Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 7:43 PM AWST
22/07/2026 7:43 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.
Practise social and emotional well being in a clinical setting
Practise social and emotional well being in a clinical setting
Unit of competency
National Code
HLTAHW608B
HLTAHW608B
State Code
D5721
D5721
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
27/07/2011
Field of Education
061305 - Indigenous Health
Original Release Date
27/07/2011
Nominal Hours
60
Description
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to provide social and emotional well being (SEWB) guidance and support to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients in crisis, in need and in the context of an ongoing supportive client/worker relationshipThis unit provides a depth of knowledge, skills values and attitudes necessary to practise as a social and emotional well being worker in an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community context
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Differentiate between ways to conceptualise and treat mental disorders
- 1.1 Use mental health classification systems appropriately when diagnosing Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
- 1.2 Identify situations where a traditional healer could make an effective contribution to the treatment and management of Aboriginal clients
- 1.3 Identify treatment approaches to potentially reduce the stay in mental institutions for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and assist early return to their communities
- 1.4 Examine and evaluate the environment of mental health facilities/institutions in relation to potential impact on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients
- 1.5 Identify the impact of cultural and spiritual factors on the way mental health problems develop and present
2. Address the organisation's role and function in the management and treatment of mental disorders
- 2.1 Identify ways in which the organisation's administrative and health care staff can physically, spiritually and emotionally support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families
- 2.2 Identify community health organisation's role and manner of preparing and supporting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients to re-enter their communities
- 2.3 Identify organisation policies and procedures that acknowledge the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's spiritual and emotional ties
- 2.4 Clarify and support links between agencies providing primary, secondary and tertiary care
- 2.5 Identify and access appropriately local government and non-government resources available to assist clients from remote areas
3. Develop and maintain inter-sectoral networks
- 3.1 Recognise the importance of cross sector collaborations between agencies, particularly in the context of early intervention and treatment for clients with multiple diagnoses
- 3.2 Identify the roles and functions of members of multi-disciplinary health care teams
- 3.3 Recognise different organisational cultures within a drug and alcohol service and a mental health service, and identify their impact on workers
- 3.4 Identify difficulties in addressing gaps in the system that impede continuity of care
- 3.5 Identify factors/attributes that contribute to a flexible, dynamic and productive health team
- 3.6 Recognise the importance of policies that reflect equal opportunity and ensure that staff participate in cross cultural awareness programs
- 3.7 Identify ways case management can contribute to effective inter-sectoral service delivery
- 3.8 Identify staff development issues for inter-sectoral workers
4. Use clinical practices appropriate to social and emotional well being work
- 4.1 Identify clinical practices relevant to social and emotional well being work
- 4.2 Clarify the meaning of 'culturally appropriate manner' in general and specific cultural contexts
- 4.3 Discuss client treatment with other members of the health care team
- 4.4 Recognise the importance of accurate clinical baseline observations in practice
- 4.5 Take client history in accordance with the needs of the client and the health care setting
- 4.6 Undertake comprehensive reporting in line with organisation requirements
- 4.7 Identify instances where the social and emotional well being worker might advocate for a client in accordance with the philosophy of the organisation
5. Practise social and emotional well being work
- 5.1 Use a culturally appropriate manner in all interactions with the client (including active listening, clarifying, probing techniques)
- 5.2 Develop care plans and discuss implementation and evaluation with the health care team
- 5.3 Conduct client interviews, ensuring that there is appropriate preparation and consideration given to opening, developing and closing the interview
- 5.4 Review existing records to ensure that all appropriate information is taken into account when treating a client
6. Follow organisation's occupational health and safety procedures
- 6.1 Consult organisation's OH&S policy and procedures manual to clarify policies and procedures for a range of situations
- 6.2 Clarify and apply procedures for dealing with clients and their relatives who are verbally or physically threatening
- 6.3 Clarify and apply organisation OH&S requirements for use in caring for psychotic clients
- 6.4 Ensure responses to clients who spit at or bite the worker reflect the appropriate order of priority for maintaining worker safety
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.
