Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range Statement explains the scope and context of the unit of competency allowing for differences between workplaces. The scope of variables chosen for training and assessment requirements will depend on the particular work situation.

Interpersonal skills may include:

Means by which an emotionally safe and empathic environment is created

Means for communicating with people with disabilities or where English is not the first language

Methods of communicating with different age, religious, gender and sexual identity groups

Non-judgemental communication techniques

Using strategies that empower client to ensure safety of client and family

Cultural, sub-cultural awareness/sensitivity

Demonstrating empathy

Using appropriate body language

Reflecting, summarising and paraphrasing

Asking open-ended questions

The ability to ask direct questions about violence in a sensitive and appropriate way

Using conflict management skills if appropriate

If needed, use of a qualified interpreter whose involvement will not jeopardise the safety of the client and/or client's family

Recognition of client/worker power differences

Maintaining confidentiality

Active listening
Techniques to challenge client's behaviour and attitudes where appropriate

Client/s could include:
Individuals (inclusive of children, youth, adults and the aged)
Referred or self-referred clients
People with specific needs seeking access to services
Voluntary and involuntary clients
Survivors/victims of domestic violence, their families and friends
Users of violence and their family

Interviews and interactions with clients can be either informal or formal and include:
Scheduled or impromptu
Via telephone or in person
Separate interviews
Other specialist assistance
Through a qualified interpreter whose involvement will not jeopardise the safety of the client or their family
Those conducted in a safe environment which encourages disclosure when appropriate

Specific needs relating to clients may include, but are not limited to those:
Who have a disability
Who come from diverse cultural and sub-cultural backgrounds
Whose preferred or first language is not english
Who are aged or young
Who live in a remote or rural location
Who are in same-sex relationships
Whose religious beliefs or practices need to be considered
Who have addiction or dependency issues
With a dual diagnosis
Who are of a particular gender
Who come from an aboriginal background
Who come from a torres strait islander background
Who have mental health issues

Rights and responsibilities include those relating to:
Rights of safety
Rights under common law
Rights outlined under relevant standards/principles and charters (eg. Un declaration on rights of the child)
Rights under the constitution
Rights and responsibilities under legislation (eg. Freedom of information legislation, child protection act)
Guidelines relating to parameters of confidentiality/client consent
Worker's code of ethics
Rights of victim to access crime compensation

Organisational standards and procedures include those relating to:
Client and worker safety
Collection and storage of information
Client interview protocols and procedures
Code of conduct/code of ethics
Principles and implementation of duty of care and rights of client to self determination
Departmental, inter-departmental regulations, protocols and procedures relevant to work role and responsibilities
Inter-agency practice and protocols
Personnel procedures
Organisational mission statement and/or philosophy
Assessment for eligibility to access particular services
Completion of forms and applications
Guidelines relating to parameters of confidentiality/client consent
Occupational health and safety
Industry standards

Legislative and statutory requirements may include
Relevant State/Territory/Commonwealth legislation (eg. Domestic Violence, Guardianship, Disability Services, Immigration, Anti-Discrimination, Child Protection, Legal Practice legislation)
International conventions relating to the rights of children and young people
Relevant international conventions on civil and human rights
Freedom of Information legislation

Questioning and communication techniques may be adjusted as appropriate according to:
whether client has experienced domestic violence or was a user of violence
client's needs
cultural diversity
religious beliefs/practices
disabilities
language
communication methods/styles
appropriate interpersonal styles

Risk may refer to client, client's family and/or worker and be indicated by the following:
Self identification of risk
Evidence of physical injuries
Threat to safety
Current or previous criminal charges for assault of client by partner/ex-partner
Current or previous police involvement
Objective assessment of client's current ability to protect self and children from further assault or harm
Threat or attempts to self-harm
Feelings of depression, anger, low self-esteem, suicidal thoughts, emotional distress or sleep disturbances
Medical problems such as overuse of tranquillisers, or alcohol, drug or substance abuse
Intimidation and harassment
Existing or previous orders relating to domestic violence (eg. Apprehended violence order), or breach of orders
Avoidance of discussion regarding possible abuse
Client being denied access to funds, resources or required medications
Implausible explanation for injuries
Repeated requests for financial assistance
Other factors that may indicate a history of violence
Children's behaviour and developmental level
Current behaviours of user of violence
Frequent hospital visits/admissions
Current or previous separation
Family court and/or relationship history
Implied or actual threats to harm the worker by user of violence

Goals should be realistic and attainable and can be:
Those set out in a case plan
Those set out by the individual
Related to compliance with directions/orders
Immediate, short term, long term
Or any combination of the above

Services and support may be internally or externally provided and could include, but are not limited to:
Safety, physical and emotional security
Assistance to gain economic support
Protection from financial exploitation
Immediate and appropriate responses which aim to ensure/maintain safety
Legal or medical information and support
Accommodation/transportation
Access to services/information
Counselling (individual, family or group focused)
Referrals to specialist services
Referrals to community support and/or education groups
Establishment of community networks
Domestic violence awareness raising programs
Provision of assistance to address issues, gather information and locate other resources
Advocacy

