Elements and Performance Criteria

Support facilities will include:
Language/translations/interpreters
Physical aids
Transport
Cultural advisers
Change of venue/location
Family/peer
Specialists
Case management team

Types of support to be provided by worker to the young person/s may be:
Advice
Provision of information
A listening and affirmation role
Short term or crisis counselling
Mediation (family and other)
Advocacy (legal and other)
Practical assistance
Referral to other agencies/services
Availability
Linking with others, groups, networks

Information and referral advice may include:
Specialist agencies and organisations
Special support groups
Government and non-government services
Individuals with specialist expertise
Allowances, pensions and benefits
Grants
Private finance
Equipment, physical aids

Relevant legislation will include:
Statutory care and protection guidelines
Juvenile justice regulations
Confidentiality
Age of consent
Anti discrimination
Duty of care
Organisations policies and procedures
Professional code of conduct or ethics
Contractual obligations

Critical aspects of assessment must include:
Development and implementation of procedures relating services offered by worker's organisation including support facilities, particular types of support and information and referral advice

Essential knowledge:
Legal and organisation policies relating to advocacy, monitoring and dealing with abuse
Principles of empowerment in advocacy
Methods of short term counselling strategies
Different forms of abuse and their indicators
A broad range of specialist and generic services and agencies
Family support and mediation
Organisations policies, guidelines, procedures
The specific needs of identified target groups

Essential skills:
Interpersonal communication with young people (specifically skills such as listening, observation, leading discussions, questioning, clarifying)
Short term counselling, negotiation, mediation
Case management - formulating aims and objectives, implementation and evaluation methodologies, strategic planning with a team of professionals inside and outside the organisation

Resource implications:
Access to a workplace or to an accurately simulated environment where assessment may take place

Consistency in performance:

Demonstration of competency relating to the development and implementation of procedures should include:

At least four types of support (support facilities and types of support) listed in the Range Statement
At least three types of information and/or referral advice listed in the Range Statement

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