POPLPRAC 708A/B : Assessment and Intervention with Addiction

Medical and Health Sciences

2020 Semester One (1203) / Semester Two (1205) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Develops understanding and competency in assessment and intervention work with clients having co-existing problems, specifically those most affected by alcohol and drug issues. It focuses on comprehensive assessment, effective clinical interventions, drug-specific interventions and culturally-specific approaches working with individuals, whānau, and communities. It will involve regular review of practice using case-based scenarios filmed with feedback from tutors, mentors and peers.

Course Overview

To complete this course students must enrol in POPLPRAC 708 A and B

Students in this practice–based course must be currently working with alcohol/drug affected clients.  It is a core course for the Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma in Health Sciences specialising in Alcohol and Drug Studies or a Master in Health Practice specialising in Addictions. Places in this course are limited with preference given to students admitted to these programmes. Students from other programmes may be enrolled on the basis of academic merit as measured by GPA, subject to places being available. 

Course Requirements

Corequisite: POPLHLTH 737, POPLPRAC 707 To complete this course students must enrol in POPLPRAC 708 A and B

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Master of Health Practice

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Conduct and report a comprehensive alcohol and drug assessment (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2 and 6.1)
  2. Demonstrate a detailed understanding in course work of a range of intervention strategies for addressing alcohol and drug problems (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2 and 6.1)
  3. Put together an intervention plan based on the comprehension of an assessment (Capability 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, 5.2 and 6.1)
  4. Work effectively with complex problems associated with specific drugs of dependence (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.2 and 5.2)
  5. Incorporate family, community, and cultural perspectives into work with clients (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2 and 6.1)
  6. Demonstrate the ability to work with people affected by both mental health and addiction problems and to use evidence in formulating clincial decisions that will lead to improvements in their wellbeing. (Capability 1.2, 2.2, 3.2, 4.1, 5.2, 6.1 and 6.2)
  7. Have emerging knowledge of DSM-V diagnosis and familiarity with its use in addiction and mental health settings (Capability 1.2, 2.2, 3.1, 4.1 and 5.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
DSM Workbook Individual Coursework
Psychopharmacology Workbook Individual Coursework
Assessment Report and Interview 15% Individual Coursework
Intervention Plan and Interview 15% Individual Coursework
Case Study 20% Individual Coursework
Oral Exam 50% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
DSM Workbook
Psychopharmacology Workbook
Assessment Report and Interview
Intervention Plan and Interview
Case Study
Oral Exam

Policy on late assessments

It is very important to get your assessments in on time.

If you are not able to meet the deadline for submission you must notify the course coordinator/lecturer, BEFORE the due date/time to avoid penalties resulting from not having an approved extension. 

If circumstances prevent a student from making an application before the assessment due date/time, the Academic Director will consider and may approve an application for late submission. 

The School of Population Health policy on late assessments is as follows: 

Due dates for assessments must be strictly observed 

Extensions will only be given in very exceptional and unavoidable circumstances, and if approved by the course coordinator/lecturer prior to the assessment due date. Penalties will be imposed for extensions (see below)

Late assessments where an extension has not been given will be penalised as follows:

Up to 2 weeks (including weekend days) late - 5% off the assessment total mark for each day late e.g. 

if an assessment is out of 40 and is 1 day late, then 2 marks (5% of 40) will be deducted from the grade achieved

if an assessment is out of 40 and is 5 days late, then 10 marks (25% of 40) will be deducted from the grade achieved

More than 14 days late – the assessment will NOT be graded

Learning Resources

This 30 point course is taught over Semester 1 and Semester 2. The course will consist of 48 contact hours (9 days on campus). Contact hours will include lectures, presentations by guest speakers who are experts in their field, workshops, and discussion sessions. Teaching days will also include simulated and filmed clinical scenarios with an actor, followed by small group teaching feedback sessions. Students are provided with three workbooks (one focused on psychopharmacology, one on the DSM-V, and the third one on the assessment process). Students are also provided with a reading list of resources required and recommended readings for each teaching day. Students are expected to acquire a copy of the required text book (Addiction Counselling).  All students participating in this course are entitled to an individual mentor, a highly qualified and experienced AOD professional who will support them in their course work. The teaching team will also support students throughout the course, and students are encouraged to contact the teaching team.

Course Contacts

Course Director
Assoc. Prof. David Newcombe
Head of Department
Email: d.newcombe@auckland.ac.nz
Phone: +64 (0) 9 923 6557

Course Coordinator
Dr Rodrigo Ramalho 
Professional Teaching Fellow
Email: r.ramalho@auckland.ac.nz
Phone: +64 (0) 9 923 1443

Course Administrator
Mrs Kashmira Irani 
Group Services Administrator
Email: k.irani@auckland.ac.nz
Phone: +64 (0) 9 923 6549

Workload Expectations

This course is a 30 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week for each of the 24 weeks of the 2 semesters. Make sure you spend at least 2 to 3 hours for preparation before each face to face lecture day.

Of the total 240 hours, 54 hours are spent on attending lectures and the rest will be for reading, preparing for assignments and the final oral exam. 

Other Information

SkillMatter provides funding for a limited number of students doing the courses towards Assessment and management of co-existing substance use and mental health. This is one of the courses included in that. The students do have to meet certain eligibility criteria. for more information you can check this link-

https://www.tepou.co.nz/initiatives/assessment-and-management-of-co-existing-substance-use-and-mental-health/51


Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 07/07/2020 02:55 p.m.