Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.


Relevant and current information may include:
Accurate odds and nature of gambling activities
Cycle of problem gambling


Clients may include:
People who gamble (particularly those who engage in harmful levels of gambling)
Significant others, including partners, families and care-givers, friends and peers


Referral options may include:
Financial counselling
Legal counselling e.g. AVO's
Relationship issues
Family counselling
Self help groups
Group work programs
Local service availability
Medical /psychiatric
Employment
Accommodation
Residential programs


Practical strategies may include:
Self exclusion
Cutting up / deactivating credit cards e.g. freezing in ice
Third party care of personal finances
Implementing direct debits
Avoiding gambling venues
Avoiding gambling friends
Identifying alternative activities to gambling (creating pleasant event schedules, ringing G-line)
Not carrying money or credit cards
Setting boundaries and goals in relation to the problem gambler e.g. partner setting financial boundaries, person setting time limits
Family responsibilities (parenting child safety / protection)
Affect regulation strategies (stress and anxiety management, meditation)
Community involvement, participation and social action practice
Life style issues (life skills, job seeking and training)


Information and support may focus on:
Problem gambling
Financial counselling
Relationship issues
Couples counselling
Self help groups
Group work programs
Legal options e.g. AVOs
Protection of financial options e.g. caveats on assets
Support and self nurturing options
Self management strategies (awareness of enabling)
Responsibility / 'control' / behavioural contingency
Communication and assertiveness strategies
Setting boundaries and goals in relation to the problem gambler


Sector values may include:
Client oriented approach:
delivery of appropriate services
commitment to meeting the needs and upholding the rights of clients
commitment to empowering the client
duty of care
An appropriate framework which considers the effectiveness of treatment options
Processes that will help the gambler overcome their gambling problem
Community health:
promotion of health and well being
early identification of risk factors
early identification of health problems
Seeing gambling in a context of social and physical health
A focus on:
consumer protection, responsible gambling and responsible conduct of gambling
harm minimisation including harm prevention, harm reduction, health promotion and harm management
Confidentiality
Right to withdraw from treatment
Ethical treatment
Informed consent
Right to referral
Child protection


Context of gambling in the life of the client includes:
Culture
Values
Beliefs
Family background
Relationships
Grief and loss


Change processes includes:
Change and change back (maintaining a homeostatic balance - tendency to keep things the same)
Providing information about change


Counselling approaches must include an understanding of the following:
Cognitive processes
Affect management
Evidence-based practice
Underlying issues
Alternative coping strategies
Early intervention or short-term programs
Comprehensive and longer care programs
Skills and 'strengths' building


Intervention strategiesmustinclude understanding ofallthe following and use of one or more:
Evidence-based strategies including:
person-centred and holistic therapies
motivational interviewing
narrative therapy
cognitive behaviour therapy
solution focused/brief therapy
Other therapeutic practices with sound theoretical rationale (e.g. peer reviewed journals) including family therapy and transactional analysis
Understanding of the intervention strategy includes ability to critically review the approach including analysis of literature reviews


Ambivalence refers to:
A client having competing motives e.g. desire to gamble and also to stop gambling


Support family member or significant other includes:
Providing information about problem gambling
Addressing impact of gambling on them
Self protection strategies e.g. financial or safety
Working with family to orient focus from problem gambler to self (family member/s)
Helping them to set boundaries (not rescuing, assertiveness, communication skills, negotiation skills, enabling etc)
Working with the dynamics of couples and families and the impact of gambling


Regular review of client's progress includes:
Identification and acknowledgement of change in gambling and other areas
Review of the counselling process
Review of goals
Review of timelines
Achievement of goals

EVIDENCE GUIDE

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate this unit of competency:
The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills
This unit will be most appropriately assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace and under the normal range of workplace conditions
It is recommended that assessment or information for assessment will be conducted or gathered over a period of time and cover the normal range of workplace situations and settings


Access and equity considerations:
All workers in community services should be aware of access, equity and human rights issues in relation to their own area of work
All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment
In recognition of particular issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities


Context of and specific resources for assessment:
This unit can be assessed independently, however holistic assessment practice with other community services units of competency is encouraged
Resources required for assessment include access to an appropriate workplace or simulation of realistic workplace setting where assessment can take place


Method of assessment:
In cases where the learner does not have the opportunity to cover all relevant aspects in the work environment, the remainder should be assessed through realistic simulations, projects, previous relevant experience or oral questioning on 'What if?' scenarios
Assessment of this unit of competence will usually include observation of processes and procedures, oral and/or written questioning 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