Cultural Respect
This competency standard supports the recognition, protection and continued advancement of the inherent rights, cultures and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
It recognises that the improvement of the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must include attention to physical, spiritual, cultural, emotional and social well being, community capacity and governance
Its application must be culturally sensitive and supportive of traditional healing and health, knowledge and practices
Community Control
Community participation and control in decision-making is essential to all aspects of health work, and the role of the health worker is to support the community in this process
Supervision
Supervision must be conducted in accordance with prevailing State/Territory and organisation legislative and regulatory requirements
References to supervision may include either direct or indirect supervision of work by more experienced workers, supervisors, managers or other health professionals
A person at this level should only be required to make decisions about clients within the organisation's standard treatment protocols and associated guidelines
Legislative requirements
Federal, state or territory legislation may impact on workers' practices and responsibilities. Implementation of the competency standards should reflect the legislative framework in which a health worker operates. It is recognised that this may sometimes reduce the application of the Range of Variables in practice. However, assessment in the workplace or through simulation should address all essential skills and knowledge across the Range of Variables
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers may be required to operate in situations that do not constitute "usual practice" due to lack of resources, remote locations and community needs. As a result, they may need to possess more competencies than described by "usual practice circumstances"
Under all circumstances, the employer must enable the worker to function within the prevailing legislative framework
Service settings may include:
Aboriginal Medical Services
Advocacy Services e.g. support groups
Community Services for Aboriginal People e.g. mobile patrols, youth services, rehabilitation units, sexual assault agencies
Emergency support services - e.g. psychiatric emergency teams, kid's helpline, Samaritans
Institutional (e.g. psychiatric in-patients, out-patients clinics)
Outreach services e.g. Ngunga Alcohol&Substance Abuse Service (NASAS), Men's Outreach
Services provided include
Advocacy
Counselling (face to face&telephone)
Crisis intervention
Debriefing
Early intervention/prevention
Liaising between agencies
Medication monitoring
Referral
Support
Mental health classification systems include:
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM IV
International Classification of Diseases ICD 10
Local government and non-government resources may include:
Interpreters
Liaison services
Multi-disciplinary health care teams may include:
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health workers
Community or psychiatric nurse
Other members of the health team
Psychiatrist
Social&Emotional Well Being worker
Social worker
Stakeholders include:
Aboriginal communities
Aboriginal Medical Services
Communities
Community controlled organisations
Families
Government - commonwealth, state/territory&local
Individuals
Factors influencing service delivery may include:
Government policy
Legislation
Locality - e.g. urban, rural, remote, regional
Organisation policy
Regulations
Socio-demographic
Characteristics of clients may include:
Addicts or recovering addicts
Adults
Children
Grieving individuals, families and communities
People who have limited schooling
People with English as a second or third language
Stolen generations
Survivors of sexual abuse
Victims of sexual assault
Victims of trauma, domestic/family violence, assault or abuse
Youth
Organisation policies and procedures may include
Emergency procedures
OH& S procedures
Practice guidelines for social and emotional well being workers
Referral procedures
Linked agencies may include:
Aboriginal Medical Services
Accommodation
Crisis services such as Kids Help Line, Samaritans, Anglicare, Refuges, Sobering Up Shelters
Department of Social Security /Centrelink
Emergency services
Employment services and support
Family&Children's Services or equivalent
Financial assistance agencies (e.g. Family&Children's Services)
Health Department
Hospital
Mental health services
Ministry of Justice
Police
Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Sexual Assault Counselling Services
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.
Cultural Respect
This competency standard supports the recognition, protection and continued advancement of the inherent rights, cultures and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
It recognises that the improvement of the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must include attention to physical, spiritual, cultural, emotional and social well being, community capacity and governance
Its application must be culturally sensitive and supportive of traditional healing and health, knowledge and practices
Community Control
Community participation and control in decision-making is essential to all aspects of health work, and the role of the health worker is to support the community in this process
Supervision
Supervision must be conducted in accordance with prevailing State/Territory and organisation legislative and regulatory requirements
References to supervision may include either direct or indirect supervision of work by more experienced workers, supervisors, managers or other health professionals
A person at this level should only be required to make decisions about clients within the organisation's standard treatment protocols and associated guidelines
Legislative requirements
Federal, state or territory legislation may impact on workers' practices and responsibilities. Implementation of the competency standards should reflect the legislative framework in which a health worker operates. It is recognised that this may sometimes reduce the application of the Range of Variables in practice. However, assessment in the workplace or through simulation should address all essential skills and knowledge across the Range of Variables
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers may be required to operate in situations that do not constitute "usual practice" due to lack of resources, remote locations and community needs. As a result, they may need to possess more competencies than described by "usual practice circumstances"
Under all circumstances, the employer must enable the worker to function within the prevailing legislative framework
Service settings may include:
Aboriginal Medical Services
Advocacy Services e.g. support groups
Community Services for Aboriginal People e.g. mobile patrols, youth services, rehabilitation units, sexual assault agencies
Emergency support services - e.g. psychiatric emergency teams, kid's helpline, Samaritans
Institutional (e.g. psychiatric in-patients, out-patients clinics)
Outreach services e.g. Ngunga Alcohol&Substance Abuse Service (NASAS), Men's Outreach
Services provided include
Advocacy
Counselling (face to face&telephone)
Crisis intervention
Debriefing
Early intervention/prevention
Liaising between agencies
Medication monitoring
Referral
Support
Mental health classification systems include:
