Contexts for planning, managing and evaluating programs and services include:
projects or strategies internal to the organisation/agency
projects or strategies across organisation/agency
projects in collaboration with the community or community-based organisations

Evaluating feasibility of programs or service includes:
direction and outcomes are evaluated against existing and future organisational mission, objectives and outcomes for consistency and congruity.
stakeholders impacted on by project or strategy are involved as much as is appropriate in setting the direction, providing input eg. content and/or process, and marketing.

Factors to be addressed in the design of projects/strategies will include:
analysis of social, political and economic factors and trends.
assessment of actual and potential impacts both positive and negative for clients.

Organisational change may relate to:
nature and focus of service, programs and activities.
service users/funding providers.
staff requirements.
employment and work practices.
management decision making processess.
building and other resources.
levels and sources of funding.
legislative and statutory framework.
technological changes.
internal and external policies.
community expectations.

Planning, developing, managing and evaluating programs and services will be carried out within requirements established by:
organisational missions, philosophy, outcomes and goals.
quality standards.
organisational policy, procedures and program standards.
state and commonwealth legislation and other statutory requirements.
international conventions on human rights.
duty of care, code of ethics, professional standards, organisational standards.

Projects may:
address the interests of individuals, groups or communities.
include events and campaigns of social,cultural, economic and political significance.
relate to community services issues eg: employment creation, health, housing, and legal advocacy initiatives.

Research sources will include:
statutory/government bodies.
commonwealth and state government reports.
peak bodies.
political party policy.
academic and industry reports and journals.
Commission of Inquiry, Royal Commissions, Senate Inquiries Reports.
professional associations journals and projects.
conferences, seminars, visiting speakers.
publications, newsletters.
media.
social action and research bodies.

Strategies may relate to:
awareness raising and community education.
political lobbying.
community participation initiatives.
advertising to attract participation.

Trends may include:
social, political and economic trends driven from a variety of sources

Underpinning knowledge

The essential knowledge and understanding a person needs to perform work to the required standard includes:
scope and operation of the industry
range of services available across organisations
relevant government policies and systems
social research methods
the services and products of the research sources listed in the range of variables
community consultation mechanisms
business and strategic planning
continuos improvement principles and practices
a range of approaches to organisational planning and mangement, including:
general management principles/models;
people management models/systems;
services quality maintenance systems/processes;
change mangement models/processes;
project mangement models/processes;
financial mangement models/systems;
marketing models/systems.
principles and practices of management theory in relation to organisational development and change
organisational development and change strategies
planning and review processes
funding/income strategies
funding sources and submission protocols
referral protocols
marketing and promotion
evaluation principles

Practical skills
The eesential skills a person needs to perform work to the required standard include:
social research skills
community consultation skills
analytical skills
project planning skills
financial/rseource management skills
project mangement skills
interpersonal and communication skills at a professional level
leadership and motivation skills
people mangement skills
delegation skills
skills for communication and negotiation with senior level decision makers and community leaders
coordinating a complex range of issues and relationships
preparing and delivering public presentations
computer lietracy skills
report writing skills

Critical aspects of evidence
Ability to:
. Consult research sources
. Devise, initiate, and develop mangement and evaluation plans for programs and services, based on the analysis of relevant research
. Demonstrate full responsibility and accountability for personal outputs
. Demonstrate ability to initiate, analyse, design, plan execte and evaluate development and change within the community services organisation
. Demonstrate full responsiblity and accountability for development and change within the organisation

Interdependent assessment of units
This unit may be assessed after/with:
. Other units in the Graduate Diploma of Community Services

Context of assessment
. Assessment is to be conducted at the workplace or in an environment that simulates the workplace.

Method of assessment
Assessment may utilise a variety of assessment techniques which may include but will not be limites to:
. Simulations, role plays &/or case scenarios
. Written tests
. Reports
. Workplace assessment
. Workplace research
. Research/project report & presentation

Resources required for assessment
Resources will include:
. Employment or professional work placement in a community services workplace