Appropriate people include:
Organisational management, colleagues, supervisor, team members
Acknowledged domestic violence specialists
Various community groups representing cultural, sub-cultural, religious, social, ethnic, gender, sexual identity, and age groupings within the community
Government representatives and service providers
Behaviour change groups, such as user of violence groups, drug and alcohol groups
Family members, friends, care-givers
Support groups such as survivors/victims of violence groups, community houses, women's networks, church groups, refuges, and professional associations
Authorities responsible for provision of community and justice administration services, for example, local councils, legal services, such as legal aid, and state and commonwealth agencies

The Evidence Guide identifies the critical aspects of assessment, and the essential knowledge and skills to be demonstrated to confirm competency in this unit. The Evidence Guide is an integral part of the assessment of competency and it should be read carefully in conjunction with the Range Statement, elements and performance criteria.
Critical aspects of assessment:
The candidate will need to demonstrate the ability to work within the counselling framework.
Managing own values so they do not impede effective work and managing the stress of the work will be key indicators of competency
Assessment must confirm sufficient ability to use interpersonal and general counselling skills and knowledge to obtain relevant client information and respond appropriately.
Assessment of performance should be over a period of time covering all categories within the Range Statement statements that are applicable in the learning environment.

In particular, assessment must confirm the ability to:

Establish confidence with clients through appropriate interpersonal styles and methods
Use a range of questioning and interviewing techniques to facilitate exploration of client issues
Identify and assess needs of client and client's family including consideration of the physical and emotional safety of clients and their family
Encourage users of violence to take responsibility and be accountable for their use of violence
Facilitate client's self determination by using appropriate interpersonal skills to encourage clients to set their own personal goals which enhance safety
Depending on the work program or services provided apply specific knowledge of particular groups or issues (eg. Alcohol and other drugs, same-sex relationships, religious, survivors/victims, users of violence, ATSI, mental health etc.)
Accurately interpret and comply with legal and procedural requirements
Understand own work role and responsibilities in relation to service delivery.

Interdependent assessment of units:

This unit must be assessed after, or in conjunction with, the attainment of competency in the following unit(s):

CHCDFV2A - Manage own professional development in responding to domestic and family violence
For the purpose of integrated assessment, this unit may be assessed in conjunction with the following unit(s):
CHCCS7A - Coordinate the assessment and delivery of services to clients with particular needs

Essential knowledge:
Detailed knowledge of appropriate counselling techniques that will explore client issues and encourage client's self determination to enhance client and client's family's safety
Understanding of current organisational procedures, practices and standards for client assessment, allocation of services, case management, interviewing, code of conduct, confidentiality, use of resources, programmed intervention and duty of care requirements
Understanding of domestic violence indicators and procedures for undertaking assessment of needs of client and client'> s family
Knowledge of respectful strategies that will assist in client self-determination which enhances client and their family's safety
Knowledge of the various groups represented within the local community (eg. Cultural, religious, language, sexual identity, age and disability) and an understanding of the issues that arise when working with those groups
Knowledge of the social, historical, political and economic context of domestic violence, including types and nature of domestic violence, power and gender issues, child abuse, and associated criminal issues
Specific knowledge of the appropriate range of referral sources and associated protocols
Understanding of the prevalence of myths, unhelpful beliefs, attitudes and practices in the broader society in regard to domestic violence, and their effects on individuals' rights to safety and autonomy
Awareness of own values and attitudes and their potential impact on clients
An understanding of specific limitations of work role, responsibility and professional abilities.

Essential skills:
Interpersonal skills such as questioning and active listening (paraphrasing, clarifying, summarising) techniques, including non-judgemental and empathic approaches
Response skills ranging from responding sensitively to disclosures to maintaining confidentiality in relation to people affected by domestic violence
Assessment skills for a broad range of unpredictable problems involving analysis, assessment, and evaluation-for example, identifying domestic violence during professional contact with clients and their family
Problem solving skills for a defined range of predictable problems, for example when the needs of client and/or client's family are identified as lying outside a worker's particular professional role the worker should offer the client accurate and current information about appropriate services and workers in other occupational groups
Collaboration skills between worker, client and client's family, and between services and other providers
Counselling skills which challenge violence and abuse and support the change process
Literacy and communication skills in relation to analysis, evaluation and presentation of information including preparing documents and reports related to client needs and service delivery issues.

Resource implications:
Where assessment is conducted within the workplace there are no resource implications above those normally available in the workplace.
Where assessment is conducted in a simulated or non-workplace environment then access to the necessary equipment and research resources should be provided. Access to simulated exercises, case studies related to service delivery issues will also be required if non-workplace assessment paths are utilised.

Consistency in performance:
Evidence of competency in this unit will need to be assessed over a period of time in order to gather evidence of performance over the Range Statement. This will include contexts applicable to the work environment, such as actual or simulated workplace situations involving a combination of direct, indirect and supplementary forms of evidence.

Context of assessment:
Evidence will be determined by selection from the Range Statement, justified in terms of work requirements, work roles and responsibilities and occupational specialisations.

Evidence for assessment of competence may be gathered by appropriate combination of the following:
Demonstration of competency within the working environment in counselling clients affected by domestic violence
Assessment must be in the workplace, however, where there is not an opportunity to cover all of the range statement statements in the work environment, the remainder should be assessed through realistic simulations, projects, previous relevant experience or oral questioning on "what if?" Scenarios
Observation of processes and procedures, oral and/or written questions 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
Review of any documentation produced by the candidate related to client needs analysis and counselling clients in relation to domestic violence.