Clinical Practicum: Parent&Liaison Work

This subject is not offered in 2011.

A minimum of 80% attendance at practicums

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website : http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

The clinical practicum are designed to provide closely supported training in various forms of clinical work. They serve to promote the participants’ practical application of the theoretical material covered in the coursework subjects. The clinical practicum are conducted in small groups (approximately 3 to 5 participants per group), under the guidance of experienced supervisors, between 11:30 am and 1:30 pm on Wednesdays.

This subject will cover:

• forms of engagement which may be employed and the development of a therapeutic relationship;
• specific strategies required in clinical work with parents;
• the form and nature of liaison work with parents; the process of liaison work, linking and networking with professionals;
• primary, secondary and tertiary consultation;
• issues in liaison and consultation.

It will require the maintenance of a log in which all contacts with parents and professionals are recorded.

Participants will hone specific therapeutic skills required to effectively conduct clinical and liaison work with parents, and liaison / consultation with other professionals who are concurrently involved with cases, accounting for:

§ Ways of conceptualising and intervening when working with parent(s) or parent figures.

§ Liaison work with parent(s) or parent figures and professionals.

§ Principles of continuity of care and consultation.

A written case study of 4,000 words counts for 70% of assessment, and satisfactory log of clinical contacts counts for 30% of assessment. An attendance record will be kept, and a minimum of 80% of clinical practicum sessions must be attended. The assessment task will be given out in the second seminar of the semester.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject, participants should be able to:

§ Evaluate the effectiveness of their parent and liaison work.

§ Utilise problem-solving skills in determining how to modify their parent and liaison work, as appropriate.

§ Identify avenues for ongoing consultation and supervision around parent and liaison work.