JSQ203 Reducing Lethal Risk


To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.


Unit Outline: Session 1 2024, QUT Online, Online

Unit code:JSQ203
Credit points:12
Equivalent:JSN203
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Overview

This unit aims to provide knowledge based on the latest research about the risks and characteristics of domestic homicide to inform professional practice and build capacity for action or intervention to prevent violence. Domestic and family homicides comprise a significant proportion of all homicides in Queensland and a significant proportion of all homicides of women worldwide. It is essential to integrate research evidence into professional practice as a key to identifying, assessing and mitigating domestic homicide.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

  1. Research and discuss the relationship between domestic violence and lethal risk (Course Learning Outcomes 1.1, 1.3, 5.1, 5.2).
  2. Apply evidence-based tools for risk assessment to real-world cases (CLOs 3.3, 5.3).
  3. Identify strategies for mitigating the risk of lethal and other violence. (CLOs 2.2, 3.1, 5.3).
  4. Analyse evidence from real world scenarios, including the application of independent judgment (CLOs 5.1, 5.2, 5.3).
  5. Advocate on behalf of victims through effective written communication (CLOs 2.1, 2.3).
  6. Apply a trauma-informed approach to recognise and respond to the needs of clients (CLOs 3.2).

Content

1. Homicide: such as domestic violence homicide, suicide, and homicide/suicide, collateral killings and their relationship to homicide in general.

2. Lethal risk assessment and mitigation: such as risk assessments, safety planning, strangulation, and specific risks associated with separation/divorce.

3. Death investigation and domestic violence fatality reviews: including their mission, procedures, past findings and best practices.

Learning Approaches

This unit is offered to online students only. The delivery mode is via self-guided modules with weekly online activities, recorded presentations and readings. Students will be able to discuss the content with their peers and the academic through discussion forums, providing them with feedback on their understanding and supporting them in their learning.

The modules are designed using a trauma-informed approach as proposed by SAMHSA (2014) that incorporates safety, trustworthiness and transparency, peer support, collaboration and mutuality, empowerment, voice and choice, and responsiveness to cultural, historical and gender issues.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Written feedback will be provided on submitted assessment.

Assessment

Overview

Assessment for this unit is both formative and summative. This unit uses qualitative assessment items and formative assessment feedback provided via online tutorials.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Identifying Risks

Students will be required to identify 3 imminent and lethal risks, which will be expanded upon in their risk assessment report for Assessment 2. The risks identified will be based on scenarios where there is the threat of lethal risk, using criteria provided.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Weight: 10
Length: 500 words
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 3
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 4

Assessment: Risk Assessment Report

You will be required to complete a risk assessment report on scenarios where there is the threat of lethal risk, using the risk assessment tool provided.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Weight: 50
Length: 3000 words
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 6
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6

Assessment: Risk mitigation plan

You will be required to develop a safety plan based on the report you constructed for Assessment 2.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Weight: 40
Length: 1500 word
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): End of Teaching Period
Related Unit learning outcomes: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

Johnson, C H (2003). Come with Daddy: Child Murder-Suicide after Family Breakdown. Crawley, WA: University of Western Australia Press.

Websdale, N (1999). Understanding Domestic Homicide. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Course Learning Outcomes

This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.

JQ12 Graduate Certificate in Domestic Violence Responses

  1. Multidisciplinary theories and perspectives on domestic violence
    Relates to: ULO1, Identifying Risks, Risk Assessment Report
  2. Impacts of domestic violence on individuals, families and communities
    Relates to: ULO1, Identifying Risks, Risk Assessment Report
  3. Effective written communication skills for a range of audiences
    Relates to: ULO5, Risk Assessment Report, Risk mitigation plan
  4. Plans for negotiation, collaboration and networking with professionals and agencies
    Relates to: ULO3, Risk mitigation plan
  5. Advocating for victims/survivors
    Relates to: ULO5, Risk Assessment Report, Risk mitigation plan
  6. Appropriate and professional responses to victims/survivors
    Relates to: ULO3, Risk mitigation plan
  7. Trauma-informed approaches
    Relates to: ULO6, Risk Assessment Report, Risk mitigation plan
  8. Use of professional tools for identification, intervention and prevention of domestic violence
    Relates to: ULO2, Risk Assessment Report, Risk mitigation plan
  9. Critical reflection and analysis skills
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO4, Identifying Risks, Risk Assessment Report, Risk mitigation plan
  10. Synthesis of information from a variety of sources
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO4, Identifying Risks, Risk Assessment Report, Risk mitigation plan
  11. Problem solving in relation to real world issues
    Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Identifying Risks, Risk Assessment Report, Risk mitigation plan