Top Up Skills Course for Residential Care Workers
Nationally Recognised Training | Government Accredited | RTO ID: 45098
Course Overview
The residential care workforce holds a diverse range of qualifications relevant to working with vulnerable children and young people. As part of the Residential Care Workers Vocational Education and Training Initiative, this top up skills course is delivered for workers who hold a recognised relevant qualification.
The course covers trauma, working in residential care, and managing behaviour — ensuring a baseline of core skills and knowledge for all residential care workers across Victoria. From 1 January 2018, all residential care workers providing direct care are required to hold, or be undertaking, either a Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention or a recognised relevant qualification plus this top up skills course.
Entry Requirements
Workplace Requirements
You must have a suitable workplace that will allow you to undertake the tasks prescribed in this course. That workplace must have a supervisor who is suitably experienced and qualified to supervise you when you perform these tasks. You can discuss this with your trainer at the initial consultation. Under no circumstances are students to be doing tasks in the workplace unsupervised.
Academic Requirements
This Top Up Skills course is being delivered for workers who hold a recognised relevant qualification as listed by DHHS.
Admission Requirements
There are no barriers to entry based on age (other than post-school students over 16), gender, social or educational background. Students need to be able-bodied and have the physical capacity to undertake the practical application of the program. Students should have foundation skills at the required ACSF levels, tested during our Pre-Training Review. Each student is required to complete the Language, Literacy & Numeracy assessment to determine their current level and suitability to proceed with this qualification. Where students do not have the required skills, additional support may be provided to develop literacy and numeracy skills, or alternatively information will be provided on other more appropriate courses.
USI Requirements
Learners are required to comply with evidence of enrolment requirements at the time of enrolment with ONCALL Training College. Students must provide appropriate forms of ID to confirm their eligibility to enrol in this course. Students are required to apply for a Unique Student Identifier (USI) number for their study period in Australia, and this information will be provided at orientation.
IT Requirements
This qualification requires a basic understanding and use of computers and the internet. All students must have access to a computer as resources and assessment tasks must be completed online. Good internet connection is required, along with access to a camera and microphone. Support will be provided as required to develop students' skills.
Units of Competency
- CHCMHS007 – Work effectively in trauma informed care
- CHCPRT034 – Work with children and young people with complex trauma and attachment issues and needs
- CHCPRT033 – Provide support to children and youth in out-of-home care
- CHCCCS009 – Facilitate responsible behaviour
Training & Assessment Requirements
How Do I Learn?
- 24/7 access to your learning resources on Moodle
- 10 online live webinars
- 2 webinars per week
- Wednesdays and Thursdays for 5 weeks
- Each webinar runs from 5:30pm – 8:30pm
Assessment
- Online theory questions
- Third party observations by a suitably experienced and qualified supervisor in a suitable workplace that provides sufficient scope for you to undertake a range of tasks. Your preliminary meeting with your trainer before you enrol is to confirm these requirements
Course Structure
- 5 weeks for online learning with two (2) webinars per week
- Maximum of 12 weeks (3 months) to allow sufficient time to complete assessment tasks in a workplace, under supervision
- Third Party Reports must be submitted to your trainer before the expiry of the 12 weeks, as delays may incur additional fees
Minimum Qualification for Residential Care
From 1 January 2018, all residential care workers providing direct care in a residential care home funded or delivered by the Department of Health and Human Services (the department) are required to hold, or be undertaking, either:
- Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention (Residential and out of home care), including a mandatory trauma unit of competency; or
- A recognised relevant qualification, plus completion of a short Top Up Skills course
The minimum qualification requirement sets a benchmark to ensure all residential care workers have a common level of residential care specific skills and knowledge. This applies to all workers (full time, part time or casual) who provide direct care to children and young people in residential care.
The provision of a short Top Up Skills course for workers with a recognised relevant qualification — covering trauma, working in residential care, and managing behaviour — ensures a baseline of core skills and knowledge for all residential care workers statewide.
How to Apply
- Read and confirm you meet the Entry Requirements
- Register online with required ID documents and USI number
- Trainer contacts you to arrange an initial consultation
- Confirm your workplace and supervisor with your Trainer
- Pay fees or apply for a Payment Plan
- Attend orientation and commence online webinars (5 weeks)
- Complete practical assessment tasks in the workplace (up to 12 weeks)
- Receive Statement of Attainment for four Units of Competency
Fees and Payment Plan Information
- Top Up Skills Course for Residential Care Workers is a Fee For Service course, meaning it is not subsidised and is full price
- Payment Plans must be approved by management
- Payment Plans can only be made through a credit or debit card — there is NO option for Direct Debit
- The maximum payment plan offered is six (6) equal payments of $200, totalling $1,200
- All fees must be paid before the end of the 10 webinars
- An additional Administration Fee of $300 is payable should submission of assessments fall outside the maximum of 17 weeks
Career Pathways
Further training includes Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention, Diploma of Child, Youth and Family Intervention, Diploma of Youth Justice, and university-level study. Employment pathways include Family Support Worker, Relationship Educator, Residential Care Worker, and Residential Care Worker (Child Protection).
Please note: All course dates are subject to change dependent on student numbers.
Accreditation
RTO ID: 45098
This training course is a Nationally Recognised Certificate and meets AQF standards.
Accredited Course