Part -1:

Scenario (A): Michelle is 18 years old and employed as an assistant in the community services department of the large organisation where you work.

Michelle's duties are supervised by yourself and the other 8 community service colleagues. Michelle has recently been given the responsibility for managing the petty cash that you and the other 8 colleagues use for client work (e.g. transporting clients to court, buying clothes at the opportunity shop, buying small items for clients with immediate need). You are aware that Michelle is feeling overwhelmed with doing this role, in terms of the tasks involved and the responsibility. For many reasons this person must continue to perform this role as part of her duties. Other colleagues have noticed she engages better with you than other colleagues. Michelle is "teary" and begins telling you that everyone is demanding her time, that she becomes confused when underpressure and that some colleagues become "agitated" when she is low on funds.

(a) How would you support Michelle to satisfactorily perform the role?

(b) How could you support Michelle to deal with any issues and concerns that she might have?

Part -2:

You are employed as a case manager and have recently analysed your caseload for the past 6 months Your research indicates that there is a "pattern" of attendance from clients seeking assistance issues ranging frorn relationship Macias (family violence) through to anger. anxiety stress and depression. your caseload averages at 30 clients Per month over the 6 month period, Most clients are standing 3 appointments. however an increasing amount are wanting to attend more sessions with you. often up to B 10 appointments Your waiting list is also increasing, presently there is a 6 week wait for a new appointment You want to apply to your manager to conduct group programs (e.g. behaviour change. stress management, anxiety and panic relief) where 10-12 clients could attend in groups. thus reducing the amount of 1:1 appointments that these clients would normally attend.

(a) How do you feel this could improve workplace outcomes? What are the benefits of this proposal?

(b) Is it cost effective, realistic and practical? Why?

(c) What are the attematives if your application is rejected? Is there a more effective manner that could be considered in this scenario?

Part -3:

Project planning for success: - research, prepare and report on a hypothetical project that could be implemented in the community services sector.

Respond to the following questions (further detailed in the attachment "Project planning for success"

(a) Why do you want to proceed with this project? What research do you have to support your project?

(b) Who will be assisted? Who is the target group, the demographic?

(c) What do you hope to achieve? Who will benefit from this service, and why?

(d) When will it commence? How long, will it be a one off or ongoing program?

(e) Where will it be run? What access and equity considerations are there if you run it there?

(f) How will you run it? What human resources considerations do you have? Now in the planning stage, or once it starts?

(g) How much will all this cost? Will the costs cover the project if extra people come?

(h) What contingency plans are in place?

(i) Ongoing review - how will you review and evaluate the project?

(j) How will you keep the whole project on track?

Part -4:

Project planning for success managing responsibilities, thinking ahead and being organised!

Community groups/workers may experience hurdles with their projects because they have not anticipated issues and difficulties beforehand.

You could never predict every problem that may occur, however through adequate planning you can be organised and operate better.

Detailed below are some of the basic project planning questions/points to consider when preparing a submission and organising/managing a project:

1. Why? Why do we want to proceed with this project? Do we want to provide a new project or service? Is it clearly needed? What research do you have to support your project?

2. Who? Who will be assisted? Will it be everyone, or only one particular group? Who will be your target group? The demographic? Who will provide the service?

3. What? What is it that we hope to achieve? All people involved need to be very clear about what the service is going to do. What will we cover? What will be provided? What other services will we provide? What sources of financial and in kind support are available?

4. When? When will the project commence? When will it be held? Timeframe development - how long, over what timeframe, one off or ongoing? Sustainable?

5. Where? Where will we be located? Will it be accessible for all? Will it be suitable for our needs in relation to size, layout, welcoming, financial considerations, resources?

6. How? How will we go about it? Will it be manned by paid staff or volunteers? Will there be ongoing costs? Will there be other costs once the project is up and running?

7. How much? How much will it cost, at all the stages of the project? Can we afford it now? Can we afford it if the demand for the project/service grows? If the numbers increase? How much will we budget for costs? How much will we allow if the project increases from the original planned size?

8. What contingencies are in place - if we are not able to access funds that we are expected to access, what will we do? If any of the above doesn't work out, what will you do? It's vital to have a contingency (backup plan) in place. Always anticipate possible "hurdles" and put a contingency plan in place.

