Integrate and use the values and process of community development LEGACY
Overview
This standard is about the community development practitioner's role to interpret, use and explain the process and values of community development.
It involves working with others to show what is distinctive about the nature of community development and encourage people, groups and agencies to recognise the contribution community development makes in the process of change.
This standard is relevant to all community development practitioners.
The community development standards are arranged in six key areas:
• One - Understand and practise community development
• Two - Understand and engage with communities
• Three - Group work and collective action
• Four - Collaboration and cross-sectoral working
• Five - Community learning for social change
• Six - Governance and organisational development
This standard is within Key Area One.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
1 apply the values and process of community development to own role
2 promote the values of community development to individuals, organisations and communities
3 support communities to use the values and process of community development
4 support communities to challenge local and national policies and decisions that have a negative impact on local communities
5 promote inclusive and empowering collective action in deciding and working on the changes identified by communities
6 support communities to make links between structural factors and their impact on well-being
7 promote the learning and developmental aspects of working with communities
8 enable the evaluation of community development practice's impact on communities
9 support communities and others to understand how policies at different levels impact on communities
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
Community development values and processes
1 key purpose, values and process of community development
2 how to explain community development concepts in different contexts, to different audiences and for different purposes
3 value based, solution focussed techniques for reflection and problem solving
4 methods for community engagement and empowerment
5 methods for community led action and change
6 how to work with community conflicts (between groups and between communities)
7 how to evaluate the impact of policies on communities
Communities as a concept
8 the range of definitions of the concept 'community' reflecting interest, identity and geography
Power, inequality and justice issues
9 perspectives used to explain structural factors and their interconnections
10 how structural factors affect communities
11 ways to challenge inequality, social injustice and discrimination
12 different perspectives on the workings of power
13 techniques for recognising and using power
14 rights to set own agendas and remain independent
15 the contribution that community development can make to current local and national government policies and initiatives
Decision-making
16 how the policy making process works
17 how to use participatory and democratic decision-making processes for community action and change
18 support communities to actively and critically engage in policy formation
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Scope Knowledge
Values
Community development is underpinned by a set of values which distinguish it from other, sometimes related, activities in the community. These values are at the core of community development and underpin each of the standards. The values are;
1 Social justice and equality
2 Anti-discrimination
3 Community empowerment
4 Collective action
5 Working and learning together
The following examples illustrate how each of the community development values might inform practice in this standard. These statements are not part of assessment requirements.
1 community development practice contributes to a more equal society where civil and human rights are recognised and respected
2 practices that contribute to inequalities are identified and challenged whenever and wherever they arise
3 all planned interventions and activities within communities address the issues identified by community members and aim to realise their aspirations
4 collective action is actively promoted as effective ways to bring about positive social change
5 reflection on experiences is an integral part of all activity and informs future actions