Elements and Performance Criteria

This unit contains a wide Range Statement to reflect the very diverse nature of young people and family needs and circumstances and the different services provided in and for community services. Selection from the Range Statement will reflect the specific requirements of the work site and the defined work role.
The variables of performance will depend on whether the context of assessment is institutional or community based.

Communication with young people and their families will include relevant selection of evidence from:
Formal and informal meetings
Interviews
Counselling
Receiving and conveying information and advice
Receiving grievances/complaints
Oral and written reports
Internal and external to the organisation
Recording and reporting
Responsibility for vulnerable and high risk families and families with special needs
Contact with uncooperative, aggressive and distressed offenders
Contact with young people in crisis

Confidentiality and discretion will include:
Security of personal information
Determination of other people to be informed
Location and timing of communication
Nature of follow up
Nature of the information
Agreement with young people and their families, colleagues and support agencies
Child protection notification.

Referrals/support will include:
Social/welfare worker
Medical
Drug and alcohol services
Intervention and behaviour management programs
Counsellors
Religious/spiritual adviser
Program coordinator
Case manager and case management team
Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander liaison
Specialist cultural liaison and support
Welfare organisations
Legal advice
Education/training/skills development
Recreation/sporting groups
Employment/ career development

Critical situations will include actions and events:
From others which jeopardise the safety and welfare of young people
Which jeopardise the safety and welfare of the public
Which jeopardise the safety and welfare of staff and colleagues
Issues of child protection
Criminal actions
From themselves (including self-harm and suicidal behaviour)

Responses to minimise risks may include:
Separation/isolation/searches
Defusing strategies
Counselling
Specialists/experts
Intervention or mediation
Special intervention
Cultural support specialists
Referrals
Negotiation
Specialist response teams

Incidents or conflict may include:
Potential or actual causes
Young people expressing violence towards themselves or others
Young people experiencing violence
Intense anger or despair

Critical aspects of assessment must include:
Knowledge and application of relevant organisational procedures and policies related to services for young people and their families, personal support for young people, referral, reporting, community services
Knowledge of statutory requirements and application of the concept of duty of care
Performance with clients from different cultural backgrounds
Supporting young people and their families according to case management objectives, needs and risks and individual circumstances
Supporting vulnerable young and young people with special needs and risks
Identification of personal values and their impact on performance

Essential knowledge:
Organisation's policies, guidelines and procedures related to client management and support
Relevant statutory responsibilities related to management of and support for young people and their families, court orders, code of conduct, organisational procedures, criminal justice codes, client services and programs
Establishing and maintaining effective relationships with young people and their families
Principles of effective communication including client information management
Organisational reporting procedures and practice
Support services and specialists and their guidelines for access and service provision
Aspects of human behaviour and development related to young people, families and relationships
Principle/relevant cultural practices and customs of the community and the family profiles

Essential skills:
General counselling strategies/techniques
Goal setting, personal planning and change support

Method of assessment:
Knowledge testing and simulation exercises conducted in a training program
Knowledge tested or inferred from explanations and performance in work place applications
Observation of performance in routine workplace activities
Documentation and products produced as part of routine work activities
Observation and documentation from specially conducted assignments based on routine work requirements

Context of assessment:
Performance can be demonstrated through assessment of evidence generated from work practice

Critical aspects of assessment must include:
Knowledge and application of organisation policies and procedures for responding to critical situations
Knowledge and relevance of statutory obligations and duty of care including child protection reporting
Assessing risks to client safety and welfare and selecting approved and effective responses
Using communication skills and techniques under pressure
Using protective and first aid techniques and equipment
Knowledge of organisation's delegations, accountability and reporting processes related to critical situations

Essential knowledge:
Organisation's policies, guidelines and procedures related to monitoring the safety and welfare of young people and preventing and responding to incidents risk taking behaviour
Team roles and responsibilities and reporting requirements
Responsibilities of child protection reporting and duty of care
Teamwork principles and strategies
First aid techniques
Principles of effective communication for counselling, risk assessment, negotiation, mediation and information management
Organisation's reporting procedures and format
Code of conduct

Essential knowledge required includes:
Policies/Procedures
Communication
Emergency protocols

Essential skills required include:
Communication

Method of assessment:
Knowledge testing and simulation exercises conducted in a training program
Knowledge testing through questioning on performance and contingency scenarios
Observation of performance in routine workplace activities
Documentation and products produced as part of routine work activities
Observation and documentation from specially conducted assignments based on routine work requirements
Observations from supervisors, colleagues, clients and specialist support agencies

Context of assessment:
This unit is best assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace under the normal range of conditions
Because of the unpredictable factors included in this unit, assessment in the workplace may depend on indirect or supplementary evidence, particularly the use of simulations and practice drills