Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 4:47 PM AWST
22/07/2026 4:47 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.
Provide services to clients with complex needs
Provide services to clients with complex needs
Unit of competency
National Code
CHCCS504B
CHCCS504B
State Code
WC862
WC862
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
12/08/2014
Field of Education
090515 - Welfare Studies
Original Release Date
12/08/2014
Nominal Hours
55
Description
DescriptorThis unit describes the skills and knowledge required by community workers to provide services to people with complex needs
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Work with clients facing a range of issues
- 1.1 Apply a demonstrated understanding of issues that client may face including:
- mental health
AOD
- imprisonment
- family violence
- homelessness
- child protection
- disability
- trauma/grief
- acquired brain injuries
- cultural issues
- 1.2 Apply a demonstrated understanding of associated and impacting issues:
- access and equity to services in the wider social environment
- trauma/grief
- health
- cognitive/social
- personal safety
- 1.3 Recognise the impacts complex issues may have on significant others
2. Develop strategies to engage clients with one or more identified needs
- 2.1 Recognise impacts of stigma associated with complex needs on an individual, their family and significant others and on the community
- 2.2. Undertake a work health and safety (WHS) assessment of the environment and personal safety
- 2.3 Apply appropriate personal boundaries
- 2.4 Demonstrate rapport building techniques and trust development with the client
- 2.5 Use appropriate strategies and procedures to identify and respond to potential behavioural issues
- 2.6 Observe and monitor behaviour to identify behavioural risk
- 2.7 Respond to behavioural risk to ensure safety of client and self and report and/or refer appropriately
3. Assess and prioritise need
- 3.1 Identify needs in conjunction with the client
- 3.2 Assess client safety needs in conjunction with the client
- 3.3 Determine priorities in conjunction with the client
- 3.3 Coordinate a plan in conjunction with the client to address identified needs
- 3.4 Recognise circumstances in which a service and/or worker is no longer able to provide the level of service required
4. Refer and follow up identified needs
- 4.1 Access and/or negotiate resources in order to deliver identified services
- 4.2 Communicate with other organisations and share information in accordance with appropriate protocols and relevant legislation
- 4.3 Determine all service providers' understanding of the service delivery plan and their roles and responsibilities within that plan
- 4.4 Seek feedback from the client and/or their advocate when evaluating effectiveness of the service delivery plan
- 4.5 Seek advice and assistance from relevant professionals where appropriate when the client's goals are not being reached
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.
Safety of client and self may refer to:
Domestic violence
Unpredictable client behaviour (e.g. aggression, dementia, mental health issues and AOD issues)
Hazardous environments
Specific identified health and safety risks
Complex issues may include:
Mental health
AOD
Family violence
Poverty
Disability
Behaviours of concern
Age
Aboriginality
Cultural diversity
Complex needs with associated stigma may include but are not limited to:
Mental illness
Homelessness
AOD use
Family violence
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.
Safety of client and self may refer to:
Domestic violence
Unpredictable client behaviour (e.g. aggression, dementia, mental health issues and AOD issues)
Hazardous environments
Specific identified health and safety risks
Complex issues may include:
Mental health
AOD
Family violence
Poverty
Disability
Behaviours of concern
Age
Aboriginality
Cultural diversity
Complex needs with associated stigma may include but are not limited to:
Mental illness
Homelessness
AOD use
Family violence
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 skills
This unit will be most appropriately assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace and under the normal range of workplace conditions
This unit may be contextualised to reflect its application to:
a range of age related areas such as youth work and aged care
a range of 'issue' types
It is recommended that assessment or information for assessment will be conducted or gathered over a period of time and cover the normal range of workplace situations and settings
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
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 and linguistically diverse (CALD) environments
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
In particular, assessment is recommended in conjunction with:
CHCCS500B Conduct complex assessment and referral
CHCNET501C Work effectively with other services and networks
Resources required for assessment include:
access to appropriate workplace or simulated workplace where assessment can take place
relevant organisation policy, protocols and procedures
Method of assessment may include:
Observation in the workplace
Written assignments/projects
Case study and scenario analysis
Questioning
Role play simulation
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 skills
This unit will be most appropriately assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace and under the normal range of workplace conditions
This unit may be contextualised to reflect its application to:
a range of age related areas such as youth work and aged care
a range of 'issue' types
It is recommended that assessment or information for assessment will be conducted or gathered over a period of time and cover the normal range of workplace situations and settings
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
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 and linguistically diverse (CALD) environments
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
In particular, assessment is recommended in conjunction with:
CHCCS500B Conduct complex assessment and referral
CHCNET501C Work effectively with other services and networks
Resources required for assessment include:
access to appropriate workplace or simulated workplace where assessment can take place
relevant organisation policy, protocols and procedures
Method of assessment may include:
Observation in the workplace
Written assignments/projects
Case study and scenario analysis
Questioning
Role play simulation
Replaces
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| D2350 | CHCCS504A | Provide services to clients with complex needs | Unit of competency |
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVC74 | CHCCCS004 | Assess co-existing needs | Unit of competency |