Elements and Performance Criteria

Management implementation requirements may include:
Analysis of social, political and economic factors and trends
Strategies to avoid discrimination
Balanced assessment of actual and potential impacts for the organisation
Analysis of linkages with other policies and legislation
Media, language and presentation styles appropriate to the audience

Strategies to promote informed debate may involve employing:
A range of communication styles, modes and media
Lobbying strategies
Consultation strategies
Networking strategies

Policy development processes may be related to:
Specialist work with particular target eg. People with disabilities, Aboriginal people
Application of specialist occupations eg. Physiotherapy, law, psychology to work with or to the benefit of client groups
Advanced work in particular issue areas eg. Law, income, security
Work which integrates particular issues and particular target groups eg. Housing people of NESB, legal issues for Aboriginals

Policy development processes are managed for:
An organisation or service
Peak bodies, networks or associations
A range of government departments or organisations
And with reference to all target groups of relevance to the organisation or network

Critical aspects of assessment:
Managing organisation or network responses to policy initiatives by other stakeholders
Respond to initiatives by stakeholders
Using a variety of research and consultation strategies
Working as part of a team or as a sole worker
Distinguish between facts, hypotheses and opinions
Present and support a judgement, position of argument
Maintain direction and purpose within the context of competing or conflicting demands
Determining processes which are consistent with, and contribute to, objectives
Application of management competencies to policy tasks
Sophisticated analysis of a range of information and conflicting or competing perspectives and objectives
Strategic decision making which integrates purpose and effectiveness, and takes account of resource constraints

Essential knowledge:
Issues impacting on clients and their place in a social, political and economic context
Government and other policies as they impact on clients, their families and communities
Needs, rights and responsibilities of clients
Needs, rights and responsibilities of families, other care givers and services in relation to clients
Legislation impacting on clients, workers and organisations
Theories of human development
The effects that values, beliefs and attitudes have on aspects of work
The effects that culture, age, gender, sexuality, ability, class, race, religious and political beliefs may have on values, attitudes, perspectives and approaches to the situations of clients
Concepts of culture and sub-cultures
Theories of work practice
The decision making structure, processes and delegated authorities of the organisation, network or group of organisations
Existing policies within the organisation or group of organisations, and of other stakeholders, and legislation impacting on the policy issue under consideration

Essential skills:
Judging and using the most appropriate communication medium for a particular situation
Interpersonal communication, in particular listening, clarifying, questioning, confronting, providing information, interpreting non verbal communication, demonstrating understanding
Conflict resolution and mediation
Communicating with people with diverse cultural, linguistic and educational backgrounds
A high level of literacy and the ability to write for a range of purposes and audiences
Advanced communication skills, including liaison, negotiation and advocacy
Public speaking
Planning and coordination of complex activities and processes

Resource implications:
Access to appropriate workplace where assessment can be conducted or
Simulation of realistic workplace setting for assessment

Consistency in performance:
Assessment may include observations, questioning and evidence gathered from the workplace
It is recommended that assessment take place on more than one occasion to enable all aspects of coordinating policy development to be assessed

Context of assessment:
This unit is most appropriately assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace and under the normal range of workplace conditions. This may include the use of languages other than English and alternative communication systems.