Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.


Presenting issues include:
A client with secondary or multiple issues who is most likely to present 'first' to the following types of services (for an issue relevant to those services):
child protection
juvenile justice / youth service
social housing
employment service


Indicators of harm, neglect, abuse or risk of harm
Physical symptoms such as injuries or loss of weight
Verbal and non- verbal cues
Impairment to cognitive functioning caused by acquired brain injury such as loss of memory, inability to concentrate, plan, organise
Reports from the individual, carers or other workers
Psychological/emotional indicators


Harm, neglect, abuse or risk of harm includes:
Physical
Emotional
Cognitive
Psychological
Sexual
Financial


Appropriate sources (of information) include:
Case notes
File
Other workers


Harm, neglect, abuse or risk of harm may be from:
Carers
Workers/service providers
Self
Family or significant others
Community members


Responding to indicators of risk of abuse, neglect or harm includes:
Intervention to remove the risk
Reporting to appropriate personnel
Investigating
Seeking specialist support/services
Referral
Following State/territory legislative requirements


Responding to indicators of risk of abuse, neglect or harm will be determined by:
Legislation
The specific job role
Organisation procedures
Family and cultural mores


People who are vulnerable and at significant risk may be:
People with a disability
People with an acquired brain injury
Elderly people
People with mental health issues
Children and young people
Babies under one year of age
Toddlers (children under three years of age)
People who are homeless
People in unequal power relationships


Non presenting problems or issues are likely to be:
Alcohol and other drugs
Mental illness
Developmental disability
Acquired Brain Injury
Abuse and risk of abuse
Domestic violence
Homelessness / inadequate housing
Unemployment
Juvenile justice issues
Communicable disease
Financial difficulties
New arrival in the country


Legal requirements and duty of care obligations include:
Ethical referral
Comply with state and territory legislation


Significant other may include
Partners
Family members
Carers
Advocates


Approaches to addressing specific issues include applying accepted methodologies, underpinning values and philosophies of the specific areasThe following notes offer a guide:
AOD may include knowledge of harm minimisation practices, of the effects of AOD on body system and social relationships, and of the signs and symptoms of intoxication:
knowledge of groups and agencies in the community who can respond to individuals with AOD problems by providing treatment and detoxification programs is central
also important is an awareness of personal bias, and models or perspectives on drug use i.e. disease perspective, moral perspective of both the client and of referral agencies
Mental health may include recognising basic signs and symptoms of anxiety, depression, suicidal impulses, and indicators of mental illness such as hallucinations or delusion:
knowledge of appropriate referral and intervention services in the community is critical
Domestic violence may include an understanding of such violence as an abuse of power perpetrated both in a relationship and after separation and that such violence takes a number of forms:
these include physical and sexual violence, emotional and psychological abuse and economic deprivation
domestic violence occurs across all groups, cultures and creeds
the safety and well being of individuals subjected to domestic violence should be of primary concern
knowledge of groups and agencies in the community who can respond to individuals with domestic violence issues is required
Child protection requires knowledge of relevant state mandatory reporting legislation and its application
Child protection also requires knowledge of child development, dynamics of child abuse, risk factors, behavioural/physical indicators of abuse and agencies that respond to child protection matters
It is vital to recognise that children (particularly infants) in families where abuse of alcohol and other drugs exist are more likely to be at risk of harm
where there other risk factors such as domestic violence and mental health co exist with AOD issues the potential risk of harm to those children increases significantly
When working with adult clients who have children, the safety, welfare and well being of the children must be included in all case management practices
Developmental disability may describe individuals who have a multiplicity of disabilities including difficulty learning, thinking and reasoning, retaining information and forming social relationships
it is vital to recognise the individuality of developmental disabled persons, their right to age appropriate consultation and to self determination
needs arising from social isolation and the critical importance of primary care-givers in the lives of developmental disabled persons should also be recognised
knowledge is required of groups and agencies in the community that can provide advocacy services
Juvenile justice may include knowledge of adolescent clients and their special need as individuals, within families and as part of a group, including stages of development and social issues affecting youth
recognition of the vulnerability of young people in their dealings with authority and of the protection that should operate during an investigation or proceeding in relation to an offence is required
knowledge of groups and agencies in the community that can provide services such as advocacy and legal advice to young people in their dealings with the justice system is essential
Acquired Brain Injury may include:
awareness of the causes and effects of ABI
understanding of the impact of cognitive impairment on the individual and families, including associated grief and loss issues; knowledge of the ABI service system; skills in working with people with behaviours of concern



