Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 7:05 PM AWST
22/07/2026 7:05 PM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Work effectively with clients with complex alcohol and-or other drugs issues
Work effectively with clients with complex alcohol and-or other drugs issues
Unit of competency
National Code
CHCAOD510B
CHCAOD510B
State Code
WC800
WC800
TGA Status
Deleted
Deleted
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
12/08/2014
Field of Education
090599 - Human Welfare Studies And Services, N.e.c.
Original Release Date
12/08/2014
Nominal Hours
60
Description
DescriptorThis unit describes the knowledge and skills required to provide a range of community services to meet the needs of clients who may have alcohol and other drugs (AOD) issues, which may be combined with other issuesIt also covers the review of client progress and evaluation of all work undertaken with clients
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Provide services to meet client needs
- 1.1 Establish strategies to develop effective working relationships with clients to enable the delivery of targeted services
- 1.2 Negotiate goals and action plans with the client and document in accordance with organisation procedures
- 1.3 Carry out early or short-term programs with clients as appropriate
- 1.4 Negotiate comprehensive and longer care programs with the client as appropriate
- 1.5 Put in place arrangements to meet the specific needs of clients
- 1.6 Provide client with relevant and current information on alcohol and other drugs and related issues and discuss
- 1.7 Provide assistance with daily living as appropriate and in accordance with organisation policies and procedures and service guidelines
- 1.8 Provide immediate help or referral for critical incidents arising from client's alcohol and other drugs use
- 1.9 Identify relevant work health and safety (WHS), legal, ethical and duty of care considerations and incorporate in service delivery.
- 1.10 Plan and implement relapse prevention strategies
- 1.11 Assist clients with strategies and actions to reduce drug related harm to themselves
- 1.12 Make referrals to relevant agencies that can assist clients to address other specific needs
2. Plan and implement harm minimisation and relapse prevention strategies
- 2.1 Plan and implement relapse prevention strategies
- 2.2 Assist clients with strategies and actions to prevent and/or reduce drug related harm to themselves and others
- 2.3 Assist client to identify indicators of possible relapse
3. Provide support for additional needs
- 3.1 Determine additional client issues likely to have an influence on treatment and rehabilitation
- 3.2 Determine additional service and support needs
- 3.3 Identify client issues that are outside the scope of the service and/or the scope of the worker
- 3.4 Inform the client of possible options
- 3.5 Inform the client of the reasons for seeking other service and support options
- 3.6 Confirm the client's understanding of options
- 3.7 Work with the client to determine referral options and responsibilities
- 3.8 Where appropriate, make referral with client consent and within organisation policy and procedures
- 3.9 Work with the client to determine case management requirements
4. Review client progress
- 4.1 Implement processes to ensure client's progress is regularly reviewed against negotiated goals and action plans
- 4.2 Monitor, record and report progress against the plan of care according to organisation guidelines
- 4.3 Negotiate revised action plans and timelines and write into the plan of care as needed
- 4.4 Negotiate client exit from the program with the client and provide support in accordance with organisation policies and available resources
- 4.5 Review outcomes of client work with supervisor and /or colleagues in accordance with organisation policies and procedures
5. Evaluate work undertaken with clients
- 5.1 Review outcomes of client work against care plan goals and document in accordance with organisation policies and procedures
- 5.2 Discuss outcomes with clients and appropriate persons inside or outside the organisation and document in accordance with organisation policies and procedures
- 5.3 Put in place processes to ensure feedback from supervisors, clients and other workers and reflection on own practices are incorporated in work activities and services provided
- 5.4 Identify professional development needs and options and access to ensure ongoing competence
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.
Targeted services (i.e. specific to alcohol and/or other drugs use) may include:
Detoxification
Inpatient counselling
Outpatient counselling
Self-help groups
Proclaimed place, rehabilitation centres, residential
Sobering up units
Services which provide consumables e.g. 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 organisation 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 e.g. Needles, syringes, and needle exchange programs
Client exit (organisation requirements) may include:
Client questionnaire
Documentation including reason for exit and condition of client at exit
Organisation's 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 organisation 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 outcomes of client work against care planmay be:
Within the organisation
In consultation with other agencies
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.
Targeted services (i.e. specific to alcohol and/or other drugs use) may include:
Detoxification
Inpatient counselling
Outpatient counselling
Self-help groups
Proclaimed place, rehabilitation centres, residential
Sobering up units
Services which provide consumables e.g. 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 organisation 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 e.g. Needles, syringes, and needle exchange programs
Client exit (organisation requirements) may include:
Client questionnaire
Documentation including reason for exit and condition of client at exit
Organisation's 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 organisation 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 outcomes of client work against care planmay be:
Within the organisation
In consultation with other agencies
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 skillsIn addition, this competency should be assessed in the context of the particular workplace client group
This unit of competence will be most appropriately assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace and under the normal range of workplace conditionsSome theoretical knowledge may be assessed by formal testing e.g. suicide risk assessment
Assessment must include the normal range of workplace situations
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 of this unit include access to a workplace or simulated workplace where assessment may occur
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
Related units:
Depending on jurisdiction and job role, assessment of this unit of competency may be required in conjunction with:
HLTFA311A Apply first aidor
HLTFA412A Apply advanced first aid
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 skillsIn addition, this competency should be assessed in the context of the particular workplace client group
This unit of competence will be most appropriately assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace and under the normal range of workplace conditionsSome theoretical knowledge may be assessed by formal testing e.g. suicide risk assessment
Assessment must include the normal range of workplace situations
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 of this unit include access to a workplace or simulated workplace where assessment may occur
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
Related units:
Depending on jurisdiction and job role, assessment of this unit of competency may be required in conjunction with:
HLTFA311A Apply first aidor
HLTFA412A Apply advanced first aid
Replaces
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| D2230 | CHCAOD510A | Work effectively with clients with complex alcohol and/or other drugs issues | Unit of competency |