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM IV
International Classification of Diseases ICD 10
Local government and non-government resources may include:
Interpreters
Liaison services
Multi-disciplinary health care teams may include:
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health workers
Community or psychiatric nurse
Other members of the health team
Psychiatrist
Social&Emotional Well Being worker
Social worker
Stakeholders include:
Aboriginal communities
Aboriginal Medical Services
Communities
Community controlled organisations
Families
Government - commonwealth, state/territory&local
Individuals
Factors influencing service delivery may include:
Government policy
Legislation
Locality - e.g. urban, rural, remote, regional
Organisation policy
Regulations
Socio-demographic
Characteristics of clients may include:
Addicts or recovering addicts
Adults
Children
Grieving individuals, families and communities
People who have limited schooling
People with English as a second or third language
Stolen generations
Survivors of sexual abuse
Victims of sexual assault
Victims of trauma, domestic/family violence, assault or abuse
Youth
Organisation policies and procedures may include
Emergency procedures
OH& S procedures
Practice guidelines for social and emotional well being workers
Referral procedures
Linked agencies may include:
Aboriginal Medical Services
Accommodation
Crisis services such as Kids Help Line, Samaritans, Anglicare, Refuges, Sobering Up Shelters
Department of Social Security /Centrelink
Emergency services
Employment services and support
Family&Children's Services or equivalent
Financial assistance agencies (e.g. Family&Children's Services)
Health Department
Hospital
Mental health services
Ministry of Justice
Police
Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Sexual Assault Counselling Services
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 of assessment:
The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills
Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace
Where, for reasons of safety, space, or access to equipment and resources, assessment takes place away from the workplace, the assessment environment should represent workplace conditions as closely as possible
Method of assessment:
Assessment must take place through a combination of observation on the job and completion of self paced workbook activitiesThis may be undertaken in conjunction with, or with verification by, a workplace supervisor, preceptor or mentor
Assessment must include observation of the following specific workplace activities:
counselling sessions
crisis intervention
Assessment must include self-assessment through a personal journal
Consistency of performance:
Consistent performance should be demonstrated across an appropriate range of service delivery situations
To ensure consistency of performance the assessment should be holistic and allow for demonstration of competence with clients in a number of different contexts (e.g. in role plays, case studies and small group discussions)These contexts would include working with clients who have dual diagnosis
Client groups may include:
youth/adults
children
older people
families
communities
clients who would be managed by the workers as part of a mental health team
clients who have been referred to other agencies or other health professionals
Conditions of assessment:
This unit includes skills and knowledge specific to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture
Assessment must therefore be undertaken by a workplace assessor who has expertise in the unit of competency or who has the current qualification being assessed and who is:
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander him/herself
or:
accompanied and advised by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person who is a recognised member of the community with experience in primary health care
Context of assessment:
Assessment for this unit must take place in the workplace, which must include:
Community Controlled Aboriginal Medical Services
Community Controlled Aboriginal Services
Government Aboriginal Health Services
Institutional settings/facilities
All assessments must ensure that the personal safety of the worker and the client is taken into consideration when demonstrating competence
Related units:
This unit should be assessed either after or in conjunction with:
HLTAHW606B Provide guidance in social and emotional well being
CHCAOD408A Assess needs of clients with alcohol and/or other drugs issues
CHCMH504D Provide a range of services to people with mental health issues
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 of assessment:
The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills
Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace
Where, for reasons of safety, space, or access to equipment and resources, assessment takes place away from the workplace, the assessment environment should represent workplace conditions as closely as possible
Method of assessment:
Assessment must take place through a combination of observation on the job and completion of self paced workbook activitiesThis may be undertaken in conjunction with, or with verification by, a workplace supervisor, preceptor or mentor
Assessment must include observation of the following specific workplace activities:
counselling sessions
crisis intervention
Assessment must include self-assessment through a personal journal
Consistency of performance:
Consistent performance should be demonstrated across an appropriate range of service delivery situations
To ensure consistency of performance the assessment should be holistic and allow for demonstration of competence with clients in a number of different contexts (e.g. in role plays, case studies and small group discussions)These contexts would include working with clients who have dual diagnosis
Client groups may include:
youth/adults
children
older people
families
communities
clients who would be managed by the workers as part of a mental health team
clients who have been referred to other agencies or other health professionals
Conditions of assessment:
This unit includes skills and knowledge specific to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture
Assessment must therefore be undertaken by a workplace assessor who has expertise in the unit of competency or who has the current qualification being assessed and who is:
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander him/herself
or:
accompanied and advised by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person who is a recognised member of the community with experience in primary health care
Context of assessment:
Assessment for this unit must take place in the workplace, which must include:
Community Controlled Aboriginal Medical Services
Community Controlled Aboriginal Services
Government Aboriginal Health Services
Institutional settings/facilities
All assessments must ensure that the personal safety of the worker and the client is taken into consideration when demonstrating competence
Related units:
This unit should be assessed either after or in conjunction with:
HLTAHW606B Provide guidance in social and emotional well being
CHCAOD408A Assess needs of clients with alcohol and/or other drugs issues
CHCMH504D Provide a range of services to people with mental health issues
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| WG724 | HLTAHW073 | Practise social and emotional wellbeing in a clinical setting | Unit of competency |