Organisation procedures for collecting and analysing client information may include written and oral input to:
Questionnaires
Assessment tools
Client profile forms etc


Procedures to prevent escalation of a potential emergency or crisis situation may include:
Using calming communication skills
Managing and containing emotional responses and escalating behaviour
Identify and address source of the issue
Discussing the situation with the client
Negotiation and mediation
Seeking assistance from other workers or client carers
Providing physical and visual barriers
Evaluating the potential risk of the emergency
Implementing specific communication skills including questioning, reflective listening and body language


Appropriate procedures to address potential emergency or crisis situation may include:
Negotiating to prevent escalation
Seeking assistance from other people or agencies
Immediate referral
Intervention to ensure physical safety


Other information could include information from:
The client's carers and or family
Other agencies or workers with knowledge of the client
Client files


Specialist support may include:
Health professionals
Careers and employment advice
Financial counselling
Family and relationship counselling
Child Protection officers
Mental health professional
AOD detox, withdrawal and support
Child care
Centrelink officers


All client information would include:
Behaviour
Responses to questions and other information provided by client
Physical appearance and acuity
File information
Information on the client provided by family, carers, other workers, other agencies


Accepted procedures to evaluate the benefit to the client of referral include:
Discussing options with the client, carers and family
Checking the availability of services within the organisation
Checking the availability and accessibility of other services


Brief intervention will be focused on providing de-escalation and emotional support:
One-to-one approach, private
Takes short period of time
Can be done by anyone in the team
A client led process
Opportunistic
Used for harm reduction and facilitating behaviour change
Carer respite (e.g. for clients with ABI)


Organisation policies and procedures may include:
Incident reporting and documentation
Operational guidelines for handling cases involving difficult and behaviours of concern
Record-keeping
Legal responses


Decisions to provide a brief intervention will be based on:
The issues of concern to the client and the stage of decision to change is determined
Availability of resources to support the brief intervention
Agency and worker mandate and focus


Document/s may include:
Data
Case notes
Case files
Client reports
Referral notes

EVIDENCE GUIDE

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate this unit of competency:
The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills
This unit must be assessed after, or in conjunction, with the attainment of competency in the compulsory communication unit within the qualification
Competency must be demonstrated in a real work environment
Competence in this unit must be assessed over a period of time in order to ensure consistency of performance across contexts applicable to the work environment
Consistency in performance should consider the work environment, worker's role and responsibilities in the workplace


Access and equity considerations:
All workers in community services should be aware of access, equity and human rights issues in relation to their own area of work
All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment
In recognition of particular issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities


Context of and specific resources for assessment:
This unit can be assessed independently, however holistic assessment practice with other community services units of competency is encouraged


Method of assessment:
In cases where the learner does not have the opportunity to cover all relevant aspects in the work environment, the remainder should be assessed through realistic simulations, projects, previous relevant experience or oral questioning on 'What if?' scenarios
Assessment of this unit of competence will usually include observation of processes and procedures, oral and/or written questioning on Essential knowledge and skills and consideration of required attitudes
Where performance is not directly observed and/or is required to be demonstrated over a 'period of time' and/or in a 'number of locations', any evidence should be authenticated by colleagues, supervisors, clients or other appropriate persons


Related units:
Although this unit requires no pre-requisite, there are a number of related units of competence both of a generic and sector specific nature that would be ideally mastered prior to undertaking this unit of competence