9. Ongoing review - on costings, strategies, progress, availability of resources (equipment, speakers, rooms and so forth) - how is the project travelling along? Is it within your timeframe/budget/plan?

10. Performance vs. Original business/project plan - is it on track?

Part -5:

1. Describe how you could utilise client centred approaches when working with clients in situations where you may not agree with choices, or decisions they are making.

2. Describe your understanding of strength based support and how it could be utilised to support a client in self-management strategies.

Part -6:

Case study 1: Anna is a fit and healthy 83 year old German woman who moved to Australia an year with her son who recently died. Anna speaks some English, but not enough to be confident to speak clearly to others. When Anna's son died, community services were contacted and a worker was assigned to support Anna who was quite overcome with grief, filled with fear about facing Isle alone in a foreign country, and very socially isolated. Anna is able to cook, but she is afraid to go out of the house to go food shopping, so her supplies are limited to what was in the house when her son died suddenly a few weeks ago. Anna is sure her son owed the house they live in, but she does not know if it was left to her or even if her son had a will. Anna has a pension from Germany that she accesses fortnightly.

a) Explain how you could support Anna to develop processes and strategies that address the uniqueness of her psychological, biological, social and emotional context

b) How could you support Anna to develop processes and strategies that address her capacity to access activities and services, within the context of her possible capacity?

c) Describe how you could support Anna to identify and acknowledge her interests, preferences and concerns and then use this information to work with her to refer her to appropriate services, and consider potential activities she could become involved in

Case study 2: Tania is a 30 year old client with physical and intellectual disabilities. Tania has been in supported accommodation for the past 5 weeks after being on a waiting list for several years. Unfortunately, the young women she was sharing with become violent, and now Tania is back at home with her elderly and frail father in the role of carer. Tania is happy about being back at home, but her father is overwhelmed with caring for her. Tania enjoys going out to the movies and to restaurants, needs assistance with showering, dressing and medications, and also needs someone with her when she goes out. This is due to Tania being assessed as having low skills in "finding her way around", "managing money" and navigating the transport systems.

1. How could you support Tania and her father in a manner that is in keeping with Tania's individual needs and requirements, and responsive to her individual circumstances and aspirations, along with the needs of her father?

Case study 3: Jack is a 38 year old married man with a young family who has recently been diagnosed with chronic arthritis which signals the eventual demise of his career as a toy maker due to the intricate wood working skills that are required. Jack is medication to help control the pain and he needs to make some Important decisions regarding coping with his new lifestyle.maker due yi HI he is finding it Increasingly difficult to do everyday tasks, like putting his own and his children's pyjamas and assisting with cooking/preparation of meals, something which he enjoys doing.

1. How could Jack be supported to identify and acknowledge his own strengths and self-care capacity?

Case study 4.

Andrew is an 18 year old unemployed and homeless youth, living on the streets. Andrew has a drug addiction that he is trying to break, and he has presented at a community service organisation sorking support and assistance with his complex issues.

a) How might Andrew be supported or assisted to access and use support services and associated resources?

b) Describe what might be required from a worker when supporting Andrew according to Organisational policies, protocols and procedures?

Case study 5.

Tony is a 39 year old man with a wife and 7 children. A few months ago Tony lost his job and as he is the only provider for the family, the financial impact on the family has been great. Tony has been referred to a community services organisation for help and support. His usual way of coping has been to avoid thinking about the problem or issue, and to drink alcohol with his mates when he leeks overwhelmed, which has not helped the situation, but rather caused problems in his marriage as well.

a). How could Tony be supported to identify the need for appropriate coping skills and behaviours to maximise his ability to do required activities within his own life situation?

What did the practice session raise for you in terms of the experience of working with a "client"?

What inspires, or motivates you to want to work in the community services sector? How might you keep your motivation levels present when working with a client that may be making decisions that you do not agree with? Consider your own values and beliefs and how this plays an integral part in effectively working within the community services area.

Describe an area of client work that you may not want to work in, and detail how you may go about supporting the client to access required services and/or resources.

Describe an area of client work that you do want to particularly work in, and detail how you will acknowledge your own values and bliefs in this area of interest, at the same time as maintaining client self-management approaches.

What do you consider to be your strengths in working with others?