Elements and Performance Criteria

Identifying, negotiating and assessing of care and protection of young people will be carried out within requirements established by:
Organisational policies, procedures and guidelines
State and commonwealth legislation including child protection
Program procedures and guidelines
The identified needs and risks of individual young people

Responsibility for information about the needs and risks to young people will include relevant examples from:
Preparing documentation for child protection notifications
Referrals from other agencies
Use of communication techniques; active listening, reflective, summarising question and statements, gaining agreement on actions
Action planning
Setting of boundaries for roles and actions
Demonstration of empathy and rapport building
Appropriate language and questioning techniques
Conflict management
Managing grief and change processes
Negotiating agreement

The context of performance will depend on applicants' roles and responsibilities and the conditions required by:
Case management;
Programmed intervention;
Classification and review;
Need and risk assessment;
Reporting and referring systems;
Protective care;
Routine and incident reports;
Review of program/service plan;
Service contracts and conditions

Responses to risk will depend on the nature and degree of the risks which includes:
Serious physical injury and death including suicide
Obstacles to sound and healthy development
Self-harm
Assaulting/harming others
Disabilities
Alcohol and other drugs
Neglect, illness
Physical/emotional/sexual abuse
Harassment, bullying
Accidents
Criminal actions
High anti-social risk taking
Social isolation
Mental illness and depression
Family and personal trauma
Social and cultural alienation

Approach to assessment of risk will depend on the nature and degree of the risks and will include:
Case management
Referral to specialist teams and agencies
Special observation
Counselling
Breaches and disciplinary action
Involvement of family and social support
Medical referral
Peer support programs
Cultural programs
Socialisation programs
Program intervention

Checking indicators of risk include:
Serious risk taking behaviour
Trauma of grief, loss pain abuse, disadvantage
Stress caused by relationships and social processes
Depression/withdrawal
Mental/psychological conditions
Separation from family and social support
Shame and guilt
Cultural conflict and alienation
Anti-social behaviour and attitudes

Critical aspects of assessment must include:
Checking and analysing information for assessment of risks, special needs and personal and social developmental levels for young people
Providing supervision and care based on assessed risk and justifiable degree of care and concern
Making decisions based on knowledge of the impact of cultural and personal values on behaviour and expectations
Checking and analysing information for assessment of risks, special needs and significant changes
Responding to risks and incidents of varying degrees of severity
Using clear and reassuring communication relevant to the culture of young people

Essential knowledge:

Knowledge of indicators of risk to young people who are particularly vulnerable include indicators of:

The specific categories of risk identified in the organisation's risk management plans and relevant to the offender profile
Procedures and requirements for reporting risks and incidents involving young offenders including work site information processing and the organisation's offender information system

Legislation relevant to applicants' roles and responsibilities and service guidelines such as:

Reporting sexual and other abuse
Responding to emergencies
Reporting incidents
Supervision and surveillance of offenders at risk
Protective supervision of offenders at risk of harm
Access to information and restriction of access
Appropriate relationships with offenders
Appropriate relationships with colleagues
The rights and responsibilities of young people within the service context
Referral to specialist and support agencies
Suicide prevention strategy
Special needs of young people
The organisation's codes of conduct or code of ethics/duty of care
The range of specialist support services and programs available to young people
Processes for getting advice and assistance when there are problems
Knowledge of cultural practices which will have an impact on decisions made about what allowances are made and what rights are given and responsibilities expected
The impact of popular beliefs on values, attitudes and behaviour
Current issues facing young people
The context of risk taking and social behaviour in young people
The social, political, historical and economic context of the service response to the needs and interests of young people

Essential knowledge required includes:
Assessment
Referring agencies
Program evaluation

Essential skills required include:
Assessment
Referral
Negotiation

Method of assessment:
Knowledge testing and simulation exercises conducted in a training program
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, youth, health and welfare support agencies, specialist staff

Context of assessment:
This unit is best assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace under the normal range of conditions