Elements and Performance Criteria

The contexts for preparing for court processes include:
Within a juvenile justice process
Within a care and protection process

Preparing for court processes will be carried out within requirements established by:
Legal and court systems
Commonwealth, and state legislation
International conventions relating to the rights of children and young persons
Organisational policy and procedures
Relevant program standards

Factual material includes:
Establishing the "who, what, where, when and how" of incidents in descriptive terms
A level of detail where personal bias and prejudices are not evident

Established procedures include:
Writing affidavits
Preparing witness statements
Reports on recommendations for sentencing
Orders, as required by court

Evidence is collected and documented including:
Material that does not neglect leading, descriptive and factual questions

Arrangements to support witnesses attendance in court include:
Transport arrangements
Briefing about etiquette and protocol of court process

Provide information to users of the court process includes:
Explaining court and legal process jargon to clients and significant others, ensuring that they have understood the implications of a court decision
Pre and post court briefing about etiquette and protocol of court processes and linkage to case plan and or future actions

Critical aspects of assessment:
Demonstrates evidence collection and witness preparation processes
Balances statutory power, rights of clients and significant others
Interprets legal requirements
Demonstrates knowledge related to applicable agency and legislative requirements
Using typical processes listed in the Range Statement

Interdependent assessment of units:
Completion of this unit removed the requirement to complete CHCCS2A 'Deliver and develop client service'

Essential knowledge:
Legal implications and responsibilities of statutory work
Relevant policy and procedures
Relevant legislation
Stages of child development
Workings of court and legal processes
Legal implications of material collected through interviews
Family dynamics in different cultures

Essential skills:
Interpretation of policies, procedures, standards and statutory obligations
Use of communication techniques; active listening, reflection, summarising, questions and statements, gaining agreement on actions and explaining outcomes
Interpreting legalese into language understood by client and significant others
Action planning
Setting of boundaries for roles and actions
Demonstration of empathy and rapport building
Age appropriate language and questioning techniques
Conflict resolution
Managing grief and change processes
Working with adolescents
Stress management
Dealing with cross cultural issues

Resource implications:
Access to an appropriate workplace or an environment capable of accurately simulating the workplace for assessment purposes

Consistency in performance:
Consistency in performance should consider the complexity of court processes in which workers are expected to participate

Context of assessment:
This unit of competence will be assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace and under the normal range of workplace conditions