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.

Services that are specific to alcohol and/or other drugs use may include:
Detoxification
Inpatient counselling
Outpatient counselling
Self-help groups
Proclaimed place, rehabilitation centres, residential etc
Sobering up units
Services which provide consumables eg. Syringes, thiamine, needle exchange,
Drug substitution/replacement services e.g. methadone, bupranorphine, naltrexone
Therapeutic communities

Other services include:
Accommodation
Emergency services
Mental health services
Financial assistance
Health professionals
Counselling
Employment support

Strategies to develop effective working relationships
Verbal communication styles
Plan areas to be addressed, approaches to be taken and special considerations
Planning to address contingencies
Implementing appropriate cultural approaches

Relapse prevention strategies may include:
Identification of drug use 'triggers' and working with the client to develop responses to deal with triggers
Referral to self help groups
Stress management advice
Ongoing positive support
Monitoring of the client's progress
Facilitating use of community resources
Encouraging client to develop a support network
Role play
Discussion of strategies for stress management, money management, goal setting, prioritising, problem solving, decision making, disengagement

Review refers to:
A short term formative analysis of client progress
Reviewing strategies
Standards against which a review can occur

Client exit (negotiation of with the client) will depend on the organisational policies and procedures and the individual clients needs and may include:
Negotiation of contract with client
Providing information on what the client may expect when they leave
Providing follow-up
Ending the client/worker relationship
Ensuring personal safety of clients at risk of self harm including availability of ongoing supports from appropriate agencies
Access to harm reduction consumables eg. Needles, syringes, and needle exchange programs

Client exit (organisational requirements) may include:
Client questionnaire
Documentation including reason for exit and condition of client at exit
Organisational documentation on treatment/assessment progress

Supporting a client to make contact with other services may include:
Making an appointment for the client
Accompanying client to first appointment
Organising for another appropriate person to accompany the client to an appointment
Organising interpreter services for the client

Other services include:
Centrelink
Accommodation
Emergency services
Mental health services

Follow up will depend on the organisation's policies and procedures and the client needs and may include:
Obtaining feedback and reports on outcomes of referrals from other agency in accordance with organisational policies and procedures including those referring to client confidentiality
Checking protective support for suicide risk is available if required
Making an appointment for follow up
Contact with client at referral agency
Liaison between alcohol and other drugs worker and other services

Outcomes may include:
Measurement of harm minimisation
Changes made during intervention and changes sustained over time
Those negotiated with the client as part of a management plan
Referral and acceptance to another treatment program or half-way house
Both positive and negative outcomes
Linkage with appropriate services
Client being moved from institution or service
Client changes - behaviour, attitudinal

Review against care plan may be:
Within the organisation
In consultation with other 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 performance:

To be assessed as competent workers must demonstrate the ability to:

Work with clients in a range of settings eg residential, in community
Settings and outreach work
Work with clients with coexisting issues such as mental health, child abuse
Working collaboratively with clients to address their issues
Refer the client to health professionals immediately the client needs exceeds the responsibility and capacity of the worker or in an emergency situation
Identify coexisting issues such as mental health issues and
Identify and address child protection issues that will effect work with the client

Essential knowledge:
A basic First Aid certificate or equivalent is a requirement of this unit. This includes cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), bandaging, managing toxic substances, managing bleeding, managing broken bones, managing consciousness, managing choking and knowledge of coma positions. Units

Legal and organisational knowledge:
Legal and organisational requirements for client registration, allocation and referral
Organisational policies on reporting and confidentiality
Organisational policies and procedures for documenting work with clients
Understanding agency role, agency target group and the impacts on the local community
Range of alcohol and other drugs specific treatment intervention options including detoxification, inpatient treatment programs, outpatient treatment services, and brief interventions

Effects of alcohol and other drugs use:
Signs and symptoms of medical risk associated with alcohol and other drugs use
Stages and symptoms of alcohol and other drugs withdrawal
Basic health issues relating to alcohol and/or other drugs use - eg. malnutrition, blood borne diseases, skin infestations, effects of drug use on health, cognitive, social, emotional development and impact on others
Basic pharmacology - types of drugs; dose levels; effects of specific drugs; tolerance; treatment approaches broadly
The effects of alcohol related brain injury
Consequences and effects of drug substitution/replacement
Effects of prescribed drugs on the use of other drugs
Patterns of drug use in Australia and the local community
Range of use and use scenarios eg. Lifestyle context of illegal drug use

Legal issues:
Legal status of drugs
Legal issues surrounding alcohol and other drugs use

Policy:
Public health model - interaction of impact of drugs, individual and the environment
Harm minimisation including a range of approaches: prevention, early intervention, abstinence, specialist treatment, supply control and safer drug use

Working with clients:
Common relapse precipitants
A range of strategies for working with clients
Strategies to promote participation in programs
Range of cultural contexts - lifestyle, set of beliefs, customs
Client empowerment/disempowerment
Rights of workers and clients
Different lifestyles
Self-esteem, abuse issues, self-awareness, own biases, ethical obligations re: helping relationships
Types of counselling eg. motivational interviewing, brief and intensive intervention, relapse prevention
medical approaches to treatment for drug use
nature and approaches of therapeutic communities
Protocols around use of interpreters
Client centredness
Case management principles

Working with clients - clients at risk of self harm:
Suicidal or self harming behaviour, ideation or intention
No-suicide contracts and other protective strategies
Links between predisposing factors for self harm, drug use and mental health problems
Legal and ethical obligations regarding clients at risk of self harm or with mental illnesses

Essential skills:
Establishing rapport
Active listening including questioning
Interpretation of verbal and non-verbal communication
Ability to work with a range of clients
Contracting with clients
Conflict resolution
Negotiation
Crisis intervention
Protective intervention
Advocacy
Networking and liaison with other agencies
Identification of support structures

Interdependent assessment of units:

Consistency in performance:
This unit may be assessed on-the-job or through simulation. Some theoretical knowledge may be assessed by formal testing eg. suicide risk assessment
Assessment may include observation, questioning and evidence gathered from the workplace environment. Workplace evidence can be testimonials, portfolios or copies of completed workplace records/documentation
Assessment may be conducted on one occasion but must include the normal range of workplace situations

Context of assessment:
In order to achieve competency in this unit, workers should be assessed on all listed general Essential knowledge. In addition, this competency should be assessed in the context of the particular workplace client group - see generic Evidence Guide at the front of the client work units
This unit of competence will be most appropriately assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace and under the normal range of workplace conditions