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Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title Socio-economic needs of individuals & families experiencing homelessness
Module Code NS460 (ITS) / SOC1012 (Banner)
Faculty Science & Health School Nursing, PsyT & Comm Health
Module Co-ordinator-
Module Teachers-
NFQ level 8 Credit Rating 10
Pre-requisite Not Available
Co-requisite Not Available
Compatibles Not Available
Incompatibles Not Available
None
Description

The module enables students to develop knowledge and skills necessary to undertake effective assessment and intervention with homeless people/families in relation to socio-economic needs and family functioning issues. The module comprises a mixture of lectures and seminars and is assessed through a continuous assessment process. The module is closely related to the students practice context. This module is part of the Certificate in Homeless Prevention and Intervention and is suitable for people working in homeless sector services

Learning Outcomes

1. Convey understanding of national/ international contextual factors, including cultural diversity, that may contribute to difficulties in socio-economic functioning for individuals/ families who are at risk of/experiencing homelessness
2. Demonstrate a working knowledge of preventative strategies to minimise the incidence of/length of time individuals/families experience homelessness
3. Discuss the effects of homelessness on family functioning and child development and display ability to assess and support the needs of families who are homeless using child welfare/protection principles and practice.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of the range of housing options and supports available for individuals and families encountering homelessness
5. Demonstrate knowledge of Government Policy and Law, welfare rights and financial entitlements appropriate to individuals and families in homeless contexts
6. Display awareness of the range of current training, education and employment options for people experiencing homelessness
7. Display competence in socio-economic assessment and support interventions with individuals/ families experiencing homelessness, in relation to achieving housing, financial entitlements, education/employment and independent living skills.



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Lecture21No Description
Seminars21No Description
Independent Study208Includes practice learning time, online learning and assignment work
Total Workload: 250

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Concepts and nature of homelessness
Concepts and nature of homelessness (definition, types/ categorizations, contributing factors and social responses) • Experiences and needs of: adults, children, families, people from culturally diverse backgrounds in homeless contexts • Impact of homelessness on children and families in relation to child development and social and family functioning

Law and social policy in relation to homelessness
Government policy and law pertaining to homeless adults, children and families including child welfare/protection. Key political /historical debates and contemporary approaches pertaining to the socio-economic needs of housing, welfare entitlements and education/employment for individuals and families who are homeless

Challenges to healthy socio-economic functioning
Nature and scale of challenges to healthy socio-economic functioning encountered by people/families experiencing homelessnes in an Irish context (including learning difficulties and disabilities, health issues, barriers to accessing training, education and employment, stigma and discrimination, inadequate service provision)

Socio-economic interventions with homeless individuals and families
Socio-economic assessment and methods of assisting individuals /families to address socio-economic issues and family functioning needs (using appropriate frameworks). • Advocating with/for service users on these issues. • Process and dynamics of working with families in homeless contexts

Interagency working and helping people to address socio-economic needs
Options, services and access for individuals/ families in homeless contexts in relation to: o Securing and maintaining appropriate accommodation o Education, training and employment, o Securing adequate income o Achieving independent living skills. • Interagency working in helping individuals/families experienccing homelessness to address socio-economic needs

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment100% Examination Weight0%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
EssayEssay related to a socio-economic issue in the context of homelessness40%
Group project Group role play using case-management scenario. Compilation of collaborative support plan addressing socio-economic needs of individual/family. Written reflection on this exercise60%n/a
Indicative Reading List

  • Central Statistics Office: 2016, Census of population 2016: Profile 5 Homeless Persons in Ireland, CSO, Dublin,
  • Dublin Regional Homeless Executive: 2015, Analysis of 78 newly homeless families accommodated by Dublin's homeless services in August 2015: A briefing paper, DRHE, Dublin,
  • Dublin Region Homeless Executive: 2014, Sustaining Dublin's Pathway to home: the homeless action plan framework for Dublin 2014-2016, Dublin Region Homeless Executive, Dublin,
  • Maycock P: 2013, Mapping homeless services for women in Dublin, Dublin Region Homeless Executive, Dublin,
  • Maycock, P. Bretherton, J. (Eds): 2016, Women's homelessness in Europe, Palgrave McMillan, UK,
  • Morrin, H.: 2017, Analysis of newly homeless families accommodated by Dublin's homeless services during 2016, DRHE, Dublin,
  • O'Reilly, F. Barror, S. Hannigan, A. Scriver, S. Ruane, L. MacFarlane, A. O'Carroll, A.: 2015, Homelessness: An Unhealthy State. Health status, risk behaviours and service utilisation among homeless people in two Irish cities. . Dublin: The Partners, The Partnership for Health Equity, Dublin,
  • O'Sullivan, M. Gallwey B.: 2015, Migrants and Homeless Services in the Dublin Region: A Research Briefing Paper, DRHE, Dublin,
  • Scanlon G., McKenna G.: 2018, Home Works: A Study on the Educational Needs of Children Experiencing Homelessness, Children's Rights Alliance, Dublin,
  • Warwick-Booth L: 2013, Social Inequality, SAGE publications, London,
Other Resources

56325, Website, Dublin Region homeless Executive, 0, DRHE Publications are available here, http://www.homelessagency.ie/Research-and-Policy/Publications.aspx,

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