B Implement health promotion and community intervention

Financial, language, literacy and numeracy electives

add topic CHCFLE301A Work with clients needing financial literacy education

add topic CHCFLE302A Educate clients in fundamental financial literacy skills

add topic CHCFLE303A Educate clients to understand debt and consumer credit

add topic CHCLLN403A Identify clients with language, literacy and numeracy needs and respond effectively

Oral health

add topic CHCOHC401A Inform and encourage clients and groups to understand and achieve good oral health

add topic CHCOHC402A Support clients and groups to learn practical aspects of oral health care


Pathways...

    Not Applicable


Entry Requirements

Entry requirements

To gain entry into CHC50612D iploma of Community Services Work candidates must:

1. Be recognised as competent, through a recognised training program or recognition process, against the following core units of competency from CHC40708 Certificate IV in Community Services Work:

CHCCS411C Work effectively in the community sector

HLTHIR403C Work effectively with culturally diverse clients and co-workers

OR

2. Have sufficient relevant experience and knowledge of community work and/or community services to indicate likely success at this level of qualification in a job role involving:

The application of knowledge with depth in some areas and demonstration of a broad range of technical and other skills

A wide range of tasks and roles in a variety of contexts, with complexity in the range and choices of actions required and including work with culturally diverse clients and co-workers

The exercise of discretionary judgement and decision making under general guidance.

Work application requirements

To be assessed as competent in this qualification, individual workers are required to undertake supervised work placements in a relevant community service delivery setting, involving, for example, direct client work or community education or development.

Evidence provided by the supervisor will contribute to assessment of the candidate's ability to work at this level.


Licensing Information

Not Applicable


Employability Skills

Refer to the Topic: Introduction to the Employability Skills Qualification Summaries