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.

Situations that require intervention may include:
Risk taking behaviour
Behaviour that risks the safety of others
Habitual patterns of behaviour
Dynamics of a group of children
Noise levels
Settling a child into service
Cross cultural interactions and biases
Ethical issues within children's interactions
A severely withdrawn or isolated child
Aggressive or violent interaction between children
A pattern of bullying, teasing
Attitudes of parents to differences among children

Information to assess a situation may be gathered by:
Talking to child
Observation of child
Observation of child's interactions with a range of other people
Asking other workers involved with child, e.g. staff, school
Consulting resource staff or others with relevant expertise
Consulting parents and other family members
Talking to other children in the service

Context factors that should be identified may include:
Mix of children in the service
Other children's actions
Family circumstances
Program
Events of the day
Environment of the service
"Mood" within the group of children

Resources required to implement strategy may include:
People
Ideas
Equipment

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:
Demonstrated ability to deal with difficult workplace situations through supporting workers to implement appropriate strategies.

Essential knowledge:
Knowledge of child development, and needs of children of the age group
Organisational standards, policies and procedures

Essential skills:
Identification of interaction patterns
Problem solving
High level observation skills
Analysis of a problem issue in its context
Consulting children
Gathering information
Consulting resource staff and others
Analyse of an issue between children from social, psychological and cultural perspectives

Resource implications:
Assessment requires access to a range of opportunities defined in the Range Statement. This includes:
a childcare workplace
access to children's services, resources and equipment
access to the local environment

Context of assessment:
This unit could be assessed either on the job or off the job through an appropriate workplace simulation for a range of age groups, a range of conditions, over a number of assessment situations.