Latest Module Specifications
Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026
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Description This module enables students to develop knowledge and skills necessary to undertake effective assessment and support planning with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The module consists of a mixture of lectures and seminars focusing on processes and practices of assessment and support planning and is designed for staff who work in the homeless sector | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Learning Outcomes 1. Discuss the value and purpose of holistic needs assessment and support planning among people who are at risk of becoming homeless and those who have become homeless. 2. Undertake assessment and support planning, including risk assessment and risk management, using frameworks appropriate to the homeless and housing sector services. 3. Display ability to establish positive and productive relationships with service users and inter-agency staff that contribute to effective assessment, support planning and supportive interventions 4. Demonstrate an ability to plan and progress goals and evaluate support based on presenting information and evidence and in collaboration with service users and other relevant individuals/groups 5. Articulate knowledge of challenges to effective assessment, support planning and interventions, on an intrapersonal level, on an interpersonal level and at a systems level 6. Display skill in working with resistance (motivational interviewing) and managing factors that contribute to a lack of engagement/progression among service users of homeless agencies. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 |
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Indicative Content and Learning Activities
Context of holistic needs assessment and support planning Contexts and needs of people who are at risk of/experiencing homelessness as discussed in international, national and sectoral publications, action plans and policies, and other relevant evaluations and reports. • Concepts of holism and collaboration • Principles and guidelines of Holistic Needs Assessment and other relevant frameworks pertaining to assessment, collaborative support planning and supportive interventions. Recording and reporting structures and systems (e.g. PASS) Foundational knowledge for holistic needs asssessment and support planning Legislative responsibilities and best practice in relation to data protection, confidentiality, information storage, information sharing. • Appropriate statutory, voluntary and community services that support care interventions with people at risk of/experiencing homelessness and means of referral/ access. Process and practice of assessment and support planning Methods and processes of information gathering and analysis, goal setting and planning, delivering and evaluating support interventions • Risk assessment and risk management practice • Interagency working with statutory, voluntary and community agencies involved in support interventions with people at risk of/ experiencing homelessness. • Advocating with/for service users in the context of support needs Self awareness and communication skills Communication skills associated with assessment and collaborative support planning; at client level (therapeutic communication skills) and interagency level (negotiation, brokerage skills) • Practicing and developing self awareness in assessment, support planning and supportive intervention processes • Nature and purposes of appropriate physical and psychological boundaries in maintaining professional relationships with service users and colleagues • Influence of intercultural issues in self awareness, boundaries and communication behaviour • Accessing and using professional supervision and support mechanisms Challenges to holistic needs assessment and support planning Understanding and working with resistance and other factors that contribute to a lack of engagement/progression among service users of homeless agencies • Motivational Interviewing skills and strengthening commitment to change • Identifying and addressing challenging behaviour using approved guidelines and protocols in the context of assessment, support planning and supportive interventions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Indicative Reading List Books:
Articles: None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Other Resources None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||